10 Oct 2021

Newlands Adventure Centre & Keswick Climbing Wall have won a regional Rural Business Award and they will now go on to represent the North at the national final of the Rural Business Awards in February, 2022.

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

“We are delighted and honoured to win the 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."

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.

Based in Keswick, Newlands offers outdoor adventure activities for all ages as well as residential outdoor activity courses at its 130-bed centre. It employs six full-time staff and 15 seasonal staff.

Newlands was opened in 1905 by a group of enterprising gentlemen who, encouraged by T.Arthur Leonard the founder of the Co-operative Holiday Association and the Holiday Fellowship Ltd., bought and renovated an old graphite mill turning it into ‘a place of sweetness and light. It provided full board accommodation and guided walks for the workers of the large industrial areas of the North and Midlands as well as church and youth groups. It was then purchased by and remained in the hands of the Holiday Fellowship Ltd. until 1989 when it was sold to three local business- men who pledged to carry on running it as an activity centre.

Newlands is now for everyone; school trips, national and international businesses, university groups, clubs or individuals. Over the years, thousands of people have taken on the ‘Newlands Challenge’, often experiencing what the great outdoors can offer for the first time and many return year after year to this special place. Newlands is always looking forward, making sure our future is as solid as our past; developing and changing with the times without losing our core values of safety and fun.

Read the full article at News and Star