Shropshire’s only Attraction to be Nominated in National Awards

Recognised nationally as a long-established and greatly-respected awarding body, The British Coach Tourism Awards (BCTA) aim to honour and award those in the industry who are truly exceptional at what they do for coach trips and their visitors across the UK. The awards are as much an honour as they are a representation of what all coach tourism industry professionals should aspire to be. Nominees and winners represent the industry’s elite and are recognised as setting the bar for true coach tourism excellence. Following a detailed award application back in January, we were extremely proud to be nominated for not only one, but TWO, of these acclaimed awards - the ‘Best Coach Friendly Attraction’ and ‘Best Dining Experience’ awards.

Last night our Chairman & Founder, Clive Knowles, attended the official BCTA ceremony where thousands of huge names in the industry could all be found in one room. Carol Vorderman MBE, famous TV presenter, hosted the event alongside an incredible line-up of entertainment and some of the industry’s biggest names. Clive had the privilege of being sat alongside Lesley Terrell, Sales Executive for Historic Royal Palaces, and Lucy Hillyard, Travel Trade Manager for Westminster Abbey, neither of which were nominated for any awards – proving how truly honourable it is to even be considered for these awards. Being shortlisted for the ‘Best Coach Friendly Attraction’ saw us up against the likes of Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth and West Midlands Safari Park. The ‘Best Dining Experience’ award put us next to the likes of Planet Hollywood and 360 Cookhouse Restaurant. Being nominated alongside such massive names was an incredibly humbling experience and, although we didn’t win, we are exceptionally proud of ourselves for getting so far.

From the moment our coach groups arrive to the moment they leave, our dedicated staff ensure that their visit is full of entertainment, exciting things to see and excellent homemade food. Every coach trip visitor, including the coach driver, is given the true Ironworks VIP experience and we always hope that they enter, explore and leave our site feeling truly special. All feedback is gratefully received, and we are on a continual journey to improve our trips and make each visit one to positively remember.

These nominations are a fantastic testament to all the hard work spent on ensuring each coach visit is exceptional here at the British Ironwork Centre. We are currently the only Coach Friendly Awarded destination in the area, as awarded by the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK last summer, and we hope to add more accolades to our repertoire in the future. We will definitely be entering the awards again next year and look forward to seeing how we fare the next time around as we strive to constantly make improvements to our visitor experience!