The brand new #LoveYork Awards, a fun and inclusive social media initiative, is being launched by Visit York today (Monday 25th January) to lift spirits and showcase York’s amazing leisure tourism, hospitality and retail businesses.
The #LoveYork Awards will take place across Visit York social media channels with York residents and virtual ‘visitors’ invited to vote for their favourite York businesses and experiences nominated for each of the 11 award categories.
The virtual awards will support York’s leisure tourism, hospitality and retail businesses by showcasing the great work they’ve done over the last year, as well as their resilience, creativity and passion. A number of award categories focus on the ‘best of the best’ experiences and initiatives introduced by organisations during the period of national lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions. Voters are encouraged to choose their favourite virtual and foodie experiences, to cast their votes for businesses who’ve gone above and beyond in the ‘Going the Extra Mile’ award category and to choose the true ‘Lockdown Hero’.
The #LoveYork Awards are also looking to the future, asking people to vote for the restaurants and cafes, bars and pubs, hotels and B&Bs, as well as attractions and events they are looking forward to returning to and experiencing again the most, once the restrictions are lifted and it is safe for everyone to do so. The competition is expected to be especially fierce among attractions, experiences and food and drink venues – with York boasting a large number of fantastic businesses in these sectors.
With such a diverse local independent shopping scene, #LoveYork Awards are also keen to recognise the people’s ‘Favourite York Independent Shopping Experience’ as well as finding out who will take home the title of ‘Most Surprising York Hidden Gem’.
Ashley Young, Senior Marketing Manager at Make It York, said:
“The #LoveYork Awards are an exciting new initiative created by our team to celebrate the city and the innovative and resilient businesses that we have in York – from world class attractions and independent retailers to diverse and unique hospitality organisations.
“We are excited to promote all nominated businesses across our social media channels, showcasing the great work they’ve done throughout the last year – by bringing innovative ideas and valuable support to York residents and fans of the city from across the globe. We hope that this virtual event will make both nominees and voters proud to be living, working, and doing business in York, showing why we all really #LoveYork and inspiring future visitors to experience the city.”
The #LoveYork Awards is one of the initiatives launched by Make It York as part of the overarching #LoveYork campaign to champion the city’s unique offer and promote York’s diverse range of indie businesses and attractions. Other initiatives include the #LoveYork Virtual Market, #KidsLoveYork Educational hub and the virtual ‘York At Home’ experiences hub.
To cast your votes, visit www.visityork.org/loveyorkawards. Vote closes at 5PM on Wednesday 10 February 2021.
Find out more about the #LoveYork campaign here: www.visityork.org/explore/loveyork
ENDS
Full list of #LoveYork Awards categories and nominations:
Favourite York Virtual Experience
Nominations:
Castle Howard, Dorian Deathly Dark Tours, Shadows of York Tours, The Bloody Tour of York, The Treasure Hunt York, Brew York, Yorkshire Air Museum – 360 VR Halifax Bomber, Anne Lister tour, National Railway Museum, Mansion House behind the scenes, #CuratorBattle – York Museums Trust, JORVIK online classes
The Restaurant I Can’t Wait to Dine At
Nominations:
The Cut & Craft, Lucia Restaurant, Plush Café, Ippuku Tea House, Forest Restaurant (at Galtres Lodge), Grantley Hall restaurants, Ambiente Tapas, The Drovers Arms, Roots York, Los Moros, Fancy Hank’s, The Impossible Bar
An Attraction or Experience I’ll Be Visiting First After Lockdown
Nominations:
Castle Howard, York Theatre Royal, York Maze, Dorian Deathly Tours, Shadows of York, BOBH – Day Trips from York, The Bloody Tour of York, Can You Escape? York, Eden Camp, Mother Shipton’s Cave, National Railway Museum, York Minster, JORVIK Viking Centre, City Cruises York, Cookery School at The Grand York, The York Dungeon
The Most Surprising York Hidden Gem
Nominations:
The Blue Bell, Plush Café, Ippuku Tea House, Galtres Lodge, Mother Shipton’s Cave, Brathwaite Gallery, Taylor Made Kitchen, The Dark Horse Espresso Bar, The Bar Convent, According to McGee, Springwood Shepherd Huts, Holgate Windmill, Barley Hall, Mansion House, Jorvik DIG, Merchant Adventurer’s Hall, Fairfax House, The York Dungeon
The Pub/Bar I’ll Be Heading to First
Nominations:
The Blue Bell, The House of Trembling Madness, The Drovers Arms, The Impossible Bar, The Market Cat, Brew York, The Lamb and Lion Inn, The Printer’s Apprentice, Walmgate Ale House
Favourite Lockdown Foodie Experience
Nominations:
Plush Cafe afternoon tea, Ippuku Tea House, Ambiente Tapas, Taylor Made Kitchen, Na Na Noodles, The Dark Horse Espresso Bar, The Drovers Arms, Taylor Made Kitchen, Yuzu street food, Shambles Market Food Court, That Fudge Guy, SPARK: York, Dough Eyed Pizza
Going the Extra Mile Award
Nominations:
Castle Howard, Deathly Dark Tours, Shadows of York, The Bar Convent a ‘Choir of Angels’ project, The House of Trembling Madness, Ainsty Ales, York Theatre Royal, York Gin, Love Cheese, Pairings Wine Bar, National Centre for Early Music, SPARK: York
The Event I’m Eager to Attend
Nominations:
Castle Howard Proms, York Balloon Fiesta, York Maze Hallowscream, York Races, York Ice Trail, JORVIK Viking Festival, York Christmas Festival, Winter Wonderland at York Designer Outler, York Pride, Residents Festival, York Food & Drink Festival, Rugby League World Cup 2021, York City Football Club matches, York City Knights
Home Away from Home Award
Nominations:
Alma York, Grantley Hall, Galtres Lodge, 109 Nunnery Lane, Goodramgate Apartments, Roomzzz Aparthotel, The Grand York, Middlethorpe Hall, The Principal York, Springwood Shepherd Huts, The Enchantment Chamber, Jollydays, 23 St Mary’s, Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, Grays Court, Woodlands Farm Thimbleby
Favourite York Independent Shopping Experience
Nominations:
Castle Howard Farm Shop, York Ghost Merchants, The House of Trembling Madness, The Zentist, Plush Cafe Boutique Shop, Shambles Market, Azendi Jewellery, The Potions Cauldron, Ancestral Name, Demijohn, The Shop that Must not be Named, York Gin, Rafi’s Spicebox, That Fudge Guy, Asgard, Bradley’s Jevellers
Lockdown Hero Award
Nominations:
Dorian Deathly Dark Tours, Shadows of York, York Theatre Royal, Fairfax House & York Civic Trust, Dean Court Hotel, York Art Gallery, The Supper Collective, SPARK: York, Caesars
Notes to Editor
Make It York
Make It York’s purpose is to develop and promote the city and its surroundings – nationally and internationally – as a vibrant and attractive place to live, visit, study, work and do business. The company’s remit covers leisure and business tourism, city centre management, festivals and events, business support and inward investment.
Visit York is a part of Make It York and is the leisure tourism brand
Under the brand Visit York, Make It York’s aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure visitor and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York.
For more information please contact:
Ana Ignatova – Communications Executive
Email: ana.ignatova@makeityork.com
