A New Partnership Promises to make Best of Lakeland Hospitality Show a Huge Success

More space, more stands, classy catering are in the package for a Lakeland show, thanks to a perfect partnership.

The Lakes Hospitality Association and South Lakeland District Council have joined forces when it comes to provide a new venue for the 36th ‘Best of Lakeland Hospitality and Attractions Show’.

The exciting new venue at Braithwaite Fold, Bowness, promises to make a spectacular show which is bigger and better than ever before, say the organisers.

The tourism industry supports around 36,000 jobs and brings £1.1 billion into the Cumbrian economy every year. With this in mind show organiser, Gail Bartolf, says: “The Best of Lakeland Hospitality & Attractions Show is the only show of its kind in South Cumbria and is a highlight in the social calendar for many businesses. They have the date in their diary well ahead of the event taking place. As with all events, this Show has evolved, so we are now looking to put on an event that gives us scope to put on a much larger show.

“While it was very successful at the previous venue, the show was rather tucked away, now we have a much more prominent position in the heart of Bowness-on-Windermere, where there will be a large luxury marquee and easy on-site parking for our visitors. The new venue gives us the ideal opportunity to grow, with space for many more stands and superb catering facilities. This event has become a real showcase for local produce, where visitors can try delicious sticky toffee pudding or a taste of local Lakeland cheeses, so we have to have the space to create the right environment.

“I welcome our partnership with South Lakeland District Council, and together we can offer an excellent venue and facilities to put on a Show we can all be proud of.”

Despite being faced with challenging new government directives, Councillor Graham Vincent, portfolio holder for Economy & Enterprise for South Lakeland District Council responded positively to Lakes Hospitality’s request. He says, ”When Gail proposed a new partnership between Lakes Hospitality Association and South Lakeland that would create a bigger and improved Best of Lakeland Hospitality Show, we were delighted to contribute to that aim. The new location offers a large amount of space for both exhibitors and visitors and it is in an excellent central location.

“We are very keen to attract visitors to the area and to do this we need to support local businesses and help them to grow. I see our partnership with Lakes Hospitality Association to put on this wonderful event as an opportunity to do just that.”

Councillor Vincent added: “It is also good to see an event which provides a boost to the local economy at a traditionally quiet time through accommodation bookings for visitors, meals out and so on.”

The ‘Best of Lakeland Hospitality and Attractions Show’ is open to both the trade and the public. The annual event aims to show off all that Cumbria has to offer, with an

A-Z of everything the industry and visitors need from sausages to solicitors, llamas to lighting.

The show will be staged on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 March 2011, where all exhibitors will have a purpose-built stand and state-of-the-art fixtures and fittings. There will be a spacious restaurant serving tasty local produce – plus a demonstration kitchen to showcase both local and nationwide talent, where lucky visitors can sample the food on offer with a ‘Come Dine with Me’ experience.