CHESHIRE’S visitor economy was celebrated in style at Warrington’s Walton Hall & Gardens as the winners of the Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards 2026 were announced at a sell-out ceremony.
The Parr’s Bank Hotel in Warrington was crowned The Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year award with judges describing the rooms as “immaculate,” the food as “excellent,” and praised the exceptional standard of customer service.
Hosted by television personalities Kelvin and Liz Fletcher of ITV’s Fletcher’s Family Farm, the awards showcased the very best of the region’s tourism sector. Organised by Marketing Cheshire, this year’s awards attracted a record number of entries, with judges selecting winners across 19 highly competitive categories.
The Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award went to BeWILDerwood Cheshire, the 70-acre woodland adventure park located beside Cholmondeley Castle.
Judges commended the attraction’s high standards of cleanliness and maintenance, its inclusive range of activities and equipment for families, and its commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism.
Chester Zoo picked up two awards on the night, following a year when they welcomed more than 2.1 million visitors last year — the highest attendance in its history.
The conservation charity was a clear winner of the Regenerative Tourism Award, with judges praising the zoo’s “outstanding, holistic approach to regenerative tourism — combining operational excellence with global conservation leadership.”
They highlighted initiatives including renewable energy generation, water reuse, waste composting and ethical supply chain sourcing.
The team behind the zoo’s new Heart of Africa habitat, opened in Spring 2025, also collected the Team of the Year award. The African savannah-style Heart of Africa covers more than 22 acres and features 57 species, including a large paddock where zebra, antelope, giraffe and ostrich live side-by-side.
In addition, Chester Zoo was highly commended in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category.
Another double winner was Nunsmere Hall Hotel in Tarporley, named Large Hotel of the Year and also Wedding Venue of the Year.
Judges praised its attractive and well-maintained grounds, spacious and tastefully decorated rooms, and high-quality food and drink offering, including locally sourced beers and gins. Staff were described as “polite, friendly and enthusiastic.”
In a surprise announcement on the night, the Special Contribution to Tourism award was presented to Professor Teresa Anderson MBE, founder of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement.
Since opening in 2011, the centre has welcomed around 125,000 visitors annually, including significant numbers of schoolchildren. In 2016, Professor Anderson co-founded the Bluedot Festival and played a leading role in securing UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Jodrell Bank in 2019.
Judges described her as “a visionary leader whose work has transformed a Cheshire visitor attraction into a world-renowned cultural and tourism destination.”
The Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year award went to The Parr’s Bank Hotel, Warrington. Judges described the rooms as “immaculate,” the food as “excellent,” and praised the exceptional standard of customer service.
Hosts Kelvin and Liz Fletcher said it was an honour to present the awards.
Kelvin, who won Strictly with dance partner Oti Mabuse in 2019 and played Andy Sugden in Emmerdale, said: “To host such a prestigious evening and be in a room full of people who play such a vital role in Cheshire’s visitor economy was a real privilege.”
Liz added: “The quality of entries was incredibly high. We are proud to live and work in Cheshire, and it was wonderful to see the people behind the region’s tourism offer recognised.”
Some winners will now automatically progress to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, representing Cheshire and Warrington on the national stage.
Jamie Christon, Chair of Marketing Cheshire, said: “Congratulations to all our fantastic winners. Latest data shows the visitor economy is worth ?4.32 billion to the Cheshire and Warrington economy and supports almost 40,000 jobs.
“So, it’s important we celebrate the contribution tourism makes to the region and our communities, and to recognise the brilliant people who are working incredibly hard in challenging times for our industry.
“The Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards really do highlight the businesses and individuals behind this success and for those going through to the national VisitEngland Awards, we wish them the very best of luck.”
