Winners of VisitEngland Access for All Award 2012

The Great North Museum: Hancock and The Leicester Theatre Trust scoop Gold.

23 May 2012. The Great North Museum: Hancock and The Leicester Theatre Trust have both won Gold in the Access for All category of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012. 

The coveted accolade was one of 19 presented at a glittering ceremony hosted by the national tourist board at the art-deco Athena in Leicester, on 22 May. These prestigious awards, currently in their 23rd year, promote excellence in England’s tourism industry and celebrate the very best the country has to offer. 

Access for All Tourism Award

A key category in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, The Access For All Tourism Award, recognises businesses that provide exceptional access for all visitors.

Gold winner, The Leicester Theatre Trust demonstrates a strong and on-going commitment to accessibility.  The spring/summer diary sees 7 assisted performances at The Curve theatre, where touch tours, care for assistance dogs and audio guides are just some of the services provided.

The Great North Museum: Hancock equally impressed the judges with a ‘never finished’ attitude towards providing exceptional accessibility through regular input from disabled groups. The museum’s redevelopment has allowed for excellent physical access and a strong commitment to the needs of hearing and visually impaired visitors was evident.

The University of Leeds, which provides accommodation to guests during the summer vacation, was awarded Bronze.  Storm Jameson Court has recently been awarded ‘Access Exceptional’ under the National Accessible Scheme, and is also hosting the Canadian Paralympic Rugby Team. It has 23 new fully accessible rooms, and provides an ideal base to explore the buzzing city of Leeds or the surrounding countryside.

Three businesses were Highly Commended on the night. The UK’s largest indoor waterpark, Sandcastle Waterpark, created a splash with excellent testimonials and facilities including a new wet changing room with sensory equipment & hoist tracking system and pool accessible wheelchairs.

The Beacon Museum impressed judges with comprehensive disability awareness training, strong information provision with various alternative formats and a good website. 

The homely Abbey Guest House in Oxfordshire provides an impressive range of accessibility equipment and an excellent website including a detailed Accessibility section.

Other Awards

Other awards announced at the ceremony in Leicester included the best bed and breakfast in England, best small hotel, best tourism experience, Taste of England, sustainable tourism award and caravan holiday park of the year.  The 34 Gold and Silver winners were selected from a shortlist of 69 finalists, judged by a panel of tourism industry experts including VisitEngland Board Member David Orr and travel broadcaster Alison Rice.

VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, James Berresford, commented:
“The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence represent the highest accolade in English tourism. They champion the very best quality, and continue to help to raise standards across the industry, establishing England’s place as a world-class destination and a thoroughly fantastic place to visit. This year’s awards were the biggest ever, with a record number of almost 400 entrants from across the country. All our finalists are to be warmly congratulated for their success – particularly our Gold Award winners, whose passion and commitment to excellence is outstanding.”

Visit the Awards website: www.enjoyengland.com/excellence