Heritage Motor Centre

The Heritage Motor Centre (HMC) has teamed up with ‘Parrys International Tours’ to offer visitors a unique ‘Downton Abbey’ tour. The highly acclaimed period drama may have ended on TV but visitors can still see some of its locations including Highclere Castle plus the chance to view some of the superb motor vehicles dating back to the Downton period of 1912 - 1922 at the HMC.

The special three day/two night tour includes a tour of the Cotswolds on day one with stops at Cirencester and Marlborough. Day two includes a tour of Highclere Castle where visitors can view the interiors used in the filming of the scenes and the extensive Gardens along with a visit to Winchester. Day three includes a visit to the village of 'Downton' where the outdoor views of the Church and Hospital were recorded followed by a stop in Oxford before continuing to the HMC at Gaydon in Warwickshire. Once at the HMC visitors can view a collection of vehicles from this period including a 1912 & 1922 Rover, a 1913 & 1921 Morris, a 1913 Standard, a 1911 & 1915 Rover Imperial Motorcycle, a 1919 Wolesley, a 1922 Austin Twenty and a 1922 Ford Model T.

These unique tours will take place on the 16 & 23 July and 19 August. Ticket prices cost £199.50 and include coach travel, two nights at the Hilton in Newbury, dinner on both evenings, English breakfasts, visits as on the itinerary, entry to Highclere Castle and the Heritage Motor Centre.

For more information on the vehicles of this period please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

To celebrate 60 years of the Queen's reign, the Heritage Motor Centre will be hosting a special Royal Cars exhibition accompanied by a week of family activities. Children will be encouraged to come dressed as Queens, Kings, princes and princesses and join in with crown and bunting making. In addition the HMC will be lighting a beacon to mark the Queen's reign on Monday 4 June.

The Royal Cars exhibition will run from the 2 – 10 June showcasing a number of special Royal vehicles. Cars will include a 1983 Land Rover 110 station wagon, one of the very first 110 models and The Queen’s private car. The car was used on her private estates of Sandringham and Balmoral but taken out of service in 2001 and replaced by a new model. The car was generously donated by The Queen to the HMC and this will be the first public viewing of the car since the Golden Jubilee.

Also on display will be an open topped 1954 series 1 Land Rover, the first of the bespoke royal Land Rovers known as ‘State IV’. The body was custom designed with a rear platform from which its passengers could view the crowds. The vehicle was part of a fleet which The Queen and Prince Philip took on a 6 month Commonwealth tour after the coronation. Visitors will also be able to see a 1958 Series 11 Land Rover, a 1968 Vanden Plas Princess limousine and a 1971 Rover Saloon which was the personal property of The Queen.

Jubilee half term from the 2 – 10 June will be packed full of all things red, white and blue with special Jubilee craft days on Tuesday 5 and Thursday 7 June where families can make crowns and bunting. There will also be a patriotic Jubilee Quiz and even a throne to sit on!

Tim Bryan, Head of Collections at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “Showcasing the best of British is what we do. We are delighted to celebrate this most British of occasions, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with this special exhibition.”

There is no extra charge to see the Royal Cars exhibition as it is included in the standard Museum entry fees. Museum prices are: Adults £11, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £9 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children). The Royal Cars exhibition is just one of many exciting and unique events to take place at the Heritage Motor Centre in 2012.

The Heritage Motor Centre is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the MGB with a special Birthday Road Run on Sunday 15 April. Organised by the MGB 50 Events Committee, the Run is the first of many special events planned to take place throughout 2012 to celebrate this special 50th Anniversary.

The run is open for all MG models, not just MGBs, with four routes starting from Millets Farm in Oxfordshire, Barton Marina in Staffordshire, East Carlton Country Park in Northamptonshire and the NT Dunstable Downs Gateway Centre in Bedfordshire. The Run will finish at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon where visitors can enjoy the exhibits and facilities of the museum including seeing the new Motoring Record Breakers exhibition with its line-up of record breaking MGs and chat with fellow MG enthusiasts.

John Bishop, Club & Groups Officer at the Heritage Motor Centre said “This is just one of many of this year’s club rallies at the HMC and is a fantastic opportunity for all models of MG to participate on this special Anniversary Run. The Run is an absolute must for all MG enthusiasts and a great way to celebrate its 50th Birthday.”

