Award named for campaigner Arnold Fewell at inaugural Blue Badge Access Awards

Late accessibility campaigner and hospitality marketing expert Arnold Fewell is to have an interior design award named after him.

The Arnold Fewell Award will be presented to "the most inclusive building/interior design" among the entries in the inaugural Blue Badge Access Awards.

Just launched, the new awards have been created by combining two major design competitions, the Bespoke Access Awards and the Blue Badge Style Awards, with the support of Leonard Cheshire, the charity that supports individuals to live independently.

Fewell's daughter, Karen Fewell said: "It was only a matter of weeks after dad passed away that we first heard about this new award. Opening that email from Robin Sheppard gave us an overwhelming sense of pride, knowing that so many other people in the industry recognised the hard work dad put into accessibility.

"We are sure that dad would be absolutely thrilled to know there was an access award in his name. He used to say that when he was no longer with us, he simply wanted to be remembered for making a difference. This award shows that he really did so thank you to everyone at the Blue Badge Access Awards for making this happen. We'd like to encourage as many hospitality businesses to enter as possible as it's vital the industry gets behind campaigns like this. As a family we are so proud to continue dad's incredible work via AccessChamp and are already looking forward to discovering the winner in October."

Robin Sheppard, chairman of Bespoke Hotels and hotel sector champion for disabled people, added: "We are thrilled to launch the first Blue Badge Access Awards and celebrate the great work of designers and architects around the world in inclusive design. It is important to make access a permanent addition to the agenda.

"No one would have dreamed that sustainability would be so high on the agenda as it is now and we want access to be just as high in the priority list".

Nominations for the Blue Badge Access Awards are open until 30 June 2019, and can be made by via the awards website, via email to info@bluebadgeaccessawards.com or via Twitter @bluebadgeaccess.

The awards:

• Arnold Fewell Award - the most inclusive building/interior design
• Best Hotel (two awards recognising upmarket and boutique, Bespoke award)
• Best Bar (two awards recognizing upmarket and budget)
• Best Restaurant (two awards recognizing upmarket - Conran award - and budget)
• Best Accessible Toilet
• Ludicrous Loo
• Above & Beyond (includes hospitality and corporates)
• Euan's Guide Award
• Best Venue in a Listed Building
• Inclusive Employment Award (Leonard Cheshire)
• Employee of the Year