Pictured above: Derbyshire's high-flying tourism businesses are rewarded for their achievements in the 2010 East Midlands Tourism Enjoy England Excellence Awards

High-achieving tourism businesses across the Peak District and Derbyshire have scored six of the best in the regional round of a prestigious national awards scheme.

For they have scooped six gold awards at the 2010 East Midlands Tourism Enjoy England Excellence Awards, held for the very first time in Derbyshire at Derby's multi award-winning Roundhouse.

Chatsworth struck gold as Large Visitor Attraction, and also netted a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism, personally accepted by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

The front of house team at East Lodge Hotel and Restaurant, Rowsley, won gold for Outstanding Customer Service, while internationally-renowned Buxton Festival was declared best Tourism Event.

The premier Pub Experience was judged to be at the Yorkshire Bridge Inn, Bamford, while neighbouring Ladybower Apartments in Bamford was awarded gold for Sustainable Tourism, plus bronze for Outstanding Customer Service.

And Hoe Grange Holidays of Brassington was rewarded for its gold standard commitment to Access for All, as well as receiving bronze for Self Catering.

Six more businesses scored silver and bronze awards:

Silver:

• B&B/Guest Accommodation - Grendon Guest House, Buxton

• Self Catering - Wheeldon Trees Farm Holiday Cottages, Earl Sterndale

• Small Hotel/Townhouse - The Peacock at Rowsley

Bronze:

• Caravan Park and Holiday Village - Callow Top Holiday Park, Ashbourne

• Large Visitor Attraction - Calke Abbey, Ticknall

• Tourist Information Service - Castleton Visitor Centre, Castleton

"Congratulations to everyone involved - all the businesses who have received regional recognition have shown their continuing commitment to achieving the highest possible standards and offering a first-class experience for visitors," said David James, Chief Executive of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, the area's official tourist board.

"Their achievement reflects the top quality you would expect in a destination of distinction such as ours, and the occasion was even more special because it was at the Roundhouse, which has itself won a host of accolades - including Project of the Year in the recent Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Awards.

All our regional award winners can be very proud of their sustained efforts to attract and retain customers in a competitive market, and all are very well placed to build on their success in the future, despite the challenging economic climate."

A number of the gold winners from the regional awards will go forward to the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in April 2011.