Shropshire holiday spots recognised in VisitEngland Awards
The annual ROSE scheme celebrates venues providing the best customer service and warm welcomes
A caravan park and a self-catering barn conversion have been recognised at a national awards ceremony celebrating positive customer experience.
The winners of the VisitEngland ROSE Awards for 2026 have been named and Fernwood Caravan Park in Ellesmere and Hicks Farm Holidays near Knighton are among 100 winners based across the country.
ROSE stands for 'recognition of service excellence' and the annual awards celebrate accommodation providers across England which give visitors the best customer experience, irrespective of accommodation type, style or star rating.
Fernwood Caravan Park is based in the village of Lyneal, around three miles east of Ellesmere town centre, and offers customers the chance to own a lodge at the site, pitch up a touring caravan or book a holiday home for a short stay.
Guests can fish, enjoy woodland walks across its 40 acres of land and make use of the children's play area.
Hicks Farm Holidays is a livestock farm in Boresford near Knighton on the border of Shropshire, Powys and Herefordshire.
It has an indoor swimming pool, games room, barbecue cabins and a children's play area and it was recognised by VisitEngland for its 'Orchard House' self-catering accommodation which opened in 2005.
The building is a barn conversion capable of sleeping up to 14 people and three cots, with many original beams and features retained from its time as a cow byre.
Susan Bywater has run Hicks Farm Holidays with her husband Matthew since 1992.
She said: "Receiving this award from VisitEngland was a complete and delightful surprise.
"We opened Rose Cottage in 1992 and our passion for hosting visitors in this beautiful region hasn't faded. It is truly wonderful to see our long-term efforts recognised with this award.
"Ultimately, our truest testament remains our returning guests, seeing the grandchildren of our earliest visitors now returning with their own families is deeply rewarding even if it does make us feel just a little bit old."
VisitEngland's director Andrew Stokes said: "The ROSE Awards showcase the excellent accommodation available across England.
"They honour the people behind the businesses who go out of their way to provide outstanding customer service, innovative options for all tastes and budgets and a great welcome for visitors.
"Where people rest their heads is central to ensuring memorable visitor experiences, whether that's glamping or B&B stays, to country pubs with rooms or self-catering cottages, these providers drive tourism and its benefits across communities."
The ROSE Award winners were nominated by VisitEngland assessors and selected from comments and online feedback from overseas and domestic visitors.
Recipients include all types of accommodation such as B&Bs, guesthouses, glamping sites and hotels.
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