Entry to the Run is only £27.50 per car, including the route book, souvenir rally board and entry for two to the HMC. Entries will be limited to just 251 cars. The closing date for entry is the 15 March.

The Heritage Motor Centre (HMC) is to host another popular ‘Club Expo’ for all types of Clubs and special interest groups on Saturday 3 March 2012 from 10am – 4pm. The free event has been specially opened up to all Clubs for the first time rather than just Car Clubs. Club Expo enables club and association representatives to meet with industry experts and suppliers across a wide range of sectors from website design to specialist insurance. It also enables Suppliers to network with hundreds of Club decision makers under one roof.

Those attending the event also have the opportunity of attending specialist workshops. The variety of topics will include “Everything you wanted to ask an accountant – but for free!”, “The importance of web design, social media/forums and search engine optimization”, “How to source an external service” and “What clubs can get from magazines” plus talks on Health & Safety responsibilities of a Club, Preserving Historic Vehicle Registrations and Planning an event.

Emma Rawlinson, Events Executive at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “Club Expo is a very popular event enabling Clubs and Suppliers to network under one roof. Clubs can gain invaluable information through workshops and Suppliers can make Clubs aware of their products/services. It’s a win-win event for everyone involved.”

Each Club is entitled to bring up to two members free of charge. This includes entrance to the Museum, lunch, guided tours of the meeting rooms & facilities plus attending Club Expo. Additional tickets can be purchased at £18 per person. The deadline for booking is 29 February 2012.

The Heritage Motor Centre, in conjunction with local design agency Box Clever Marketing, has won a prestigious national award for its conference marketing at the Meetings Industry Marketing Awards. The awards, which celebrate the industry’s best marketing initiatives of the year, were announced at the Park Plaza Riverbank London on Monday 17 October. The Centre was amongst the final four for Best Brochure – Venues/Destinations and beat off strong competition from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Jersey Conference Bureau and Victory Services Club in London.

The HMC and Box Clever Marketing successfully developed an integrated campaign with the tagline ‘an ideal blank canvas for conferences, meetings and events’. The campaign focused on the HMC’s unique selling points and was so successful it expanded into the reception area to improve communication, increase bookings and occupancy and maintain the conference rate during the economic downturn. The campaign’s success was reflected by occupancy rising by 7%, confirmed bookings from new customers increasing by 25% and the e-version of the brochure receiving 100's of views per month. 8% of confirmed bookings so far this year have come via online sources compared to 5% for the entire 2010.

Julie Tew, Managing Director at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We are thrilled and honoured to have won the gold award at the MIMA 2011. Winning this award is testament to the quality of work and creative talent that has gone into creating our conference marketing”.

The HMC is a dedicated conference and exhibition centre conveniently located off junction 12 of the M40 in Warwickshire. The Centre offers over 20 stylish meeting rooms for 6 - 600 delegates with internal and external exhibition space and outdoor event space licensed for 5000 people. Set in 65 acres, the Centre also boasts a meadow for team building, two 4x4 off-road tracks, 2000 free car parking spaces, and external hard standing (9700sqm), ideal for marquees and outdoor events.

The Heritage Motor Centre is to host an exciting new and nostalgic exhibition this autumn. The “Ladybird Big Book of Motor Cars” will run from 17 September 2011 until 15 January 2012 and will give visitors a unique chance to see original artwork and iconic books from Ladybird’s archive. Ladybird books are known and loved the world over. For millions of people, they bring back the golden days of childhood - learning to read, discovering the magic of books, and growing up. If you grew up reading them, then you will love this exhibition.

The exhibition will feature a collection of over 120 Ladybird books and over 30 original artwork illustrations all set amongst many of the vehicles which feature in them. Also on display will be a 1904 Wolseley, a 1967 Austin 1100, a 1936 MG and a 1971 Rover P5 to name just a few.

Stephen Laing, Curator for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “This is a fantastic new exhibition and a fabulous opportunity to recapture your childhood, and perhaps share it with your own children or grandchildren. There will also be a children's Ladybird play area with books and activities to enjoy, so there is something for all generations to enjoy”.

