Businesses, events and people across the region have been shortlisted for the tourism equivalent of the Oscars
Dumfries and Galloway has 17 business, events and individuals shortlisted for this year’s South of Scotland Thistle Awards. They are among 30 which the South of Scotland Destination Alliance has revealed are in the running to receive the prestigious awards selected from a pool of over 100 entries from the region and The Borders. This year’s shortlist includes more than 20 new entrants to Scotland’s leading tourism and events industry accolades, with last year seeing the inaugural standalone ones for South of Scotland. And there is a new Rising Star Award which aims to recognise the emerging talent shaping the future of tourism and hospitality in the region.
The South of Scotland Thistles Awards, organised by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance with support from South of Scotland Enterprise and VisitScotland, will take place at the Peebles Hydro on October 3. Headline sponsor is the Caledonia Park Designer Outlet at Gretna.
David Hope-Jones OBE, chief executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said: “My congratulations to those shortlisted today for the South of Scotland’s returning Thistle Awards, whose hard work and remarkable achievements continue to put the region on the map as a leading global destination.”
Russel Griggs OBE, chairman of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “Congratulations to all the finalists for the South of Scotland Thistle Awards, whose nominations reflect the hard work, dedication and passion our tourism and hospitality sector has. I look forward to the 2024 Awards night, and the winners going on to the national Thistle Awards, which last year saw businesses and individuals from the South pick up a magnificent six titles.”
Dumfriesshire businesses shortlisted are: Mostly Ghostly Tours; Gretna Green Ltd; The Cairndale Hotel & Spa, Dumfries; The Outdoor Hotel, Dumfries; Queensberry House B&B, Moffat; Gretna Hall Hotel, Gretna Green; and The Globe Inn, Dumfries.
Lee Medd, group marketing, PR and training manager for Annandale Distillery, which took ownership of The Globe Inn in 2019, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Best Eating Experience in this year’s Thistle Awards. With the recent promotion of the hugely talented Fraser Cameron from Sous Chef to Head Chef and being named runner up in the Restaurant of the Year category in the Scottish Excellence Awards, it’s been an incredibly exciting couple of years for The Globe Inn.”
Upland Arts Development CIC who are behind the region’s Spring Fling and the Wigtown Book Festival are both in contention for the Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival Thistle. Kylah Anderson of Barend Holiday Lodges in Dalbeattie and Lizzie Koronka of the New Town Hall Bunk House, Whithorn, are up for the new Rising Star category with Thania Meneses Flores of the Trimontium Museum, Melrose.
Others in the region to be shortlisted are: The Beagle Country Pub, Dalbeattie; Gather, Laggan, Gatehouse of Fleet; Knockinaam Lodge Hotel, Portpatrick; The Ship Inn, Gatehouse of Fleet; Grobdale of Girthon, Laurieston; The Whithorn Trust, Whithorn; All Roads Lead to Whithorn, Whithorn.
Caledonia Park Designer Outlet Centre’s director Scott Wells said: “We are incredibly proud to sponsor the South of Scotland Thistle Awards for a second year running. Recognising the quality and innovation that the region has to offer is hugely important to us and we are honoured to play a part in such a vital celebration of the tourism and events industry in the South of Scotland.”
The full South of Scotland Thistle Awards shortlist is:
- Best B&B or Guest House Experience: Inglestone House Guest House, Kelso; Queensberry House B&B, Moffat.
- Best Bar or Pub: The Beagle Country Pub, Dalbeattie; Cross Keys Inn, Ettrickbridge.
- Best Eating Experience: Gather, Laggan, Gatehouse of Fleet; The Globe Inn, Dumfries; Knockinaam Lodge Hotel, Portpatrick.
- Best Hotel Experience: The Cairndale Hotel & Spa, Dumfries; Gretna Hall Hotel, Gretna Green; The Ship Inn, Gatehouse of Fleet.
- Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience: Beirhope Alpacas, Hownam near Kelso; Glentress, by Peebles; Mostly Ghostly Tours, Thornhill.
- Best Self-Catering or Unique Stay: Five Turrets, Selkirk; Grobdale of Girthon, Laurieston; The Outdoor Hotel, Dumfries.
- Best Visitor Attraction: Gretna Green Ltd, Gretna Green; Robert Smail’s Printing Works, Innerleithen; The Whithorn Trust, Whithorn.
- Celebrating Thriving Communities: All Roads Lead to Whithorn, Whithorn; Trimontium Museum, Melrose.
- Inclusive Tourism Award: Trimontium Museum, Melrose.
- Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival: Alchemy Film and Arts, Hawick; Borders Book Festival, Melrose; Upland Arts Development CIC (Spring Fling), Dumfries and Galloway; Wigtown Book Festival, Wigtown.
- Tourism Individual of the Year: Kirsty Archer-Thompson of Abbotsford, Melrose.