Finalists for this year’s Dorset Tourism Awards

The finalists have been announced for this year’s Dorset Tourism Awards which will be presented at The Tank Museum next month.

A record 146 entries were received from across Dorset, with 77 selected as finalists who are now in suspense until the awards ceremony when they will learn whether they have won Gold, Silver or Bronze awards. A further 12 receive Commended status.

Local finalists include Bridport Tourist Information Centre (Visitor Information Service of the Year and Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award), Highlands End Holiday Park at Eype (Holiday Park of the Year), West Bay Discovery Centre (New Tourism Business Award), and Bridport Town Council for the West Bay Play Area (Access and Inclusivity Award).

The Ollerod restaurant in Beaminster, a new entry in this year's Good Food Guide by Waitrose & Partners, is a finalist in the Restaurant/Bistro of the Year category.

The 7th year of the competition has seen many changes, with new entry forms, new processes and a closer link with the regional South West and national VisitEngland Awards.

Judging has also changed with an increased focus on digital presence and evidence.

Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism said: “Change is one of the constants in business success and so it is with awards entrants and our own teams, who this year have completed a record 115 judging visits to Dorset businesses in their search for exemplars of excellence.

"This year has also seen our own recognition winning a Gold accreditation in the Awards Trustmark scheme, the only holders of this accolade in the region or in UK tourism, and I’d like to publicly acclaim all those in our teams whose professionalism has made this possible.”

Saffery Champness Chartered Accountants Partner Nick Fernyhough said: “Interest in the awards has continued to increase year on year and the judging panel were thoroughly delighted at this year’s numbers. What has been particularly pleasing has been to see the number of first-time finalists as well as lots of new brand names and first-time entries."

The awards ceremony is on Thursday, October 17 and it will be hosted by BBC Dorset’s Steve Harris, with guest Speaker Simon Cripps, Chief Executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust.

FULL LIST OF FINALISTS & COMMENDED 2019

ACCESS AND INCLUSIVITY AWARD

Bridport Town Council – West Bay Play Area

Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve, Swanage

Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester

ACTIVE AND SPORTING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

Cumulus Outdoors, Wareham

Lyme Bay RIB Charter

RockReef and PierZip on Bournemouth Pier

B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR

Gutchpool B&B, Gillingham

Mory House, Southbourne

Wooden Cabbage, Dorchester

Commended

St John’s Guest House, Weymouth

BUSINESS EVENTS & WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR

Mapperton Weddings, Beaminster

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth

The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth

Upton Country Park

CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR

Taste Café on Chesil Beach, Portland

The Gallery Café, Pallington

Yellow Bicycle Café, Blandford

Commended

The Coach House Café, Beaminster

CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERSTAR AWARD

Winner will be announced on the night

DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Lancombe Country Cottages & Lodges, Dorchester

The Grove Arms, Ludwell

Upton Country Park

ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD

Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth

Bridport Tourist Information Centre

The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne

Commended

Farmstead Glamping, Sturminster Newton

FORTHGLADE DOG FRIENDLY PUB OF THE YEAR

Milton Arms, Winterborne Whitechurch

The Grove Arms, Ludwell

GLAMPING & ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR

Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster

Farmstead Glamping, Sturminster Newton

The Seaside Shepherd’s Hut, West Bexington

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR

Highlands End Holiday Park, Eype

The Waterside Holiday Park & Spa, Weymouth

Commended

Durdle Door Holiday Park,

Oakdene Forest Park, St Leonards

INTERNATIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

Jurassic Coast Guides, Milborne St Andrew

The Tank Museum – Tankfest, Bovington

LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth

RNLI College, Poole

Commended

Moonfleet Manor Hotel, Weymouth

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole

Moors Valley Country Park & Forest, Ringwood

Swanage Railway

The Tank Museum, Bovington

LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

Jurassic Coast Guides, Milborne St Andrew

Lulworth Outdoors, Wareham

RNLI College Discovery & ALC Tours, Poole

Commended

Birds of Poole Harbour

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO DORSET TOURISM

Will be announced on the night

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD

Farmstead Glamping, Sturminster Newton

West Bay Discovery Centre

PUB OF THE YEAR

Acorn Inn, Evershot

The Halfmoon, Shaftesbury

Three Horseshoes Pub & Kitchen, Burton Bradstock

Commended

The Fat Badger, Weymouth

RESTAURANT/BISTRO OF THE YEAR

Arbor Restaurant, Bournemouth

Seasons at The Eastbury, Sherborne

The Jetty, Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch

The Ollerod, Beaminster

Commended

Drgnfly, Poole

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR

Doles Ash Farm Holiday Cottages, Dorchester

Greenwood Grange, Higher Bockhampton

Merry Hill Barn, Luxury Dorset Cottages, Abbotsbury

Commended

Burnbake Forest Lodges, Corfe Castle

SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR

The Eastbury, Sherborne

The Grange at Oborne

The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park, Verwood

Langham Wine Estate, Dorchester

Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester

Commended

Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington

SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

Christchurch Harbour Hotel

Mellulah Therapy & Yoga Retreats, Milton Abbas

Lovegrove at The Ollerod, Beaminster

TOURING CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR

East Fleet Touring Park, Chickerell

South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Dorchester

Wood Farm Caravan Park, Charmouth

Commended

Higher Moor Farm Campsite, Weymouth

TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR

Christmas Tree Wonderland, Bournemouth

Sherborne Abbey Festival

Stompin’ on the Quomps, Christchurch

The Tank Museum, Bovington

TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD

Christmas Tree Wonderland, Bournemouth

Yellow Buses, Bournemouth

VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR

Bridport Tourist Information Centre

Discover Purbeck Tourist Information Centre

Swanage Information Centre

WINNER OF WINNERS

Will be announced on the night