A selection of beautiful licensed Vintage Ladybird gifts will also be available to purchase in the Museum shop. There is no extra charge for entry into the exhibition as it is all included in the standard Museum entry fees. Museum entry fees are: Adults priced at £11, Children priced at £8 (5-16 years) under 5’s are free, Concessions are priced at £9 and a Family ticket is priced at £34. Tesco Clubcard vouchers and Gift Aid Season tickets are welcome.

Retro trucks are set to rev up their engines and gather at the Heritage Motor Centre on Sunday 18 September from 10am – 4pm for an exciting new show! Featuring Europe’s finest selection of trucks from 1965 to 1995, the show will be a great day out for all the family. As well as truck displays, there will also be trade stands, accessories, food stands and a children’s fun area.

Those wishing to enter their vehicles should do so online via the HMC website. Commercial vehicles must be manufactured between 1965 and 1995 in order to enter. However if someone has a truck that does not fit into the age bracket but is interesting then the organisers would like to hear about it.

Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “This is a fantastic new show and one that looks set to be very popular. Even if you aren't a truck fanatic, you'll find plenty to do, from the trade stand areas to the Museum featuring 180 historic British vehicles on display!”

Tickets for the Show cost £11 in advance or £14 on the day for adults, £5 in advance or £8 on the day for children and £30 in advance or £40 on the day for a family ticket. Camping is available on the Friday and Saturday night and costs £20 in advance or £30 on the day. Tickets or camping can be purchased by phoning the ticket hotline on 01926 645029 from Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm.

The largest gathering of BMWs in the world will descend on the Heritage Motor Centre on Sunday 14 August when it hosts the annual BMW Festival. Up to 3,000 BMWs are expected to take part in this year’s exciting and popular Festival. Highlights will include the opportunity to win a trip around the Aston Martin test track with ex-triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx. Andy will also be on hand to talk to visitors and present Show & Shine awards. A massive display of the iconic E30 M3 will gather to celebrate the model’s 25th anniversary this year plus all the usual BMW range from the past and present, including a celebration of the ’02 40th anniversary.

An extensive range of traders including BMW UK, Munich Legends, AC Schnitzer and Meguiar’s will also be attending plus visitors can enjoy the Show & Shine Car competition, Regional and Register Displays, Club Tombola, ‘Cars for Sale’ and Autojumble. A party will take place the night before with live music and a hog roast. There’s even the opportunity to camp overnight.

Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “The BMW Festival is a fantastic day out and not just for BWM enthusiasts! Models including M Power BMW, Alpina, ZED, modern, classic, modified and even MINI’s will be present, catering for every taste. If you go to one car show this year – make sure it’s the BMW Festival!”

Tickets for the Festival cost £15 on the day for adults, £8 for children and £42 for a family ticket. Camping is available on the Friday and Saturday night and costs £30. Tickets or camping can be purchased by phoning the ticket hotline on 01926 645029 from Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm. Discounted tickets are available in advance from the BMW Car Club Office on 01225 709009. To find out more about the Club please visit www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Thousands of Ford enthusiasts will be celebrating 100 years of Ford UK at the Old Ford Rally on Sunday 24 July from 10am – 4:30pm at the Heritage Motor Centre. To celebrate this momentus milestone, the organisers are hoping to assemble a display featuring every Ford model from each year of the century. Alongside the display of around 400 Fords, will be the oldest Ford in the UK, a 1903 Model A called a 'Tonneau' plus the fastest Model A in Europe - a 1930 Ford Model A Speedster capable of doing nearly 100mph!

Old Fords and all derivatives, built up to 1985 will showcase the fantastic range of vehicles produced by one of the world’s biggest manufacturers. Visitors will be able to see every model, from Model Ts to the cars of the pre-war austerity years, agricultural & military vehicles and on to the more luxurious post-war Zodiacs, Granadas and sporting Lotus Cortinas. Many more will be on show alongside the commercial workhorses that carried the goods to all corners of the world plus the Transit Van Clubs annual rally.

Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “The Old Ford Rally is a fantastic day out and not just for Ford enthusiasts! We’re delighted to have the Tonneau and Speedster at the Rally which goes to prove that not all old Ford’s were black and boring!”

Hundreds of Supercars and Superbikes are set to zoom into the Heritage Motor Centre when it hosts the exhilarating Supercar Sunday show on Sunday 26 June. The annual event, which has been running for over 10 years, will see thousands of visitors enjoy an impressive display and track runs featuring some of the world’s most powerful cars and bikes.

