The deadline is approaching for the prestigious Reyta awards celebrating the best of Hull and the East Riding's visitor and tourist destinations, including the Hull Daily Mail Pub of the Year. Ian Midgley talks to some of the early contenders.
TIME is running out if you want to prove you are the best of the best.
The deadline to take part in the Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards (the Reytas) is looming on Tuesday, January 20, and anyone who thinks they have something special to offer is urged to get their entries in.
The awards, which are now in their sixth year, celebrate the best in East Yorkshire tourism, including everything from best B&B to best food producer, best hotel, tourist attraction and restaurant.
The Hull Daily Mail is once again sponsoring the Remarkable Pub category, seeking out the most impressive country inns, city centre bars and community boozers across the region.
One landlord who has already thrown his hat in the ring is Ian Allott, 55, of micro pub The Chequers in Beverley.
Father-of-three Mr Allott opened the miniature real ale pub in July 2013 after growing tired of his previous job as a travelling salesman.
He said: "I just got fed up of driving 50,000 miles a year for someone else.
"And I wanted to do something for myself that I was passionate about.
"Since I opened Chequers I haven't looked back. It's very different from an ordinary pub, we don't have any of the trappings you'd usually expect, like big screen TVs, blaring music, fruit machines, jukeboxes and things like that.
"It's just real ale, real cider, wines and soft drinks. And good company."
Now, with two of his children working behind the bar and a loyal band of regulars, Chequers is a soaraway success and sells a wide range of real ale from both national and local brewers such as Atom, Great Newsome, Half Moon and Wold Top.
And Mr Allott said he believes now that Chequers is established, the time is right to go for a Reyta.
He said: "People were saying I should have entered last year, but I wasn't sure we were ready, but now I think we have something to shout about.
"Hopefully we'll be able to compete with some really good pubs that have been around for a long time. It's worth a shot."
Another first time entrant who has taken the plunge is Craig Garner, who at 26, is one of the youngest landlords in the East Riding.
He took over the Railway pub, in Cottingham, eight months ago after working there as a barman for three years.
He has since rejuvenated the pub by hosting live music nights, serving nine cask ales and fresh, hearty homemade food.
Mr Garner, who also runs a gym in Cottingham, said it was nice to be nominated for the Most Remarkable Pub by a regular customer.
He said: "We've worked really hard to turn the pub around so to get some recognition is really nice. We'll look forward to seeing the short list."
Interest in this year's Reytas is such that tourism bosses at organisers Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (Vhey) are confident of attracting a record number of entries for the second year running.
Major backing, in the form of sponsorship, has come from businesses in the region and with just ten days to go before the closing date, entries are already ahead of last year.
According to Vhey, just being nominated for an award can help boost business and raise a company's profile.
Andy Gray, Vhey's tourism manager, said: "There is always a tremendous buzz around the Reytas, not least because it's a showcase for all that's best about Hull and East Yorkshire.
"Previous winners tell us what a difference it makes, not only for staff morale, but for marketing themselves to a wider audience. They are a Kitemark for quality."
There are a total of 14 categories that businesses can enter, which can be done free and online by visiting the website below.
A shortlist of finalists in all categories will be drawn up, all of whom will be invited to the final on Thursday, March 19, at Hull's KC Stadium, where the winners – selected by a panel of independent experts – will be announced.
Winners will also be eligible to be shortlisted through to the finals of the national Visit England tourism awards.
The awards are free to enter and organisers say the process has been made even simpler this year.
Reytas organiser Paul Vinsen said: "Individuals and businesses can just enter themselves by visiting our website – they don't have to wait to be nominated.
"There really is nothing to lose and everything to gain – just being shortlisted, let alone winning, will put the spotlight firmly on their businesses. All those shortlisted will be featured at our prestigious awards dinner, with individual videos spotlighting what they have to offer being shown during the evening."
Visit www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com/reyta to enter the Remarkable Pub of the Year award or just fill in the form below.
