North Shropshire holiday cottage business 'delighted' to be nominated for three major regional awards

The owners of an independent north Shropshire holiday cottage business are celebrating after being nominated for three major tourism awards.

Rachel Mee owns and runs Burlton Cottages with her husband Gerry Mee and her two teenage children Henry and Oliver.

Burlton Cottages, which is in the village of Burlton, has been shortlisted in three separate categories in the West Midlands Tourism Awards 2027.

The business is a finalist in the following categories: Accessible and Inclusive Tourism, the Regenerative Tourism Award, and the Self-Catering Accommodation.

Rachel and Gerry are arable farmers, and began Burlton Cottages 12 years ago to diversify.

The couple converted some of their farm’s unused buildings for the cottage business.

Now the business has four state-of-the-art holiday cottages which guests can book, alongside a swimming pool and spa facility.

The business does also have a specifically designed accessibility lodge and it does cater for guests’ four-legged friends too.

“The business has grown immensely over the last 12 years and is doing well,” said Rachel.

She added: “Thankfully Shropshire as a county is growing as a tourism destination.”

Asked about what her reaction was to the business being shortlisted for the three awards, she said: “We were delighted, and proud as well.

“Having started the business from scratch, it really has grown and satisfaction levels of guests is brilliant - our reviews are really good.”

Rachel went on to say: “So actually being nominated shows appreciation for all the hard work that we have put in.”

Lots of other Shropshire businesses have been recognised for their hard graft in the West Midlands Tourism Awards 2027, including the likes of Westhope Retreats in Craven Arms, School Farm Holidays in Shrewsbury, and Fordhall Organic Farm in Market Drayton.

Talking about what the award shortlisting means personally, Rachel said that it was really fulfilling.

She said: “It just shows that we are leading the business in the right way, especially in the Regenerative Tourism Award.”

Rachel explained that Burlton Cottages has put a lot of investment of late into renewable energy and making the business eco-friendly, which makes their shortlisting in the Regenerative Tourism Award category even more special.

Rachel and Gerry are now hoping the added clout of being shortlisted for three regional tourism awards will only increase interest in Burlton Cottages further in the coming years.

The couple will find out if Burlton Cottages has been successful in all three categories when the winners are announced at a special awards dinner early in the new year.