Derbyshire Strikes Gold in National Visitor Attraction Accolades

Derbyshire has struck gold in the national accolades designed to showcase visitor attractions that go the extra mile to provide a high-quality day out.

Three local tourism businesses have received recognition in the VisitEngland 2021-2022 Visitor Attraction Accolades which celebrate the quality and diversity of visitor experiences across the country – with Derbyshire taking home two of three Gold accolades for the East Midlands.

Chatsworth and The Heights of Abraham each received a prestigious Gold accolade, whilst Denby Pottery Village won the coveted accolade for Best Told Story.

The winning attractions have gained the 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 added: “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 Denby’s 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.”

To find out more about Denby Pottery and their history, visit their website here https://www.denbypottery.com/denby-stories

Rupert Pugh, Development Director at The Heights of Abraham said: “To come through the Covid pandemic and secure this Gold Accolade award is wonderful news for everyone who works at The Heights of Abraham. This year we’ve added more attractions and features than ever before and made sure that our guests receive a truly warm welcome. The judging criteria is tough, particularly to secure Gold status, so we’re especially delighted with the result.”

Pamela Pearson, Visitor Experience Development Manager at Chatsworth added: “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.”