Press Release June 10 2010

Clitheroe Castle and Museum has been named Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the 2010 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards.

 

The site, which re-opened last year after a two-year £3.5million refurbishment, received the award at a glittering ceremony hosted by TV personality Michaela Strachan at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Accrington

 

Judges heard that within a year of re-opening the castle and museum had attracted over 30,000 visitors, compared to 8,000 per annum prior to the refurbishment.

 

The site, which recently received Enjoy England's Quality Assured Visitor Attraction Award, now offered a wide range of family activities and enjoyed strong partnerships with schools and community groups, judges were told.

 

Robert Thompson, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council's community committee, who received the award with Clitheroe Castle Museum Keeper Rachel Jackson, said: "This award recognises the hard work and commitment of everyone involved in the Clitheroe Castle refurbishment scheme and is a testament to the excellent working partnership between Ribble Valley Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and other partners. "

 

Rachel Jackson added: "It is a wonderful achievement for the Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex to be recognised as one of the best visitor attractions in Lancashire after just over a year of opening."

 

Clitheroe Castle and Museum received a Royal opening by HRH The Duke of Gloucester following a £3.5million refurbishment - featuring a glass atrium linking the museum and North West Sound Archives, café, exhibition space, interactive display facilities, education suite, multi-sensory creative activity area and several multi-media exhibitions depicting the history of Ribble Valley - funded by Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Groundwork Pennine Lancashire and several private and public sector partners.

 

The site, which is owned by Ribble Valley Borough Council and managed by the Lancashire Museums Service and schools catering company Food for Thought, also features the first public labyrinth in Lancashire, an award-winning skatepark and bandstand hosting a series of popular summer concerts.

 

It beat off stiff competition to win the award, including from Cobble Hey Farm and Gardens in Claughton-on-Brock, Samlesbury Hall in Ribble Valley and the World Horse Welfare Penny Farm near Blackpool.

 

Other Ribble Valley winners in the 2010 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards were Clough Bottom Farm Cottages at Bashall Eaves (Sustainable Tourism Award), the Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex at Langho (Access for All Award), the Old Shippon at Mellor (Self-Catering Award) and Stanley House at Mellor (Business Tourism Award).

 

Ends.

 

Ref: PR3110.

 

Date: June 10 2010.