Blackpool Tower Voted Best Loved
Tuesday, 30th March 2010
BLACKPOOL TOWER VOTED THE UK’S BEST-LOVED COASTAL BUILDING
25 March 2010. The Blackpool Tower was declared the UK’s Best-Loved Coastal Building at the prestigious Coast Awards 2010, in association with Joules, held in London last night.
The Grade I-listed building, open since 1894, was voted by Coast magazine readers to be symbolic of the best of the British seaside, and judges praised the beauty of the building’s original features, and its popular appeal – the tower attracts half a million visitors every year.
Other winners at the awards included Holkham beach in Norfolk, which scooped the coveted Coast Magazine Award for ‘Best Beach 2010’ for the second year running, and St Ives in Cornwall, which was voted the ‘Best Family Holiday Destination’ in the UK.
The ‘Unsung Coastal Hero’ award was presented to Mike Stentiford, of the National Trust for Jersey, for his help in founding the National Trust for Jersey’s coastline campaign. Last October, Mike inspired 7,000 people to attend a peaceful demonstration at St Ouen’s Bay, causing Jersey’s politicians to review planning policy with regard to the coast.
The Coast Awards, launched in 2008, were established to recognise the people and places that represent all that is innovative, valuable and exciting around the British coastline. This year, the categories included ‘Best Coastal Café, Pub or Restaurant’, ‘Best Coastal Path’ and ‘Best Marine Green Project’. The 2010 Awards are sponsored by Joules Clothing (www.joulesclothing.com).
Around 5,000 votes were cast in this year’s Coast Awards, from every part of the UK. Coast magazine tallied them up to find readers’ favourites for ‘Best British Beach’ and ‘All-Round Seaside Holiday Destination’. The top-scoring nominations for the remaining categories were then put to an expert judging panel, including Coast editor Clare Gogerty, chef Galton Blackiston, Julia Bradbury, Nikwax founder Nick Brown, coastal entrepreneur Jo Fairley, chief executive of the Ramblers Tom Franklin, head of external communications for the RNLI Spencer Gammond, Joules Clothing MD Tom Joule and historian Professor John K Walton.
The full results of the awards will appear in the June 2010 issue of Coast magazine, on sale 26 April.
Coast deputy editor Alex Reece says: “Coast Magazine is all about celebrating what’s special about the British seaside, and its mission, through these Awards, is to awaken public awareness of what is out there to be enjoyed. We believe the UK coast is entering a new golden age, and the Coast Awards, in association with Joules, gives recognition to the people who are making it a great place to visit – and to live.”
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