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FutureEverything 2010, Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust; NOISE Festival and The Whitworth Art Gallery have a chance of winning £10,000  and support from the Northwest’s most influential business leaders.

Geoffrey Piper, chief executive of North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT),said that “the aim of the Lever Prize is to highlight the Northwest as being a bright, contemporary place for art and culture to develop and we believe that this can be achieved best through collaboration with business.”

Watergrove Reservoir Rochdale

Organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the prestigious event aims to drive up the quality of the visitor experience across the region by rewarding excellence in the tourism industry.

The winners were as follows:

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award – Nigel Haworth, Northcote, near Blackburn

• Large Hotel of the Year  – The Lowry Hotel, Manchester

• Small Hotel of the Year – Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere
• Bed and Breakfast of the Year – The Ashton, Lancaster
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle
• Holiday Park of the Year – Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
• Excellence in Business Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool
• Taste of England’s Northwest – Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
• Tourism Experience of the Year – Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn, Liverpool
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool
• Tourism for All – Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
• Tourism Event of the Year – Blackpool Illuminations
• Public Space Award – Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool
• Tourist Information Centre of the Year – Wigan TIC
• Travel Journalist of the Year – Stephen McClarence, The Observer

Many of the winners now have the opportunity to represent the Northwest in the national awards, organised by VisitEngland in April 2010.

Speaking at the event,

Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA said

“Tourism is an important industry in the Northwest, contributing over £13 billion to our economy every year. The NWDA is committed to helping the industry improve its competitiveness, and these awards play an important role in encouraging the quality and standards that we need to be an international player. These businesses are setting the standards for others to follow.”

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at Blackpool’s ballroom on the 28th September where the master of ceremonies will be BBC North West Tonight presenter Ranvir Singh.

Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA, said that:

“Tourism is hugely important to the Northwest and the NWDA is committed to helping the industry increase its competitiveness. These awards play an important role in encouraging quality and healthy competition as well as helping us to benchmark our performance against the rest of England.”

categories include large and small hotel of the year as well as the best tourist attraction,event of the year and best tourist information centre.

For a list of all the categories click HERE

An exhibition running from noon until 4 p.m on both Saturday and Sunday will show over 100 years of photographs and memorabilia.

Now in its fifth year,admission will be £2 and all proceeds going to the Padiham Town Council Archives Fund

The archive room was officially opened to the public earlier this year and displays photos including Edwardian snapshots of the town’s Whit Monday walks and the heyday of the tram service.

Town councillor Bob Clark, helped develop the original idea of the archive in 2004,the backbone being a donation of old photographs and memorabilia by Padiham resident Alan Dodgeon.

Morecambe's revamped Midland Hotel

Members of the sealed knot loading up cannon in front of Towneley Hall

Cannon loaded and fired

Muskets at the ready-fire

Intrigued by the medieval harpist

The spirit of the Woodland

Morecambe Bay

Blackpool is the start and end of the stage,kicking off at 10.15 in the morning at Stanley Park and finishing at the Sandcastle at 1.50.

In between there are two sprints at Cockerham and Claughton before the riders enter the Forest of Bowland for three climbs at Tatham and Waddington Fells and the Cross of Greet