Sunnyside Guest House, Keswick named as finalist in awards

The Sunnyside Guest House based in Keswick is a finalist for the Leisure and Tourism category of the North West Family Business Awards 2024.

Sunnyside Guest House beat strong competition with a record number of family businesses entering the awards from across the North West region.

Owners Paul and Nicky Roper moved into Sunnyside in 2018 and since then have developed it into what it is today, a comfortable and relaxed place to stay that has all the facilities you’d expect from a quality hotel but in a smaller and more personal environment.

This year’s awards event will be held at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers, on Friday May 10.

Paul Roper said “We are thrilled to have been selected as a finalist in the North West Family Business Awards and to be representing Cumbria. Nicky and I have strived to develop Sunnyside and we are extremely proud for this to be recognised.”

Sunnyside Guest House, Keswick (Image: Supplied)

Co-Founder and director, Sue Howorth said: "With another year of increased entries we have been working with our 23 judges which are representing all five counties of the North West, and we know they have had extremely difficult decisions to make. Our finalists should be extremely proud of themselves for being recognised in this years shortlist."

Sue Baguley from Siemens UK, and who were the hosts of Sunnyside's judging day, said: "The number and quality of applications from across the North West region has been outstanding, the businesses are clearly proud to be family businesses and the detail in many of the entries has demonstrated that they are very progressive and innovative."

Fellow judge, Tom Mathew, group commercial director of Dunsters Farm, said: "As always, it was fantastic to hear the stories of the resilient and ambitious businesspeople working in family-run businesses across the region."

The finalists will now receive a visit from a specially selected panel of judges from across the region before the judges make their final decisions and the winners are revealed.