Founder of Battle of Evesham festival 'grateful' after being crowned winner of national award
Mick Hurst has won VisitEngland's 2026 Tourism Superstar title after making the final shortlist of 10 that were up for it
The founder of an event set-up to honour an historic 13th century conflict in Worcestershire has said it was fantastic news hearing he'd been crowned the winner of VisitEngland's 2026 Tourism Superstar award.
Mick Hurst created the Battle of Evesham festival several years ago and found out last week he'd won following the end of English Tourism Week.
He previously said he was "taken aback" when he was told he had initially made the final shortlist of 10 for it.
"To be perfectly honest, to be classified in the top 10 of anything in the country is a great honour," he said.
"To actually go out and win it, that was fantastic, especially since it was a public vote, it's not a panel of judges somewhere.
So there's a lot of people around the country, around England, who have witnessed what we're doing here in Evesham, turning it into a history and heritage tourism destination based around the Battle of Evesham, and thought, they're doing a good job."
The event takes place annually on the first weekend in August, aiming to be as close as possible to the date of the original battle back on the 4 August 1265.
It celebrated its 760th anniversary last year with a three-day event, with Hurst confirming over 60,000 people attended, with over 800 re-enactors coming from all over Europe.
"The show wouldn't happen without over 800 re-enactors coming voluntarily from all over Europe, off their own charge, to perform in front of the audience," he said.
"All of that is hosted by over 80 volunteers, who most of them come from Evesham, so it's a great Evesham community.
"We've got our own re-enactors who's come off of the back of it and they've got over 30 members now who will go around the West Midlands portraying the 13th century medieval life and soldiers, so it's great, it's expanding in all sorts of different directions."
He added: "I never had any idea this would happen when I started it, but I'm so glad it has because it's given the whole of Evesham something to be proud of."
Hurst will receive his award later this year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence ceremony in June.