Bondholders triumph at national visitor attraction awards

Chatsworth, part of the Devonshire Group, and Denby Pottery Village, were among the winners at national awards designed to showcase visitor attractions who go the extra mile to provide a high-quality day out.

Chatsworth received a ‘gold’ award at the VisitEngland 2021-2022 Visitor Attraction Accolades, while Denby Pottery Village, which is based at the Denby Pottery factory site, won the coveted accolade for Best Told Story.

Also among the Derbyshire winners was the Heights of Abraham.

The awards celebrate the quality and diversity of visitor experiences across the country.

The winning attractions gained their accolades based on scores received following their annual VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme assessments.

Marks were allocated for the outstanding experiences they provide to visitors across categories including Welcome, Best Told Story, Quality Food & Drink, Hidden Gem and Gold for overall winners.

Jo Dilley, managing director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “It’s fantastic to see three of Derbyshire’s brilliant attractions flying the flag for our outstanding visitor offer in these prestigious VisitEngland accolades.

“Derbyshire has so many unmissable attractions that deliver unforgettable experiences for visitors and residents alike, and this is a timely reminder of the value, variety and sheer quality of the area’s tourism industry.”

Gavin Lewis, Denby Pottery Village manager, said: “Denby Pottery Village is delighted to achieve the VisitEngland Attraction Accolade for Best Told Story, which is testament to the quality of the new visitor experiences that are available.

“Tours of the pottery were relaunched earlier this year and there is now an option to tour Denby’s Museum showing our rich history.

“Visitors also receive a warm welcome at Denby’s Craft Studio, we have great eateries and shopping options, plus seasonal events throughout the year – and so given all the hard work the Denby team puts into all these areas of our offer, it’s fantastic to get this kind of recognition.”

Pamela Pearson, visitor experience development manager at Chatsworth, said: “We are delighted to receive this award from VisitEngland, which recognises the hard work of our teams and our commitment to going the extra mile to deliver an excellent visitor experience.

“This year, we celebrated creativity with a free exhibition of monumental sculpture, ‘Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth’, in the parkland.

“It’s wonderful to be one of the 97 award-winning attractions in England – congratulations to all the winners.”