Treasure Houses Win at Hudson's Heritage Awards 2014 - Leeds Castle Win the Award for BEST ACCOMMODATION

WINNER:  Leeds Castle, Knights’ Glampsite

BEST ACCOMMODATION sponsored by Signpost Hotel Guide

Leeds Castle Knights' Glampsite

Our winner provides a rather different accommodation. Last year Leeds Castle laid out a ‘Knight’s Glampsite’. The idea came from the fact that Henry VIII’s procession to the famous Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 stopped at this historic castle en route.  Guests are accommodated in specially commissioned double pavilions in jaunty stripes with really civilised bathrooms, wood burning stoves and luxurious furnishings incorporating silk, wool and fur. The tents are named after Henry VIII’s champions and this year a Knight’s School is planned to give families something extra.

It is camping certainly, but camping with a twist, more reminiscent of a top of the range safari camp but with a distinctly mediaeval flair.  Last year’s Knightly Glampers all particularly enjoyed the experience of having privileged access to the castle after the general public had left and this is all the better now, Leeds Castle opens its restaurant for evening diners.

2014 Hudson's Heritage Award Winners

About Hudson's Awards

The Treasure Houses Of England

The Treasure Houses of England are 10 of the most magnificent palaces, houses and castles in England today. Together they attract in excess of 2.8 million visitors annually.

Members are Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Burghley, Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Harewood, Hatfield House, Holkham Hall, Leeds Castle and Woburn Abbey.

One of the most compelling features of the Treasure Houses of England is that they all offer the visitor a living history. Most are still homes to the great families who have owned them for generations. Others keep their heritage alive by re-creating scenes and events that have dominated and shaped England from the 9th century to the present day.

Between them they house some of the most important art collections in the world with famous works from artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. The connoisseur of fine furniture, porcelain and china will find priceless examples of Chippendale, Wedgwood and Meissen.
Each house is an architectural masterpiece surrounded by beautiful parklands and gardens.

Treasure Houses Win at Hudson's Heritage Awards 2014 - Blenheim Palace Win the Award for BEST SHOPPING

WINNER:  Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
BEST SHOPPING sponsored by Spear’s, the luxury lifestyle media brand

Blenheim Palace Gift Shop

Blenheim Palace won a Commercial Innovation Award here last year, in recognition of a major investment programme which has reinvigorated many of the visitor areas with new buildings, restoration and redevelopment. What impressed the judges is how this programme is continuing with more innovation and continuing attention to detail. 

The team at Blenheim run 3 shops.  The newest is The Children’s Shop, selling pocket money toys, treats and fancy dress that will appeal to kids.  There is a shop selling high quality arts and crafts from the immediate surrounding area, though for 2014 this will be a World War 1 shop specialising in First World War memorabilia to support the major exhibition in the house.  And of course there is an exemplary gift shop which sells a range of items including many carrying the attraction’s own brand. The judges particularly liked a new range of items inspired by the working lives of the household staff, called Below Stairs. And if you need the Valet’s Shoe Polishing Kit or the Housemaid’s Bannister Brush, you can now order it online and have it posted direct.

2014 Hudson's Heritage Award Winners

About Hudson's Awards

The Treasure Houses Of England

The Treasure Houses of England are 10 of the most magnificent palaces, houses and castles in England today. Together they attract in excess of 2.8 million visitors annually.

Members are Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Burghley, Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Harewood, Hatfield House, Holkham Hall, Leeds Castle and Woburn Abbey.

One of the most compelling features of the Treasure Houses of England is that they all offer the visitor a living history. Most are still homes to the great families who have owned them for generations. Others keep their heritage alive by re-creating scenes and events that have dominated and shaped England from the 9th century to the present day.

Between them they house some of the most important art collections in the world with famous works from artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. The connoisseur of fine furniture, porcelain and china will find priceless examples of Chippendale, Wedgwood and Meissen.
Each house is an architectural masterpiece surrounded by beautiful parklands and gardens.

Beaulieu Strikes Gold At Beautiful South Awards 2013

Beaulieu staff with the Beautiful South 2013 gold awards

Beaulieu Events Manager Judith Maddox receiving
the gold award

Beaulieu celebrated a double win at Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Awards, as the attraction was presented with two gold awards at the ceremony held at the Felbridge Hotel, West Sussex on Wednesday 27^th November.

The first gold of the evening was awarded to Beaulieu in the Access for All Tourism category, in a joint win with the Radisson Blu Edwardian Guildford Hotel. This was shortly followed by another gold award for Beaulieu, as the attraction’s International Autojumble won the Tourism Event of the Year.

Members of both the Beaulieu Events and Front of House teams were present at the ceremony to collect their awards. Over the years, Beaulieu has developed into one of the South’s leading day visitor attractions, and prides itself on its visitor facilities and customer services. Its features now include the internationally renowned National Motor Museum, the World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House and gardens.
The International Autojumble, now in its 47^th year, remains the most popular and longest-running of Beaulieu’s motoring events. It is the largest sale of motoring items this side of the Atlantic and welcomes somewhere in the region of 37,000 visitors over the course of the annual two day show.

2013 has proved to be a successful year for Beaulieu, which was also awarded gold in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the 2013 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive these accolades, and are very proud to be recognised for the attraction’s accessibility, as this is something we have strived to improve upon as much as possible in recent times. It is wonderful to finish this year on such a high note.”

Having now been running for over twenty years, the Beautiful South Awards celebrate the very best the South East has to offer for all types of tourism businesses including B&Bs, hotels, holiday parks, self catering, visitor attractions, as well as recognising those businesses that have gone the extra mile on accessibility, sustainability and great customer service.

The awards ceremony was co-hosted by Tourism South East Chairman, Ken Robinson CBE, and travel journalist and broadcaster, Alison Rice.

Mr Robinson said: “It is great to see such excellence rewarded.  These 2013 Beautiful South Awards represent the culmination of hard work and dedication by the best tourism professionals, in our best tourism businesses, that have been recognised for providing such outstanding customer experiences.  I look forward to seeing our winners go on to represent the South East on the national stage at the Visit England Awards for Excellence in 2014.”
Peter Colling, Managing Director of TSE added: “What a brilliant night and reminder to everyone that the South East is home to some of the country’s very best tourism businesses and experiences.”

For more information about Beaulieu, please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk