Kelvin and Liz Fletcher to host Visit Cheshire awards - full list of finalists
"Liz and I proudly call Cheshire our home so this is a huge honour"
Kelvin and Liz Fletcher say it's a "huge honour" to be unveiled as the hosts of this year's Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards ceremony. The celebrity couple, who run a 120-acre farm in the village of Wincle, near Macclesfield, star in the hugely-popular ITV’s Fletcher’s Family Farm.
Now the couple are looking forward to their latest roles as hosts of the Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards 2026. From iconic attractions and boutique stays to unforgettable events and outstanding hospitality, the awards celebrate the brilliant businesses and individuals behind the county’s £3.9 billion visitor economy.
Organised by Marketing Cheshire, the glittering ceremony will be held on Thursday 5 March, at Walton Hall and Gardens in Warrington. Kelvin said: “Liz and I proudly call Cheshire our home, so this is a huge honour. As well as its beautiful surroundings, we know tourism plays a massive part in the region’s prosperity and we can’t wait to celebrate the success stories behind it.”
Liz also hosts her own ITV show, Fletchers’ Country Workshop, showcasing her flair for craft, and said she was delighted to be teaming up with Kelvin at the awards ceremony. “We both love Cheshire and it’s a wonderful place to live, work and bring up our family and we are so excited to be able to celebrate all our brilliant tourism businesses.”
Winners of the Cheshire Awards will be entered into the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, where they’ll represent Cheshire and Warrington and compete against the country’s best tourism businesses. Jamie Christon, Chair of Marketing Cheshire, said: “The region’s world-class tourism sector supports 38,000 jobs and attracts more than 56 million visits a year. The standard of entries for this year’s awards has been phenomenal, we are delighted that Liz and Kelvin will be joining us to recognise and celebrate the brilliant people powering the Cheshire and Warrington visitor economy.”
Here's the 2026 finalists
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
- Circus Starr, Congleton
- The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall
- VR Warehouse Ltd, Runcorn
Best Event or Festival
- Boodles May Festival, Chester Racecourse
- Chester Festival of Ideas, University of Chester
- Deva Fest, Cholmondeley Estate
- Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Storyhouse
- The Brit Fest Cheshire, Ashley Hall
- Walton Hall and Gardens Daresbury Festival, in partnership with Walton Live
Business Events Venue of the Year
- Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa
- Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa, Chester
- Mere View Farm, The Farm Club Group
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
- Lady Heyes Holiday Park, Frodsham
- Overwater Marina, Audlem
Experience of the Year
- Dunham Massey
- Hover Force, Frodsham
- Walking Food Tours UK - The Taste of Chester Experience
- Wild Shore Delamere
Large Hotel of the Year
- Champneys Mottram Hall
- Cottons Hotel & Spa, Knutsford
- Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa
- Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa
- Nunsmere Hall Hotel, Tarporley
- Peckforton Castle
- The Queen at Chester
New Tourism Business of the Year
- 744 Experience, Chester
- Axt Haus, Chester
- Rooftop Social Club, Chester
- The Hole In Wand Chester
- The Seven Chester
Pub of the Year
- Davenport Arms, Woodford
- The Fishpool Inn, Delamere
- The Fox and Hounds at Sproston
- The Pheasant Inn, Tattenhall
Regenerative Tourism Award
- BeWILDerwood Cheshire
- Chester Zoo
- Cholmondeley Castle Gardens
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
- ABC Boat Hire - Nantwich Canal Basin
- Cheshire Barns, Northwich
- Cheshire Boutique Barns, Nantwich
- Cheshire Boutique Bathhouse, Nantwich
- The Hollies Retreats, Tarporley
Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year
- Oddfellows Chester
- Stone Villa, Chester
- The Bear's Paw, Warmingham, Sandbach
- The Chester Townhouse
- The Parr's Bank Hotel, Warrington
Taste of Cheshire Award
- 1851 Restaurant, Peckforton Castle
- The Bear's Paw
Team of the Year
- Champneys Mottram Hall - Event Sales Office
- Chester Zoo - Heart of Africa Team
- Tatton Park Charitable Trust - Bookshop Volunteers
- The Bridge team, Prestbury
- The Hollies Farm Shop, Little Budworth
- The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall
- Visit Northwich
- Wild Shore Delamere – Crew
Unsung Hero Award
- Derek Jenkinson, Groundsman, Lady Heyes Holiday Park
- Eva Cooper, Assistant Financial Controller, Champneys Mottram Hall
- Jayne Chapman, Farm Manager, Tatton Park
- Rachel Watson, Sales & Marketing Executive, Combermere Abbey
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- BeWILDerwood Cheshire
- Chester Zoo
- Dunham Massey
- Storyhouse, Chester
- Walton Hall and Gardens
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Escapism Chester
- The Hole In Wand Chester
- VR Warehouse Ltd, Runcorn
- Wild Shore Delamere
Wedding Venue of the Year
- Combermere Abbey Weddings
- Inglewood Manor, Ellesmere Port
- Larkspur Lodge, Knutsford
- Nunsmere Hall Hotel, Tarporley
- Old Palace Chester
- Peckforton Castle
- Walton Hall and Gardens