Highlights will include the appearance of the Aston Martin One-77 supercar which Ian Cook, the radical car artist will be painting a picture of. Artist & photographer, Ian Cunningham will be showcasing his artwork with an exhibition. Mattie Griffin, a bike stunt professional and ranked fifth in the world at Street Bike Freestyle Riding in 2008 and 2009, will be performing stunt shows throughout the day. Charlie Webster, the stunning commentator for Sky Sports News and one of the UK’s brightest new TV talents, will be commentating in the Show Arena with ‘Our Tim’, a character presenter. ‘Our Tim’ is known for his absolute love of all things automotive, lack of knowledge of everything else and the fact he will do pretty much anything including blagging his way into the Brits and waking people up at 6am live on the radio!

Land Rover Experience will be offering rides around the off road track plus a new supercharged ride which takes place next door at the top secret site of Jaguar Land Rover (additional cost applies). Another feature is Dream Rides provided by Sporting Bears which gives visitors the chance to have a ride in a dream car in exchange for a donation to charity.

Visitors will be able to watch an historic and magnificent plane fly over courtesy of Airbase, the living aviation museum in Coventry plus take part in Zorbing for just £5 a go. Surf boards and bouncy castles will also provide entertainment for children. Visitors will also get the opportunity to meet their 'Hollywood Hero', costumed characters such as Freddie Krueger, Michael Myers, Jedi, Joker and Lara Croft. Inside the Museum there are over 180 historic cars on display plus the new Sci-Fi at the Movies exhibition, a unique opportunity to see original artefacts, replica models and costumes from favourite Sci-Fi movies.

Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “Supercar Sunday is a fantastic and thrilling day out giving visitors the chance to view and admire some of the world’s finest Supercars & Superbikes. With stunt shows, artists, costumed characters, aircraft displays and plenty of supercar activities, the show has something for everyone!”

Anyone interested in showcasing their own Supercars or Superbikes should contact the organisers. Those that enter their vehicles will receive a free pass for the driver to enter the event and a car pass. The organisers are specifically looking for cars in the following categories: Supercars (McLaren F1, Bentley 4.5 litre supercharged, Ferrari, Lamborghini, GT40, Porsche GT1 & Aston Martin), Sports Cars (Jaguar XKR, TVR, MR2, & Lotus), Performance Cars (Subaru Impreza & Mustang) and any interesting, unusual or rare cars. Car owners have the additional option of entering one of the two Track Runs for super/sports cars which takes place on the Emissions Test Track of the Jaguar Land Rover Test facility. More details are on the website at www.supercarsunday.co.uk

There are special discounted rates for advance tickets which are £11 for adults, £5 for children (5-16yrs) and £30 for a family (2 adults & 3 children). Advance tickets can be purchased at www.supercarsunday.co.uk or via the ticket hotline on 01926 645029 Monday – Friday from 9:30am – 5pm.

Supercar Sunday is just one of many exciting and unique motoring events held at The Heritage Motor Centre in 2011. To find out more information please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

A number of celebrities will descend on the Heritage Motor Centre when it hosts its special Sci-Fi weekend based around Doctor Who, Star Wars and Harry Potter on the 9 & 10 July. On the Saturday, stars including Colin Baker, the 6th Doctor Who, Mark Silk, the voice actor in Star Wars for Aks Moe plus Rusty Goffe who played Jawa in Star Wars Episode IV will be attending. On the Sunday, stars including Mike Edmunds who played an EWOK, Kenny Baker who played R2D2 and Rusty Goffe will be there to meet visitors.

Visitors will also have the chance to meet some of their favourite Sci-Fi and Superhero characters and explore the exciting “Sci-Fi at the Movies” Exhibition, featuring original weapons, artefacts and costumes from some of the most famous Science Fiction films. All the items are on loan from the private collection of ‘Skywalkers Promotions’ and would not normally be available for the public to view.

Stratford-upon-Avon’s unofficial wizard, the legendary Dave Matthews from the Creaky Cauldron will be hosting special workshops over the two days where children can learn how to make a wand, how to create spells and how to be a wizard or witch. Dave will also be running an old fashioned, fully functioning Apothecary using a selection of traditional herbs, roots and incense.

Over the weekend there will be an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest Light Sabre battle. So if you have a Light Sabre bring it along, or make one on the day and be part of this awesome attempt.

