TOURISM AWARDS SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

Organisers of Hull and East Yorkshire’s premier tourism awards, the REYTAs, have been “staggered” at the quality of this year’s entries.

“To shortlist down to 72 from approaching 200 applications has been really tough,” said Visit Hull and East Yorkshire tourism manager Andy Gray. “The quality of the entries this year has been incredible. It highlights what a brilliant tourism offer we have for the visitor across Hull & East Yorkshire.”

The hotly-anticipated list for the 2018 Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards (the REYTAs), announced today, features some of Hull and East Yorkshire’s finest attractions, restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels, accommodation providers and tourism experiences.

The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday March 15 at Hull’s first four-star hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton, which opened in Ferensway just before Christmas.

Now in their ninth year and regarded as the tourism “Oscars”, the REYTAs honour the brightest and best in this region's tourism industry and celebrate the enormous achievements of businesses across Hull and East Yorkshire.

Tourism is a vital part of this area's economy, contributing £797 million annually and provides employment for more than 17,000 people. The REYTAs help to support the industry by raising awareness of the superb quality on offer to visitors.

In total, finalists in 13 categories are being announced today with a 14th 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.

Winners will also be eligible for shortlisting through to the Visit England Awards for Excellence.

“We’re really excited to be bringing the awards dinner back to Hull after a gap of two years,” said VHEY tourism manager Andy Gray. “We’re going all out to make this a real night to remember in what is an absolutely fantastic location.

“We have some outstanding businesses and organisations on the shortlist which will make the mystery shoppers’ task very difficult in finding the winners. And there are many newcomers making it through to the finals for the first time, which shows just how vibrant the industry is.

“Tourism has had a fantastic year, not least because of City of Culture, with increased visitor numbers being reported, and this will be reflected on the night.”

The Newcomer category, of course, is full of new names, being open to businesses that set up between January 1, 2016, and June 30 last year. Shortlisted this year are the stylish gin and cocktail bar, the Humber Street Distillery in Hull’s Fruit Market area, William’s Den, the adventure play park near North Cave, Beverley’s “small plates” restaurant The Pig & Whistle,  the Cow Shed cafe at Fraisthorpe beach, the self-catering boutique Hideout Hotel close to Hull Minster and the hop on, hop off Hull Explorer tour bus, operated by East Yorkshire Coaches.

* Tickets for the 2018 REYTAs awards dinner are available to book via the VHEY website, www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com

REMARKABLE EAST YORKSHIRE TOURISM AWARDS FINALISTS 2018

Remarkable Bed & Breakfast/Boutique Guest Accommodation

The Toll Cottage, Cottingham

Wolds Village, Bainton

Highfield Farm B&B, Southburn, near Driffield

Remarkable Business Tourism Award:

Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel, Willerby

KCom Stadium, Hull

Hallmark Hotel, Hull

Beverley Racecourse

Bridlington Spa

Bishop Burton College

Beyond Events, University of Hull

Remarkable Cuppa

Kavanaghs Cafe & Tea Rooms, Beverley

Riverhouse Coffee Co., Hull

T C Patisserie, Beverley

Lempicka Cafe, Beverley

Wolds Village, Bainton

Drewton’s Farm Shop & Restaurant, South Cave

Remarkable Holiday Park/Holiday Village

Thorpe Hall Caravan & Camping Site, Rudston

Sand le Mere Holiday Village, Tunstall

Patrington Haven Leisure Park

Far Grange Park & Golf Club, Skipsea

Butt Farm Caravan & Campsite, Beverley

Remarkable Hotel

Hallmark Hotel, Hull

Village Hotel, Hull

Cave Castle Hotel & Country Club, South Cave

Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel, Willerby

Holiday Inn, Hull Marina

Remarkable Newcomer

William’s Den, North Cave

Humber Street Distillery, Hull

The Pig & Whistle, Beverley

Hull Explorer

Hideout Hotel, Hull

The Cow Shed @ Fraisthorpe Beach

Remarkable Pub

Minerva Hotel, Hull

The Head of Steam, Hull

The Old House by Shoot The Bull, Hull

The Old Star, Kilham

Wrygarth Inn, Great Hatfield

The Lion and Key, Hull

Remarkable Restaurant

Tapasya, Hull

Tapasya@Marina, Hull

The Pig & Whistle, Beverley

1884 Wine & Tapas Bar, Hull

The Old House by Shoot The Bull, Hull

1884 Dock Street Kitchen, Hull

Remarkable Self-Catering Provider/Property
Nordham Cottages, North Cave

Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington

The Swallow’s Nest, Brandesburton

Kingfisher Lakes Glamping, Brandesburton

Corporation Farm Cottages, Tickton

Little Otchan Shepherd’s Hut, Halsham

Remarkable Taste of East Yorkshire

White Rabbit Chocolatiers, Beverley

Field & Forage, Thornholme

Drewton’s Farm Shop & Restaurant, South Cave

Side Oven Bakery, Foston on the Wolds

Atom Brewing, Hull

Mr Moo’s Real Dairy Ice-Cream, Skipsea

Laurel Vines Vineyard and Winery, Aike

Remarkable Tourism Event (over 30,000 visitors a year)

Humber Street Sesh, Hull

Freedom Festival, Hull

Beverley Food Festival

Remarkable Tourism Event (under 30,000 visitors a year)

The Big Malarkey, Hull

Hull Street Food Nights

Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival

Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival

Lambing Sunday, Bishop Burton College

Remarkable Visitor Attraction/Experience

Hull New Theatre

Hull Truck Theatre

Spurn National Nature Reserve

Hull Minster

Burton Constable Hall

Bridlington Birds of Prey and Animal Park

Humber Street Gallery, Hull

For press enquiries, please contact Roy Woodcock on 077300 52727 or email@roywoodcock.co.uk  or Andy Gray, VHEY Tourism Manager on 01482 391526 or andy.gray@vhey.co.uk