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The Trentham Estate is shortlisted for top tourism award

The Trentham Estate has been selected as a finalist in the biggest tourism awards scheme in the country.

Named as a finalist in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category, The Trentham Estate is now guaranteed to receive either a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended award at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence ceremony, which will be held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire on Monday, May 12th.

The achievement holds even greater significance for The Trentham Estate, given that this popular tourist attraction in Staffordshire is currently celebrating its 10 th birthday (in the same year the Visit England will be celebrating their own, 25 th anniversary of this awards scheme).

One of the country’s largest historic garden restoration projects The Trentham Estate combines award-winning gardens, lake and sweeping parkland.

Ongoing regeneration since 2004 has added a wide range of extra facilities, including a huge Garden Centre, Shopping Village, the unique Trentham Monkey Forest, Aerial Extreme and a Premier Inn hotel.

Organisers of the awards scheme said: “This glittering evening is built entirely around the finalists. By making it to the Ceremony all finalists will have demonstrated that they are the very best of English Tourism. The Ceremony celebrates success and excellence and is a showcase for England's fabulous tourism products. Above all it provides finalists with a moment of well-deserved glory, which can be used to market, promote and improve their businesses still further. The Awards Ceremony also acts as a beacon for all tourism businesses in England encouraging them to raise their game and become members of this quality elite.”

The awards dinner will be a black tie affair with a sparkling English wine reception followed by an evening meal, and full awards ceremony.

Already established as one of the top attractions in the Heart of England, and one of the most visited gardens in the whole of the UK, The Trentham Estate is likely to now benefit even more from the increased profile of being named in the short list for the country’s best Large Visitor Attraction.

Mike Herbert, Director of The Trentham Estate and Regional Director of St. Modwen Properties PLC commented: “Reaching the final of the most prestigious awards scheme in English tourism is great tribute to the whole team involved in this massive restoration project and in running, and managing, the Estate. It also recognises the huge popularity of the attraction, which continues to attract well in excess of 3 million visitors a year, and it’s our commitment to ensuring guests have a great experience on every visit that drives our desire to keep striving towards tourism excellence.”

James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive added: “The Awards celebrate tourism industry excellence and provide a platform to showcase the very best that England has to offer. A fantastic marketing opportunity for sponsors, entrants and winners!”

The Trentham Estate’s route to the final this year started as a result of finishing top of a public vote to find the “Best Large Visitor Attraction” in the 2013 EnjoyStaffordshire Tourism Awards.

For more information visit www.trentham.co.uk

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For all media information, photo-opportunities and images, please contact:Amanda Dawson

Tel: 01782 657341

E-mail: adawson@trentham.co.uk

Notes to editors:The Trentham Estate, on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, offers one of the UK’s most diverse days out with a range of leisure activities for all ages.It is one of the country’s top leisure destinations, attracting more than 3m visitors per year and was Highly Commended by VisitEngland in the Large Visitor Attraction category in their Awards for Excellence 2012. The fabulous restored Trentham Gardens at the heart of the Estate welcomed 430,000 paying visitors in 2013 – making them one of the most visited Gardens in the UK. Owned by St. Modwen Properties PLC, the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, the 725-acre Estate - which was previously owned for over 400 years by the Dukes of Sutherland - has undergone a massive regeneration programme since 2003. It boasts the famous Trentham Gardens, including the very important Italianate Gardens designed by Charles Barry in the 1830s that have been lovingly restored using top landscape designers. The gardens feature the UK’s first ‘barefoot’ walk, a great children’s adventure play area and maze and a beautiful walk around the mile long lake; the Trentham Garden Centre and Shopping Village, an eclectic mix of shops and eateries; Trentham Monkey Forest - home to 140 endangered Barbary macaques; Aerial Extreme, an exhilarating treetop high rope adventure course, and a 119 bedroom Premier Inn hotel.