In addition, there will be special exhibits, tours, quizzes, story-telling, fancy dress competitions and craft activities. Visitors are encouraged to come in fancy dress and have their photo taken with the characters and celebrities. They can also watch a selection of Sci-Fi movies in the cinema and buy official Sci-Fi merchandise.

Sophie Marsh, Event Assistant at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “This is going to be a fantastic family Sci-Fi weekend and a great opportunity to meet so many celebrities at the same time! There will be so much going on that it really is a must for everyone, not just die hard science-fiction fans!”

The Sci-Fi theme continues with a Summer Holiday of Sci-Fi Fun from 23 July – 4 September, with visitors able to enjoy the 'Sci-Fi at the Movies' Exhibition plus daily quizzes and activities including special family craft activity days every Thursday throughout the summer holidays.

In addition to the Museum, home to the world's largest historic collection of British cars, visitors can also enjoy outdoor activities including the children's Miniature Roadway and the Land Rover 4x4 Experience. Stop Start - learner driving experiences for 15+ years in dual controlled vehicles are a great way for teenagers to get behind the wheel.

There is no extra charge for the Sci-Fi Events as it is all included in the standard Museum entry fees. Museum entry fees are: Adults priced at £11, Children priced at £8 (5-16 years) under 5’s are free, Concessions are priced at £9 and a Family ticket is priced at £34. Tesco Clubcard vouchers and Gift Aid Season tickets are welcome.

Sci-Fi at the Movies is just one of many exciting and unique events to take place at the Heritage Motor Centre in 2011

For the first time, the Heritage Motor Centre is to host the UK Slot Car Festival which will take place on Sunday 22 May from 10am – 5pm. The organisers of last year’s Brooklands and Donington Slot Car Festivals have teamed up to ensure this is the biggest and best Slot Car Event in 2011! It promises to be a fantastic family day out featuring all Slot Car manufactures including Scalextric, Carrera, SCX, Slot.it, NSR & many more.

There will be plenty of activities taking place throughout the day including a Slot Car auction, Manufacturers’ Road Shows, a Drag Strip, Scenery Display, Trade Stalls, Track to Try, Club Competition, Brand Challenge, Quiz and Preparation Advice. Visitors can meet the manufacturers, attend tune up workshops and even bring their own cars to race on up to 20 different race tracks.

Visitors will also have the opportunity of swapping, buying and selling cars as well as meeting other like-minded enthusiasts. Two special limited edition slot cars will be available to purchase at the Festival which have a specific link to the HMC. 300 MSC Competition MG Metro 6R4 and 120 1959 Morris Mini Minors will be available to buy.

Penny Tyler, Marketing Officer for the Heritage Motor Centre stated, “We’re delighted to be hosting the UK Car Slot Festival which looks set to be an exciting event for all the family. Appealing to slot racers collectors and general car fanatics, the event is also a great opportunity for those new to the hobby to get an insight into what is out there”.

The tickets not only include access to the Festival but also entry into the HMC grounds, museum and the new exhibition, Sci-Fi at the Movies. Advance adult tickets cost £9, concessions cost £8, children cost £7 and a family costs £28 for 2 adults and 3 children.

The Heritage Motor Centre (HMC) is an award winning, high profile venue providing a unique environment for conferences, exhibitions, and events. It is also home to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, a museum that houses the largest collection of historic British cars in the world.

All conference profits at HMC are donated to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust which preserves the collection for future generations. By choosing the HMC for your next meeting your businesses will be making a valuable contribution to the care and conservation of British motoring history.

To find out more information about the venue please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call the Conference Team on 01926 645040. There is a familiarisation visit planned for conference bookers on the 26 June, if you are interested in attending please email susan@heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

The Heritage Motor Centre - an ideal blank canvas for conferences, meetings and events.

The Heritage Motor Centre is to host the popular annual Heritage Land Rover Show on Sunday 1 May. Thousands of enthusiasts and club members are expected to converge at the show to enjoy a great family day out. Featuring many different models on display, visitors can also enjoy a number of rides on the new improved Land Rover Experience off-road course including passenger experiences, test tracks and heritage rides. There will also be a special appearance from Shaun the Sheep’s Land Rover, plus Ian Cook, the radical artist, will be painting the new Range Rover Evoque. Ian uses a unique style of painting using remote control cars on canvas. Attending the show is the perfect opportunity to see how his creations are produced and to create your very own masterpiece!

