Tourism businesses across the South West of Scotland including Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, Kitchen Coos & Ewes, Queensberry House in Moffat, The Ship Inn, Loch Ken Eco Bothies, Devil’s Porridge Museum and Annandale Distillery have received recognition at Scotland’s premier tourism and events awards.
A total of 13 businesses and individuals received an award at the Scottish Thistle Awards regional finals for the West, which took place last night (Thursday 10 November) at Òran Mór in Glasgow.
We deliver the Scottish Thistle Awards, sponsored by Johnstons of Elgin, and this year it includes a media partnership with News Scotland for the first time. They celebrate the very best of tourism in Scotland and the excellence that is helping to rebuild this vital part of the Scottish economy in the last two years.
This year saw more than 500 entries submitted, including almost 1,000 nominations from members of the public keen to give hotels, restaurants, B&Bs, visitor attractions and individuals the opportunity to earn the recognition they deserve in the part they play in making Scotland such a fantastic place to visit.
And the winners are…
This year’s regional winners include:
Best B&B or Guest House Experience award, sponsored by Abbey UK:
Queensberry House in Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway
Best Bar or Pub award, sponsored by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association:
The Ormidale, Isle of Arran
Best Eatery Experience award:
The Ship Inn & No1 Fleet Street Restaurant in Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway
Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience award:
Kitchen Coos & Ewes in Newton Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway
Kitchen Coos and Ewes, Dumfries & Galloway
Best Hotel Experience (over 20 rooms) award, sponsored by Fishers:
Auchrannie Resort, Isle of Arran
Best Hotel Experience (under 20 rooms) award:
The Ship Inn Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway
The Best Self Catering Accommodation Experience award:
Loch Ken Eco Bothies in Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway
Visitors at Loch Ken
Best Visitor Attraction Experience award:
Devil’s Porridge Museum in Eastriggs, Dumfries & Galloway
Food Tourism award, sponsored by J Thomson Colour Printers:
Once Upon a Whisky, Glasgow
Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival category award:
Glasgow Life: Celtic Connections
Celtic Connections
Regional Ambassador award for the West:
Fiona Campbell from the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers.
Tourism & Hospitality Hero award sponsored by HIT Scotland:
Lee Medd from Annandale Distillery
The Working Together for Tourism award, sponsored by Historic Environment Scotland:
Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.
Congratulations to all of the winners at the West Regional Final of the Scottish Thistle Awards. The Scottish Thistle Awards shine a spotlight on the very best of Scotland’s tourism and events industry, celebrating the businesses and individuals who have worked tirelessly in the last two years to create the fantastic destination and visitor experiences that Scotland is famous for.
The Scottish Thistle Awards mark an important celebration as we move towards recovery from the pandemic and support the ambition of Outlook 2030, for Scotland to be a world leader in 21st century tourism.
I wish the regional winners the best of luck as they continue to the Scottish Thistle Awards National Final next year.
What are the Scottish Thistles Awards?
The Scottish Thistle Awards, with headline sponsor Johnstons of Elgin, combine regional awards, including the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) and the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards (ACSTA), with a national final.
The awards champion innovation, collaboration and sustainable practices, in line with the ambitions of the national tourism strategy, Outlook 2030.
Responsible tourism is at the heart of the refreshed Scottish Thistle Awards, supporting the aim for Scotland to be recognised globally as a leader in this field.
As well as a new category celebrating those businesses and events which have embraced responsible tourism, every entry was required to provide clear evidence – covering the last two years – on how their business addresses four key areas of a low carbon economy, inclusivity, thriving communities and Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage.
Regional winners will now come head-to-head with competition from other tourism businesses and events across Scotland at the National Final taking place in February 2023.
Take a look the website to find out more about the Scottish Thistle Awards.
