Being shortlisted for White Rose Awards is a big deal. It’s the largest tourism awards ceremony in the UK, celebrating the cream of Yorkshire Tourism, so we were a bit giddy to hear that we’ve been shortlisted in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category, alongside:
- The Forbidden Corner, Leyburn
- Emmerdale Studio Experience, Leeds
- The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield
- JORVIK Viking Centre, York
- The Piece Hall, Halifax
- Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley
Obviously, we’re hoping that we’ll be bringing home the trophy at the awards ceremony on 12 November, but if not, we’d love our fantastic neighbours The Piece Hall to bring it back to Halifax!
Our award submission was based on the success of our phenomenal 25th Anniversary Year in 2017 – a year that saw us open our Spark gallery, host the European Premier of digiPlaySpace, recruit 25 inspirational ambassadors of eye-watering calibre, announce plans for our second site: Eureka! Mersey and celebrate our highest visitor numbers in 20 years. Here are a few of the highlights:
A bumper year for Calderdale
It’s incredibly rewarding to see Calderdale represented so strongly in this years’ shortlist – with us and The Piece Hall proudly representing – but also with some fantastic recognition of Halifax Tourist Information Centre and The Millers Bar in Brighouse for Pub of the Year. Come on Calderdale!
Yorkshire Attractions Group
Our colleagues from the Yorkshire Attractions group are well represented this year too, with Yorkshire Wildlife Park shortlisted in the Business Tourism Award, and we’re positively hogging the Large Visitor Attraction shortlist, with Emmerdale Studio Experience, The Hepworth Wakefield, JORVIK Viking Centre and Cannon Hall Farm in there with us too!
Stay tuned to Twitter on 12th November to find out if we’re bringing the trophy back to Halifax. Fingers crossed!
By: Leigh-Anne Stradeski