AWARDS NIGHT EXCITEMENT BUILDS

The word culture is on everyone’s lips in this Hull2017 City of Culture year; now culture will be served up on a plate, too, in one of the region’s social highlights of the year, the Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards, the REYTAs.

Tickets have been selling fast for the glittering awards night taking place at The Spa, Bridlington, on Thursday March 30, so much so that more than 500 guests are expected to set a new record attendance in this, the eighth year of the awards.

The “menu” features Culture in every sense of the word, with Martin Green, chief executive and director of Hull2017, one of the keynote speakers. And a sumptuous four-course meal will feature the four chapters of the City of Culture Year - a “Made in Hull” starter, a “Roots and Routes” main course and “Freedom” dessert, completed with Fairtrade coffee and Belgian chocolates, signifying the year’s final chapter “Tell the World”.

“We’re aiming to make this our best night ever at what we think is the best venue on the East Coast,” said Andy Gray, tourism manager for REYTAs organisers, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire.

The evening will begin with a drinks reception for guests and VIPs; then it’s on to the main business of the evening, with BBC Radio Humberside presenter Phil White hosting the awards themselves - the winners in 15 categories will be revealed with a 16th award, the Remarkable East Yorkshire Passion Award, being given on the night to the person considered to have made a significant contribution to tourism in the region.

A number of surprises have been lined up to make this, the eighth year of the
REYTAs, the most memorable yet. The evening also marks ten years of tourism body VHEY, which has promoted Hull and East Yorkshire as a tourism destination across the world.

In that time the value of tourism to the local economy has risen by £182 million to £797 million per year and is now responsible for 17,422 jobs and supporting an estimated 1,800 private and public sector businesses.

“We have some top rate entertainment lined up for our guests in true REYTAs style, so I would urge everyone to book their tickets as soon as possible because it looks like we're heading for a sell-out," said Mr Gray. The evening will conclude with a disco.

Tickets for the awards evening are still available, individually or tables of ten, at £50 + VAT per head. They can be ordered via the VHEY website (www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com). Buses to the Spa are also being provided from various locations.

REMARKABLE EAST YORKSHIRE TOURISM AWARDS FINALISTS 2017

Remarkable Bed & Breakfast:

The Toll Cottage, Cottingham

Highfield Farm B&B, Southburn, near Driffield

Wold Cottage, Wold Newton

Wolds Village, Bainton

Remarkable Conference and Meeting Venue:

KCOM Stadium, Hull

Mercure Grange Park Hotel, Willerby

Village Hotel Club, Hull

Bishop Burton College

Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby

Remarkable Cuppa/Afternoon Tea:

Drewton’s Farm Shop, South Cave

Lempicka Cafe & Bistro, Beverley

T C Patisserie, Beverley

Tickton Grange Country Hotel, Tickton

Wolds Village, Bainton

Remarkable Family Friendly Experience:

Wrygarth Inn, Great Hatfield, near Hornsea

Smile Cafe & Play Barn at The Mile Farm Shop, Pocklington

Sewerby Hall and Gardens

Remarkable Holiday Park/Holiday Village:

Cowden Holiday Park

Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, Bishop Wilton

Sand le Mere Holiday Village, Tunstall

Patrington Haven Leisure Park

Far Grange Park & Golf Club, Skipsea

Remarkable Hotel of the Year:

Mercure Grange Park Hotel, Willerby

Mercure Hull Royal Hotel

The Lowther Hotel, Goole

Holiday Inn, Hull Marina

Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby

Remarkable Newcomer:

Little Otchan Shepherd’s Hut, Halsham

Butt Farm Caravan & Campsite, Beverley

Tapasya@Marina, Hull

The Head of Steam, Hull

North Star Club, Houghton Moor Wood, Sancton

North Beach Fish & Chips, Bridlington

Remarkable Restaurant:

The Westwood Restaurant, Beverley

Tapasya (Beverley Road), Hull

1884 Wine & Tapas Bar, Hull

1884 Dock Street Kitchen, Hull

Hide Restaurant, Tickton Grange Hotel, Tickton

The Black Horse, Little Weighton

Remarkable Self-Catering Provider/Property:

Acorn Glade, Melbourne

Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington

Choose Amuse, Walkington

Nordham Cottages, North Cave

Field House Farm Cottages, Sewerby

High Barn Cottages, Bempton

Remarkable Taste of East Yorkshire:

Drewton’s Farm Shop, South Cave

The Yorkshire Wagyu Company, Tibthorpe

Hull Pie, Hull

Laurel Vine Vineyard and Winery, Aike, near Driffield

T Soanes & Son (Poultry), Middleton on the Wolds

Great Newsome Brewery, South Frodingham

Remarkable Small Tourism Event (under 30,000 people):

Rod Stewart at the KCOM Stadium, Hull

Bridlington Seafood Festival

Driffield Agricultural Show

Cottingham Food & Drink Festival

Beverley Puppet Festival

Remarkable Large Tourism Event (more than 30,000 people):

Made in Hull

Freedom Festival, Hull

Humber Street Sesh, Hull

Amy Johnson Festival, Hull

Beverley Food Festival

Remarkable Visitor Attraction/Experience:

East Riding Leisure Bridlington

Burton Constable Hall

Spotlight Theatre, Bridlington

Beverley Racecourse

The Yorkshire Belle, Bridlington

Remarkable Pub:

Duke of York, Skirlaugh

Furley & Co., Hull

The Humber Tavern, Paull

The Lion & Key, Hull

The Old House, Hull

Remarkable Hull & East Yorkshire Passion Award for Arts and Culture:

Castaway Theatre, Goole

Hull Truck Theatre

Rick Welton

Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival