Yorkshire's finest celebrated at the White Rose Awards 2018

England manager Gareth Southgate has been officially named as an ‘Honorary Yorkshireman.’

He was presented with the honour at the White Rose Awards in Harrogate, the UK’s biggest annual celebration of tourism, which recognises the very best tourism businesses in Yorkshire.

The honour is presented by Welcome to Yorkshire to inspirational individuals who have made a big impact on Yorkshire, despite being born outside the county lines.

Back in the summer Gareth led the national team to its most successful performance in a World Cup for 28 years when England reached the semi-finals in Russia.

He is the third person to receive the honour, which was first awarded to Take That star Gary Barlow and his co-writer Tim Firth back 2015 for their contribution to Yorkshire culture with their production of Calendar Girls: The Musical.

Gareth, who was born in Watford, has lived near Harrogate in Yorkshire since 2001 when he moved here to be closer to his then club Middlesbrough.

Gareth Southgate said: “I’m very proud and very honoured. I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived in any other part of the country, the values and friendliness of the people has been incredible. We love living here and have thoroughly embraced the Yorkshire way of life. It’s nice to be recognised in this way, I’m very proud.”

Sir Gary Verity DL, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “I was delighted to present Gareth with this award. The way he led such a young and relatively inexperienced England side, full of Yorkshire players, to such a solid achievement in the 2018 World Cup was brilliant. His courage, determination and insistence on doing things his own way are all true Yorkshire qualities and we’re incredibly proud he’s made our county his home.”

More than a thousand-people, including stars from Great British Bake Off, Yorkshire football and cricket, and record-breaking racing star Mark Johnston attended ‘Yorkshire’s Big Night Out’ to find out the winners of the 17 hotly contested awards.

Guests were also treated to world class performances from Mercury nominee Kate Rusby, the Yorkshire Regiment, Queen Margaret’s Performing Arts Choir and Huddersfield dance troop Scandalous Productions

Sir Gary Verity DL, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said:

“Every single winner and finalist this evening deserves huge congratulations, they are all stars of Yorkshire and the UK’s tourism industry and should be incredibly proud of their achievements.

Yorkshire has some of the best food and drink, accommodation, arts and attractions in the world thanks to the fantastic effort of our members and I hope they are as proud as we are of everything we achieve together to keep our county a number one visitor destination.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

ARTS & CULTURE AWARD

Leeds Playhouse

BUSINESS TOURISM AWARD

Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR

Vale of Pickering Caravan Park

GUEST ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR

Cambridge House, Reeth

INNS & RESTAURANTS WITH ROOMS

Estbek House, Sandsend

LARGE ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley

LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR

The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Bolton Abbey

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

Team York Maze

PRODUCERS AND MAKERS AWARD

Tipple Tails, Sheffield

PUB OF THE YEAR

The Dunkirk, Denby Dale

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

SKOSH, York

SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION

Broadgate Farm Cottages, Beverley

SMALL ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Grimm & Co, Rotherham

SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Brocco on the Park, Sheffield

TASTE OF YORKSHIRE AWARD

Yummy Yorkshire, Denby Dale

TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR

Bradford Literature Festival

VISITOR INFORMATION AWARD

Aysgarth Falls Tourist Information Centre