Winners announced at the 2026 East Midlands Tourism Awards

Rising stars, attractions and accommodation providers are among those to have been honoured for excellence at the prestigious 2026 East Midlands Tourism Awards. 

Hundreds of guests, including industry leaders and innovators gathered at Derby County Football Club’s Pride Park Stadium last night – Wednesday 18 March – for an evening of celebration during English Tourism Week, which runs from 13-22 March. 

The awards brought together businesses, attractions, accommodation providers and hospitality leaders from across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the wider region to celebrate excellence in tourism. 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “The East Midlands Tourism Awards showcase the places and experiences that make our region so special.  

“I’m proud to congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists who are helping to make the East Midlands a destination of choice. Their hard work, creativity and passion not only attract visitors from far and wide, but also support local jobs, businesses and communities.  

“Together we are building a stronger visitor economy and making the East Midlands an even better place to live, work and visit.” 

Tourism plays a vital role in the East Midlands economy, contributing £5.25 billion in 2024-5 and supporting thousands of jobs across the region.

The annual tourism awards recognise the outstanding achievements of businesses helping to grow the visitor economy and showcase everything the East Midlands has to offer, attracting visitors from across the UK and around the world and helping drive economic growth, investment and opportunities for local communities.  

By celebrating the best in the industry, the awards continue to shine a spotlight on the innovation, quality and dedication that drive the region’s tourism success and support its continued growth. 

The awards were organised through collaboration between regional tourism partners including Visit Nottinghamshire, Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Visit Derby, with support from the East Midlands Combined County Authority. 

Megan Powell Vreeswijk, Visit Nottinghamshire chief executive officer, said:  “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the winners of the Nottinghamshire Tourism Awards and to recognise the exceptional quality, innovation and dedication shown by businesses across our visitor economy. 

“These awards are a powerful reminder of the vital role tourism plays in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – supporting jobs, driving investment and creating experiences that attract millions of visitors each year, support 22,500 jobs and generate £2.53 billion in economic impact.  

“It was fantastic to come together with our partners at Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby to showcase our exceptional visitor economy sector across the East Midlands. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and we keep our fingers crossed for our Gold award recipients being picked to represent the region on the national stage at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.” 

‘Inspiring moment’

 Jo Dilley, Visit Peak District & Derbyshire managing director, said: “The Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards provide an inspiring moment to come together and celebrate the passion, innovation and dedication that drive our visitor economy forward. This event is more than an awards ceremony – it’s a showcase of the remarkable businesses, individuals and experiences that contribute £3.58bn in economic value to the local economy. 

“By uniting finalists, partners and champions of tourism in the East Midlands under one roof, we’re able to highlight the strength of collaboration in delivering exceptional experiences, boosting local pride and contributing significantly to our economic growth. Congratulations to our worthy winners!” 

The awards recognise a range of tourism businesses, from accommodation providers and visitor attractions to restaurants, experiences and hospitality venues. Finalists progressed through a rigorous judging process to determine this year’s winners.  

The gold winners from key categories will now go on to represent the East Midlands at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. 

Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire in collaboration with Visit Derby: 2026 Winners

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

• Gold: Hoe Grange Holidays
• Silver: Cupola Café-Bar-Pizza-Grill
• Bronze: Peak Edge Hotel

B&B and Guest House of the Year

• Gold: The Bull’s Head, Foolow
• Silver: The Dragon, Willington
• Bronze: The Boot, Repton

Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year

• Gold: Sandybrook Lodges
• Silver: Hartington Hills
• Bronze: Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Dog Friendly Tourism Business of the Year

• Gold: Rivendale Lodge Retreat
• Silver: Bike & Boot
• Bronze: Thornbridge Hall

Experience of the Year

• Gold: Peak Walking Adventures
• Silver: PeakePedals Ltd
• Bronze: Buxton Pottery Painting

Family Friendly Tourism Business of the Year

• Gold: The Children’s Country House at Sudbury
• Silver: Bluebell Dairy
• Bronze: Thornbridge Hall

Hotel of the Year

• Gold: Peak Edge Hotel
• Silver: The Peacock at Rowsley
• Bronze: Morley Hayes

New Tourism Business of the Year

• Gold: Langley Meadows
• Silver: Wild & Other
• Bronze: The Torr Vale Tap

Pub of the Year

• Gold: The Tickled Trout
• Silver: The Boot, Repton
• Bronze: The Blind Bull

Regenerative Tourism Award

• Gold: Hoe Grange Holidays
• Silver: Wild & Other
• Bronze: Morley Hayes

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year

• Gold: Darley House
• Silver: Brosterfield Farm
• Bronze: Cupola Cafe-Bar-Pizza-Grill

