TOURISM businesses across Tynedale are being encouraged to enter the North East England Tourism Awards.

The awards celebrate the best in the industry throughout the region, highlighting the North-East’s exciting visitor offering.

Winners at the awards have the opportunity to represent the North-East and compete on a national stage at VisitEngland’s Awards for Excellence.

Various Tynedale businesses were victorious at last year’s awards, including the Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant.

It won the hotel of the year award, the bronze award for dog-friendly business of the year, and was highly commended in the small visitor attraction of the year category.

The South Tynedale Railway walked away with two gold awards.

The railway was named small visitor attraction of the year and dog-friendly business of the year.

Kielder Waterside took home the silver award for holiday park of the year, whilst Kielder Water and Forest Park took home the same award for large visitor attraction of the year.

The Barrasford Arms was highly commended in the boutique guest accommodation of the year category and the Taste of England Award, and took home the bronze award in the tourism pub of the year category.

Chief executive of the NewcastleGateshead Initiative Sarah Stewart said: “The North East England Tourism Awards allow us to celebrate the success of our tourism sector and gives businesses the opportunity to showcase the region on a national stage.”

The awards are free to enter and submissions close on September 4.

The North-East tourism sector will gather together for the glittering awards ceremony on November 21 at Newcastle Civic Centre.