A restaurant in Howgill has secured “another decoration for the trophy cabinet” after being named as one of the best businesses in England.
VisitEngland has revealed the winners of its VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025, highlighting the very best of England’s tourism industry.
Gold, silver and bronze awards have been announced across 17 categories, ranging from new tourism business of the year and pub of the year, to business events venue of the year and camping, glamping and holiday park of the year.
Eight at Gazegill, based at Gazegill Organics Farm, received a bronze award for best new tourism business of the year.
It was the only Lancashire business to come home with an award.
While the team was aiming for gold, they are still “incredibly proud” to come home with bronze.
A spokesperson for Eight at Gazegill said: “We’re incredibly proud to have been awarded the bronze award for new tourism business at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 – a national celebration of the very best in English tourism.
“To be recognised on this stage, among hundreds of outstanding businesses from across the country, is a huge honour — and a real moment for our team here at Eight at Gazegill.
“Attending the awards gave us the chance to share our farm-to-fork ethos with a wider audience, connect with like-minded hospitality and tourism professionals, and be inspired by the brilliant work being done across the country.
“We were, if we’re honest, hoping to bag the gold – but this just gives us even more drive for next year.
"The Bronze win is still a major milestone for us, and we’re proud to have flown the flag for Lancashire all the way to the national stage.”
Chef patron Doug Crampton added: "An amazing achievement from everyone, it is an incredible accolade, and we were up against some big and successful businesses!
"It's not possible without the hard work and dedication of our whole team, and I'm so thankful to them all!"
“So it may not be 'the big one' but we're still coming home with another decoration for the trophy cabinet.”
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence have been running for more than 30 years.
This year’s winners were selected from hundreds of tourism businesses across England, including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, attractions, restaurants, pubs and museums.
The finalists were forwarded to the national competition via local and regional competitions across England.
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said: “These annual Awards are an opportunity to applaud and showcase the businesses and individuals who provide outstanding customer service and continuously improve their products and offer for visitors.
“From a captivating science museum in Merseyside to a fully accessible hotel in Bournemouth, from cow cuddling on a farm in Yorkshire to fine dining in Lancashire, this year’s winners show just how varied and diverse our industry is and what makes it great.
“Competition this year was fierce, reflecting the excellence evident across each category and I congratulate all the 2025 winners, and especially those who won Gold, an achievement cementing their place as the standard bearers of our world-class tourism industry.”
Eight at Gazegill has been on a winning streak since opening last February.
In April, it was named North of England champion in the 2025 Countryside Alliance Awards.
Eight at Gazegill also won best new tourism business at the Lancashire Tourism Awards in February. In March, it also won the best new business category at the Ribble Valley Business Awards.
Known as the 'rural Oscars', the Countryside Alliance Awards celebrate rural businesses that go the extra mile for their communities and embody the best of British countryside values.
Tourism is one of England’s largest and most valuable industries, generating about £76 billion annually for the economy in domestic visitor spending.
Serving up to 100 guests and powered by sustainable energy, the restaurant sources almost all of its food from its 250-acre farm.
Anything not grown on site is provided by local farms and suppliers in Lancashire.
The restaurant has been constructed from sustainably sourced green oak and glass, providing breathtaking views across the Ribble Valley, and additional outside seating will connect visitors directly with the surrounding countryside.
