The star-studded event also saw the Top 50 best travel agencies in the UK and Ireland revealed, while more than 500 travel agents were entertained by ‘80s and ‘90s legends Roland Gift, frontman of the Fine Young Cannibals, and Chesney Hawkes.

Beverley Travel received high praise for its “combination of expertise, concierge-style customer service and endless drive and creativity”, which judges said made it “a real force to be reckoned with”.

Though launched only three years ago, the store was described as “a travel agency getting everything right, from the in-store experience, to offering staff personal development training, to giving back to the local community”.

Accepting the award, co-director Kelly Cheesman paid tribute to her team, fellow agents in the room and the wider industry.

"We all did this is, every person in this group did this. And to be stood here having opened our shop less than three years ago and done what we’ve done is just unbelievable and we’re so so grateful," she said.

"Everybody in this room is a hero for going through what they gone through. Nobody understands outside of this industry, nobody understands what we’ve been through, it was so goddamn difficult and we all did it. So well done everybody, this is for everybody in this industry that has fought for their business."

Meanwhile, Suffolk-based Deben Travel was named winner of new category, Intrepid Sustainable Travel Champion of the Year.

The important new award featured a number of inspiring finalists, but judges said Deben Travel was “a shining example of how a small independent agent can step up and take its environmental responsibilities seriously, while also engaging and influencing their customers to make more sustainable choices."

Elsewhere, the awards saw a double category champion win for Worcester-based ArrangeMy Escape – last year’s UK & Ireland’s No.1 Travel Agency – after it was named champion of both the Weddings and Honeymoons and Central England categories.

Other special awards on the night included the Contribution to Travel accolade which was presented to Althams Travel’s managing director Sandra McAllister.

Judges noted her impressive 30 years in travel, during which they said she had become well known as a compassionate business leader, taking Althams Travel to huge success and recently implementing a four-day working week. McAllister was also commended for the fact that during Covid she was the only travel agent to be granted an audience with then chancellor Rishi Sunak.

See the full list of Top 50 travel agents 2023