A local company from Keswick has been named one of the best rural businesses in the UK after winning a regional Rural Business Award.

Newlands Adventure Centre & Keswick Climbing Wall was named the 2021 / 2022 Best Rural Recreational or Outdoor Pursuits Business Award winner at the North regional finals of the Rural Business Awards in partnership with Amazon, which took place virtually this year.

Following the impressive achievement at the regional final, Newlands Adventure Centre & Keswick Climbing Wall will now go on to represent The North at the national final of the Rural Business Awards in February 2022. This is not the first time Newlands has won this award and in fact has not only won the North region 3 times, but for the last two years won the national finals as well.

Speaking after picking up the prestigious award, Rik Beament said:

“We are delighted and honoured to win the 2021 - 2022 North region of the Rural Business Awards, especially after the difficulties faced by the outdoor industry during the pandemic. To have all our hard work recognised is fantastic and the fact that we are judged by our peers who acknowledge our efforts to run a consistent, strong and successful business makes winning this award again very special indeed”.

Newlands Adventure Centre and Keswick Climbing Wall offers outdoor adventure activities for all ages as well as residential outdoor activity courses at its 130 bed centre. A family business, employing 6 full time staff and 15 seasonal staff, Newlands Adventure Centre is the oldest outdoor centre in the UK, first opening its doors in 1905. With the addition of Keswick Climbing Wall in 2008 the centre can now offer activities to non-residents and has developed many new activities including the very successful Rookery Woods at Keswick Climbing Wall – an adventure playground for the under 8’s, introducing them to fun outdoor activities.

The Rural Business Awards 2021/2022, in partnership with Amazon, will mark the Awards’ seventh year of celebrating the success of businesses across the UK’s rural economy. The Awards are organised by rural business for rural business with the aim of celebrating the achievements of rural businesses and developing a strong network for rural business owners.

Director and Co-Founder of The Rural Business Awards, Jemma Clifford, added: “We are very proud to be hosting the seventh annual Rural Business Awards in partnership with Amazon, especially after the past 18 months. On behalf of the Rural Business Awards team, I would like to say congratulations to Newlands Adventure Centre & Keswick Climbing Wall for this very well-deserved win and wish them all the best ahead of the national final.”

The Rural Business Awards is the brainchild of Leicestershire businesswomen Anna Price and Jemma Clifford, who wanted to showcase the wealth of entrepreneurial talent in rural areas of Britain.

The Awards are organised by rural business for rural business, with winners in the 13 categories - ranging from Best Rural Start Up and Best Rural Diversification Project; through to Best Rural Professional Services Business and Best Rural Innovation - decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations.

The Rural Business Awards is hosting a series of regional finals in the North, East, Midlands, Southwest, Wales and Northern Ireland, throughout October 2021, ahead of the National Final next February. To find out more about Newlands, go to www.activity-centre.com or to learn about the Rural Business Awards visit www.ruralbusinessawards.co.uk