Tourism industry gears up for awards

Hotels, holiday cottages, museums and adventure play parks in Norfolk are proving big hitters in the world of tourism with ten of the county's businesses up for regional awards.

This year's Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, for the East of England, are awash with nominees from Norfolk in categories including best small hotel, large visitor attraction and sustainable tourism.

As well as competing against businesses from Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, some of the Norfolk contingent will find themselves battling against each other.

Deepdale Leisure, at Burnham Deepdale, will go head to head with Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham, in the Sustainable Tourism category.

And, as the only business with two nominations, Incleborough House at East Runton will go up against Carrick's Castle Farm at Swanton Morely in the bed and breakfast section and Nutmeg and Plum Tree Cottages, of Wroxham, in the self-catering category.

The other finalists are Broad House Hotel, Wroxham, for best small hotel; the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum, Neatishead, in the small visitor attraction section; Park House Hotel, Sandringham, for the Access for All category; Denver Mill, Denver, near Downham Market, in the Taste of England section; and Bewilderwood adventure play park, Hoveton, for best large visitor attraction.

Lydia Smith, team manager for Norfolk Tourism, said: “Congratulations to the Norfolk businesses shortlisted in the East of England awards. To get this far in a competition across six counties is a tremendous endorsement.”

Known as the Oscars of the tourism industry, the awards promote high standards and healthy competition in the east and winners will go on to battle it out at the national awards next spring.

The East of England awards ceremony takes place on Thursday at Ickworth, near Bury St Edmunds.

For more information visit www.eet.org.uk.