Taste of the Peak District Derbyshire & Derby Award – Café/Tea Room

• Gold: Hackney House Café and Deli
• Silver: Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop
• Bronze: On the Bridge

Taste of the Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby – Restaurants

• Gold: The Garden Room at Wildhive Callow Hall
• Silver: Red Lion Restaurant at Peak Edge Hotel
• Bronze: The Peacock at Rowsley

Team of the Year

• Gold: Buxton Opera House Volunteers
• Silver: The Arkwright Society, Cromford Mill
• Bronze: The Wheatsheaf, Bakewell

Tourism Young Achiever

• Gold: Grace Medhurst – Yorkshire Bridge Inn
• Silver: Dylan Torr – Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust
• Bronze: Melissa Collins

Unsung Hero

• Gold: Vivienne Smith – National Stone Centre
• Silver: David Brown – Hoe Grange Holidays
• Bronze: Jamie Parker – Cupola Cafe-Bar-Pizza-Grill

Visitor Attraction of the Year

• Gold: Denby Pottery
• Silver: Bluebell Dairy
• Bronze: Calke Abbey

Festival or Event of the Year

• Gold: Celebrating Jane Austen at Chatsworth
• Silver: Buxton Georgian Festival
• Bronze: Alstom presents The Greatest Gathering

Nottinghamshire Tourism Awards

Visit Nottinghamshire: 2026 winners

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

• Gold: Nottingham Playhouse
• Silver: Sherwood Observatory
• Bronze: Forestry England Sherwood Pines

Business Events Venue of the Year

• Gold: Nottingham Venues
• Silver: Cleaver & Wake at The Island Quarter
• Bronze: Renaissance at Kelham Hall

Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year

• Gold: Wild Acre Village at Sundown Adventureland
• Silver: Wolds Wine Estate
• Bronze: Sherwood Pines Campsite

Entertainment Venue of the Year

• Gold: DHP Family – Rock City
• Silver: Nottingham Playhouse
• Bronze: Motorpoint Arena Nottingham

Experience of the Year

• Gold: Eden Hall Day Spa
• Silver: Go Ape at Sherwood Pines
• Bronze: Holme Pierrepont Country Park (Home of the National Watersports Centre)

Family Friendly Attraction of the Year

• Gold: White Post Farm
• Silver: Manor Farm Park & Woodlands
• Bronze: Forestry England Sherwood Pines

Festival or Event of the Year

• Gold: Light Night – Nottingham City Council & It’s in Nottingham
• Silver: Christmas Market at Nottingham Castle – It’s in Nottingham
• Bronze (tie):
  • Beat the Streets – DHP Family
  • The Waterfront Festival – I’m Not From London

Hotel of the Year

• Gold: Orchard Hotel – Nottingham Venues
• Silver: Holiday Inn Nottingham Castle Marina
• Bronze: Crowne Plaza Nottingham

New Tourism Business Award

• Gold: Splash Art Republic
• Silver: Tom Browns
• Bronze: Notts Mining Heritage Centre CIC

Pub of the Year

• Gold: The Reindeer at Hoveringham
• Silver: The Old Volunteer
• Bronze: Malt Cross

Regenerative Tourism Award

• Gold: Eastwood Hall
• Silver: Woodborough Hall
• Bronze: Nottingham Playhouse

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year

• Gold: Village Holidays
• Silver: Southwell Holiday Cottage – Lavender Cottage
• Bronze: Castle House

Taste of Nottinghamshire – Casual Dining

• Gold: Zaap Thai Street Food
• Silver: Hickory’s Smokehouse Gamston
• Bronze: Fothergills

Taste of Nottinghamshire – Restaurant

• Gold: Hemisphere
• Silver: Woodborough Hall
• Bronze: The Old Volunteer

Team of the Year

• Gold: Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall
• Silver: Sherwood Pines Campsite
• Bronze: Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum

Unsung Hero Award

• Gold: Glennis Robinson – Manor Farm Park & Woodlands
• Silver: Chez Moore Sherwood – Pines Campsite
• Bronze: Darren Phillips – DropWorks

Visitor Attraction of the Year

• Gold: National Justice Museum
• Silver: The Welbeck Estate
• Bronze: Rufford Abbey Country Park