Another fantastic exhibition to be showcased during the show is the Land Rover Legacy Travelling Exhibition. The exhibition tells the story of the Lode Lane factory, its people and products, from 1940 to the present day and features photographs from the Archives of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

To celebrate Land Rover’s 63rd Birthday, the annual Heritage Run from Lode Lane in Solihull to the HMC will take place. Starting from the home of the legend at the Land Rover factory in Solihull at 10:00am, the procession is due to arrive at the HMC at 11:00am. Featuring around 150 cars, the Heritage Run is an amazing spectacle to see.

Emma Rawlinson, Events Executive at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted to be hosting this special event which is an absolute must for Land Rover and Range Rover enthusiasts. For many the show is the highlight on the events calendar and a definite date in the diary for anyone who loves these famous iconic models”.

‘Sci-Fi at the Movies’ is the latest exciting exhibition to be staged at the Heritage Motor Centre giving visitors the opportunity of seeing original artefacts, replica models and costumes from legendary past and present Science Fiction movies. This unique exhibition, which runs from 19 February – 4 September, will showcase some of the most popular and iconic superheroes and villains from films such as Star Wars, E.T. Harry Potter, Aliens, Batman, Spiderman and Superman.

This unique exhibition will not only showcase these famous and iconic characters complete with weaponry and costumes but will also take visitors on a fascinating journey of discovery providing an amazing insight into film history, character profiles and little known film trivia. All the rare artefacts are on loan from the private collection of ‘Skywalkers Promotions’ and would not normally be available for the public to view.

Visitors will be able to wander through six different zones propelling them into the presence of some of the most infamous characters that have enriched the plot lines of these world famous films. The “Creature Zone” will display creatures from the friendly E.T to the rebellious Gremlins. Replicas of the famous crew uniforms will be displayed in the “Star Trek Zone”. The “Star Wars Zone” will include characters such as Jabba the Hut, Yoda and Darth Vader which have made this hugely successful film such a phenomenon. Other zones include “Alien & Predator”, “Miscellaneous” incorporating Robocop, Terminator and Battlestar Galactica and “Comic Book Heroes” featuring an amazing display of costumes from Spider-Man, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as well as masks from Dr Doom and the Iron Man.

Penny Tyler, Marketing Officer at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “I wouldn't normally describe myself as a Sci-Fi fan, but with so many different characters, from such a wide spectrum of films, I have had to think again! This exhibition really is a must for everyone and not just science-fiction fans, I know my kids will love it, plus you get to see all our fantastic British cars whilst you are here. We are extremely privileged to be able to host such an exciting and prestigious exhibition, it is a truly unique opportunity to see original artefacts, replica models and costumes from a private collection!”

The Heritage Motor Centre is celebrating after winning a joint Gold Award for Regional Culture at the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards. The winners of the highly coveted awards were announced last Thursday at a glittering awards ceremony at Birmingham University’s Great Hall. Hosted by Central TV presenter Bob Warman, the awards celebrate the very best in tourism from the Heart of England, an industry that contributes £6 billion a year to the West Midlands economy.

The Heritage Motor Centre is committed to preserving the region’s motor heritage and culture. The HMC houses the collections of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and contains the finest collection of British motor cars in the world. The region’s motor heritage is also actively preserved in the Trust archive which is accessible to visitors. Heritage Lottery funding has enabled the Trust to begin “Land Rover Legacy”, an exciting project which aims to make more of their collection of Land Rover and Rover material available to the public through their website and a special exhibition on the factory at Solihull.

Brian Summers, Chairman of Tourism West Midlands said, “The awards showcased the very best in the Heart of England’s tourism industry, proving yet again how important tourism is to our regional economy and offering. We are lucky in the Heart of England to be home to such a diverse range of tourism businesses and I was delighted to see a range of new and more established attractions attending, clearly demonstrating that our tourism sector isn’t standing still, but is constantly looking forward and growing”.

Julie Tew, Managing Director at the Heritage Motor Centre, said: “We are extremely proud and delighted to have won this highly coveted award. It is a wonderful achievement for my team and the Heritage Motor Centre to be recognized and rewarded at such a prestigious ceremony”.