A WELL-known pub venture and an unique farm in the Bolton and Bury areas have walked away with prizes at the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The Wellbeing Farm in Edgworth was presented with the ethical, responsible and sustainable tourism award.

Just yesterday the venture lived up to its billing, welcoming 60 degree students from various countries to undertake an environmental analysis of their business and come up with eco-strategies.

And Glen Duckett, who until recently ran the Eagle & Child pub at Shuttleworth, near Ramsbottom, and now runs the Eat Grow Thrive initiative, was named as 'unsung hero' by awards judges

More than 400 tourism and hospitality partners were in attendance at the bash at the Stanley House Hotel and Spa in Mellor, near Blackburn, with comic Tez Ilyas hosting the proceedings.

Two surprise awards, for outstanding contribution, were also made to Tony Attard, who stood down as chairman of Marketing Lancashire after seven years, and to Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi of La Locanda, in Gisburn, for their outstanding contribution to Taste Lancashire.

The awards had been put on hold for two years due to the pandemic.

In her opening speech Rachel McQueen, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire, said: “We have lost so much over the last two years, and I know that many in this room will have suffered personal as well as professional pain.

"But we have gained something too – the undeniable truth that the Lancastrian spirit will never be defeated, and the recognition, finally, that this great county is nothing without its tourism and hospitality businesses.

“When you were forced to close your doors, everyone realised how much they were missing, and how big an impact on the quality of life in Lancashire that the visitor economy makes.

"There is absolutely no shortage of pride, passion and ambition in this room, and myself and the Marketing Lancashire team look forward to working with you to support the county’s tourism and hospitality sector to thrive once more.”

Other nominees from the Bolton and Bury areas included Dearden Wood at Edenfield, in the accessible and inclusive tourism category, Go Ape! at Rivington for the 'experience of the year' category.

The Eagle and Child was also nominated in the resilience and innovation section and Wellbeing Farm in the wedding venue of the year running.