REYTA'S 2020

Current champions are going head to head with first-time finalists in the battle to be crowned the “best of the best” at this year’s Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards.

The much-anticipated short-list of finalists, revealed today by Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY), is being described as “the most exciting ever”. Tourism bosses say it’s testament to the popularity of the region as a visitor destination and the range of what’s on offer.

In total, 78 businesses and attractions will be represented at the glittering awards night at Bridlington Spa on Thursday March 19. This year is the 11th time the awards have been held but for the first time they are being run in association with the national Visit England Awards and eligible winners will be automatically put forward to the national Visit England Awards for Excellence 2020.

Will Hall, interim tourism manager for Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, said they had been “stunned” by the quality of entries. “Tourism plays such an important part in making Hull and East Yorkshire such a wonderful place to live and visit. The feedback we get from day visitors and holidaymakers makes us proud and shows just how far we have come since the first awards were held eleven years ago.

“This is a remarkable event to celebrate a remarkable industry which contributes over £866 million annually to the Hull and East Yorkshire economy and provides employment for over 18,000 people. The awards showcase the very best that Hull and East Yorkshire have to offer,” he said.

In total, seven current champions have made it through to the finals again when 16 awards will be presented, including one bestowed by the VHEY Board, honouring an individual who has made a significant contribution to tourism in the region.

Elaine Townend, owner of The Toll Cottage in Cottingham, is hoping to be named B&B and Guest House of the Year for the third successive time and is no stranger to REYTAs glory over its 11-year history, having also won the “best cuppa” category four times when she owned Millers Tea Room at Raywell.

“Being judged remarkable, being judged the best, puts us in a special place. It gives people confidence to pick up the phone or send an email to make that booking. They want a guarantee they are going to enjoy the perfect stay and our status as award-winning accommodation is that guarantee,” she said.

“And with the chance this year to go on and compete in the Visit England national finals this time around makes the REYTAs even more important.”

There’s no shortage of newcomers, though, and a new business, Rustic Riddle, based at Manor House Farm in Ulrome, between Beverley and Bridlington, is short-listed in three categories - new tourism business and best cuppa (for their Granary cafe and bakery) and best restaurant, for the Parisi Restaurant.

Owned by Karen Riddle, there's also a gift shop and two holiday cottages based at the farm.

Flamborough’s New Year’s Eve Fire Festival, which has attracted more than 15,000 visitors from all over the country to witness the torchlight procession, fireworks display and the burning of a Viking longship, is also through to the final of the Remarkable Tourism Event of the Year, where it is up against last year’s winner, Humber Street Sesh, plus two other Hull festivals (Freedom and Pride) and Tribfest, the world’s biggest tribute band music festival, which is held annually in the grounds of Sledmere House.

As well as Parisi Restaurant, another new name bidding to be named Restaurant of the Year is Rupert & Darwin in Princes Avenue, Hull (also a finalist in the new tourism category).

Rupert & Darwin is the brainchild of friends and business partners James and Beth MacLeod-Birch, and David and Raeann Rooms, who have had a long-standing collective ambition to bring their own unique take on friendly and accessible dining to life. James is well-known on the local dining scene as a former director of 1884 Dock Street Kitchen, who then went on to open Steak/1884.

And another notable newcomer is the mobile phone app, What Was Here?, developed by East Riding Archives that turns smartphones and tablets into virtual time machines.

Using historical photographs from the archives, plotted on to a Google Maps base, it shows users literally “what was here” at locations across the county. It also features heritage trails that guide users to various points of interest.

Councillor Shaun Horton, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's portfolio holder for tourism, culture and leisure, said : "I am absolutely delighted to see that around 30 of these shortlisted venues are in the East Riding, and I send my congratulations to every single one of them on reaching this stage, which is an achievement in itself. It is particularly pleasing to see such a wide range of destinations reflected in the list, from Stamford Bridge across to Tunstall. Good luck to all the venues involved!"

Meanwhile, Councillor Dave Craker, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism at Hull City Council, said: “The REYTA awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the vibrant and booming tourism offer in the region. I would like to wish all of the nominees luck for the evening, they’re all fantastic examples of what our city and region has to offer.”

REMARKABLE EAST YORKSHIRE TOURISM AWARDS FINALISTS 2020

Remarkable Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington

Hull Truck Theatre

Hull Minster

Remarkable B&B and Guest House of the Year

The Wold Cottage, Wold Newton

The Toll Cottage, Cottingham

Newbegin House, Beverley

Wolds Village, Bainton

Remarkable Business Events Venue of the Year

Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby

Bonus Arena, Hull

Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel, Willerby

Tigers Events at the KCOM Stadium, Hull

Bishop Burton College

DoubleTree by Hilton, Hull

Remarkable Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year

Sand le Mer, Tunstall

Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, Bishop Wilton

South Cliff Holiday Park, Bridlington

Manor Farm Camping, Woodmansey

Butt Farm Caravan & Campsite, Beverley

Remarkable Cuppa

The Granary at Rustic Riddle, Ulrome

Drewtons Farm Shop and Restaurant, South Cave

The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Cafe, Gate Helmsley

Wolds Village, Bainton

White Rabbit Chocolatiers, Beverley

Remarkable Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington

William’s Den, North Cave

Bridlington Animal Park

Yorkshire Water Tophill Low Nature Reserve, near Watton

Remarkable Experience of the Year

Hotham’s Gin School, Hull

What Was Here? mobile app, Beverley

Atom Brewing Co, Hull

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Spurn Point

Oresome Jewellery, Hull

Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail

Remarkable Hotel of the Year

Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby

Saltmarshe Hall, Saltmarshe, near Howden

Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel, Willerby

DoubleTree by Hilton, Hull

Loftsome Bridge Hotel, Wressle

Cave Castle Hotel & Country Club, South Cave

Village Hotel, Hull

Remarkable Local Producer Award

Hotham’s Distillery, Hull

Wold Top Brewery, Hunmanby

Cherry View Milk, Cherry Burton

Atom Brewing Co, Hull

Soanes Poultry, Middleton on the Wolds

Humber Street Distillery Co, Hull

Remarkable New Tourism Business Award

Bonus Arena, Hull

Wolds Way Holiday Cottages, Cottingham

Rupert & Darwin, Hull

The Granary at Rustic Riddle, Ulrome

What Was Here? mobile app, Beverley

Bridlington Escape

Remarkable Pub of the Year

The Lion and Key, Hull

The Ship Inn, Sewerby

Atom Brewing Co @ The Corn Exchange, Hull

The Minerva, Hull

The Old House, Hull

Remarkable Restaurant Award

Rustics, Bridlington

Rupert & Darwin, Hull

Parisi Restaurant, Ulrome

Ambiente Tapas, Hull

Tapasya @ Marina, Hull

Humber Fish Co, Hull

Remarkable Self Catering Accommodation of the Year

Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington

Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, Bishop Wilton

Grange Farm Cottages, Wressle

Wolds Way Holiday Cottages, Cottingham

North Kingsfield Holiday Cottages, Bridlington

Bessingby Mews Holiday Cottages, Bridlington

Remarkable Tourism Event of the Year

Freedom Festival, Hull

Pride in Hull, Hull

Tribfest, Sledmere

Humber Street Sesh, Hull

Flamborough Fire Festival

Remarkable Visitor Attraction of the Year

William’s Den, North Cave

Sewerby Hall and Gardens

Bridlington Escape

Sledmere House

Tickets for the 2020 REYTAs awards dinner are available to book via the VHEY website, www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com/REYTA