THE inaugural Cumbria Life Readers’ Choice Awards were a huge success after launching at a county hotel.

Readers of the Newsquest magazine nominated, then voted for, their favourites in hospitality, attractions, shops, ethical businesses, fundraisers and finally their Cumbrian of the Year.

After collecting their prizes, many of the winners spoke of their motivation to please customers and to give them a good experience.

Among them was Benjamin Gregg, who runs the Crafty Ba’a in Keswick with his mum and dad Vince and Lisa, and won the award for the best bar or pub.

James Hill, chef patron of Lounge on the Green, at Houghton, near Carlisle, picked up the best fine dining award to add to his earning a place in the prestigious Michelin guide this year.

Charles Deans, of the Muddy Duck in Caldbeck, accepted the best café award on behalf of his family with whom he runs the business. He said: “We’ve only been open just over a year and the support we’ve had from locals and from further afield has been amazing."

More than 140 guests were invited to attend a glittering celebration dinner and awards presentation held at Carus Green Golf Club, near Kendal, and hosted by television presenter Kate Walby.

The north of the county featured highly in the awards with Keswick further represented by the Alhambra Cinema, which won the prize for the best arts/culture venue prize, and Kerry Irving and Max Out in the Lakes, honoured as the best fundraiser.

Together with his springer spaniels, Max, Paddy and Harry, Kerry has raised over £500,000 for charity after the family shot to worldwide fame.

Carlisle also did well with the city’s Turkish Baths winning best small attraction.

The only original, working Turkish Baths in the North West, the grade II listed city facility is the focus of a campaign to protect and develop it as a health and wellbeing centre with an enlarged Turkish baths with a pool, treatment rooms and café/bar.

Clark Morton, who manages the baths for Better, said: “The Friends of Carlisle Turkish Baths have done a great job in working with the city council and Better to save the Turkish Baths which encouraged the council to spend a lot money on it.

"We look forward to seeing what the future holds in the next few months.”

Finally, Carlisle son and former Cumbria Life columnist Hunter Davies was recognised as the Cumbrian of the Year.

He was unable to attend the ceremony but in a video message he said: “I feel grateful for the education and pleasure I have had being a Carlisle person.”

Colleagues from Cumbria Tourism and Cumbria Wildlife Trust paid tribute to Hunter describing him as a “great ambassador” for the county.

Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, added: “Hunter is synonymous with Cumbria and proudly Cumbrian even though he doesn’t live here any longer.

"He has such a passion for the place; he has entertained us all and he is part of the fabric of Cumbria.”

  • For more pictures and winners’ stories, see the November issue of Cumbria Life, out on October 14.

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