Small Attraction of the Year Gold Winner
Tourism ExSEllence Awards

23/10/2009

The Lightbox continued its success story last night by being crowned Small Visitor Attraction of the Year in the Tourism ExSEllence Awards 2009. A gala dinner and awards ceremony, held at the legendary Wentworth Golf Club, was a suitably prestigious location for an awards scheme that recognises success within businesses and attractions through the excellence, quality and innovations achieved in the South East over the past 18 months.

Chairman of Tourism South East, John Williams, was joined by former politician, now reporter, Gyles Brandreth, who compared show with great humour and vivacity. Both speakers were excuding with how impressed they were at the caliber of all the finalists and that the world should know that the beautiful South truly delivers!

Visitor Services Manager, Jayne Pritchard, and Press and PR Officer, Hannah Vernon, represented the gallery and museum on the evening and were delighted to have won. “To win Small Visitor Attraction of the Year is such a wonderful accolade to all that hard work that is put in at The Lightbox. We have a dedicated team of staff and volunteers that continually strive to make our visitor experience the best that it can be and this award is a real testament to this,” commented Jayne Pritchard.

Since opening just two years ago in September 2007, The Lightbox has displayed almost irrevocably high standards, which have resulted in a continuous stream of success with now an impressive 6 award titles to their name. The Art Fund Prize 2008, The RIBA South East Award for Architecture in 2008, The Civic Trust Award for Community Design 2008, and two awards from the Surrey Business Awards 2008/09 - Small Business Award and Leisure and Tourism Award.

Being a winner in The Tourism Excellence Awards for the South East, is a tremendous tribute to the gallery, who faced competition from all over the beautiful South. The four remaining contestants in their category were: Adventure Forest Ltd: GO Ape, Buckinghamshire, Cass Sculpture Foundation, Chichester, Guildford Cathedral and the Zimmer Stewart Gallery in Arundel, West Sussex.

Marilyn Scott, Director of The Lightbox is proud to have won.
“I am delighted. It has been great to be involved in an award scheme that recognises our contributions on this scale. We work so hard to attract visitors to The Lightbox through our events programme, our excellent customer service and an all round first-rate visitor experience, but to win reinforces how much of a difference we are making to the cultural landscape not just in the South East but in the whole of the UK.”

The Lightbox will now go on to join the other gold winners from all over the country as they compete in the national EnjoyEngland Awards for Excellence in April 2010.

Watch this space.