Northumberland hotel wins top Considerate award

Battlesteads hotel and restaurant, near Hexham, Northumberland, has been named Considerate Hotel of the Year.

The 17-bedroom hotel, owned by Richard and Dee Slade, carried off the top accolade at the Considerate Hoteliers Hotel of the Year 2010-11 national awards, presented at London's Savoy hotel.

Judges were impressed by the way sustainability is intrinsically woven into every aspect of the business at Battlesteads - from the carbon neutral heating and hot water system to the extensive gardens with two polytunnels providing fresh fruit and vegetables all year.

One of the judges, Professor John Forte, said he was impressed by the steady progress demonstrated in sustainable environmental improvements over the past three years by the Slades. "I was particularly taken with the element of fun that they have injected into their endeavours and their obvious enthusiasm for what they do and have achieved."

Pictured here, from left to right, are Professor John Forte, Battleseads green officer Katherine Meyrick, Richard and Dee Slade, and Emma Johnstone of sponsor Gilchrist & Soames.

The other winners in the Considerate Hoteliers' 2010-11 awards included:

● The Considerate Sustainable Food Award - Strattons hotel and restaurant, Swaffham, Suffolk

● The Considerate Small Accommodation Provider of the Year - Lasswade Country House and Restaurant, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys

● Considerate Green Team of the Year - Green Team at Firmdale Hotels

● Considerate Green Champion - Debra Patterson, green ambassador at the Savoy, London

● Considerate National Supplier of the Year - Suma wholefood wholesaler/distributor

● Considerate Local Supplier of the Year - Mrs Temple's Cheese, Wighton, Wells-Next-The Sea, Norfolk

● Best Green Marketing Initiative - Coombe House hotel and restaurant, Gittisham, near Honiton, Devon

● Considerate Good Egg of the Year - Vanessa Scott, director, Strattons hotel and restaurant, Swaffham, Suffolk

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By Janet Harmer

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