Chester Cathedral has been crowned the best attraction in the county at a celebration of the cream of the Cheshire’s tourism and hospitality crop at Chester Racecourse.
Beating off competition from Chester Zoo, which was highly commended, Cheshire Ice Cream Farm and Stockley Farm Park in Northwich, the cathedral was awarded Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the 11th annual Marketing Cheshire Awards.
The Falconry and Nature Garden which opened this year added to the already popular Cathedral at Height Tour has helped to establish the cathedral as a top city centre attraction.
The zoo won the award for Best Tourism Marketing Campaign for its work around the opening of Islands during the summer at the event, which was hosted by former political editor of Granada TV and BBC North West Jim Hancock.
Other gongs went to The Lion Salt Works, in Northwich, crowned Best Newcomer to the Tourism Industry following a £10 million pound redevelopment; Carden Park Hotel, named Large Hotel of the Year and The Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, crowned Tourism Experience or Event of the Year.