DORSET businesses won big at a tourism showcase in an 'emotional' online event - following a difficult year for hospitality during the pandemic.
The South West England Tourism Awards were presented online, with every winner given the chance to react to their award.
Celebrating tourism excellence at such a difficult time is providing a major boost in helping to promote businesses which have been struggling and have had to adapt.
After the longest ever awards season, 76 winners were announced, in a competition which saw 416 entries from across Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Judging this year took account of business entries, digital presence and feedback along with evidence of Covid-secure measures, prior to decisions taken by an independent panel.
A number of Dorset businesses took home an award, with many businesses winning the prestigious Gold award.
Winners included Dorset House in Lyme Regis and Jurassic Coast Guides which runs tours all along the Jurassic Coast. White Star Running's Run Jurassic 2019 event won Tourism Event/Festival of the Year.
Dorset House won the Gold award for 'Best B&B and Guesthouse of the Year'.
Jason Martin, who owns Dorset House with his wife Lyn, said: "We are obviously delighted, it is such a nice award to win.
"We will be really pleased to be back open soon. We are fully booked until October and we have got a waiting list.
"We love being in Lyme Regis, it has got a lot to offer and it is getting better and better with all the new businesses coming in."
Winners
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD
Gold
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol
Silver
- Sara’s Cottage, Cornwall
Bronze
- Leafy Fields Glamping, Devon
Commended
- HolidayInDorset – Birchcroft, Dorset
- Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Dorset House, Dorset
Silver
- St John’s Guest House, Dorset
Commended
- Barnabas House B&B, Devon
- Brightham House Boutique Bed and Breakfast, Devon
- The Old Stables Bed & Breakfast, Somerset
BUSINESS EVENTS & WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Treseren, Cornwall
Silver
- Paschoe House, Devon
Bronze
- Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset
Commended
- Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall
- Upton Country Park, Dorset
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Picnic Park Deli, Dorset
Silver
- Teacup Tearoom, Cornwall
Bronze
- Fishcombe Cove Café
CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR
Gold
- South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park
Silver
- Polmanter Touring Park, Cornwall
Bronze
- Mena Farm: Touring, Camping, Glamping, Cornwall
CASUAL DINING AWARD
Gold
- The PIG at Combe, Devon
Silver
- Cary Arms & Spa, Devon
Bronze
- Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Dorset
Commended
- Bango Kitchen, Cornwall
- On the Waterfront, Devon
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Gold
- The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Cornwall
Silver
- Bolberry Farm Cottages, Devon
Bronze
- Kernock Cottages, Cornwall
Commended
- Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset
- Saunton Beach Villas, Devon
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Gold
- The Sanctuary Cornwall
Silver
- Camp Kernow, Cornwall
Bronze
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol
Commended
- Little Comfort Farm, Devon
- Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, Cornwall
- Pause Cat Café, Dorset
EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Jurassic Coast Guides, Dorset
Silver
- Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Dorset
Bronze
- Savouring Bath, Bath
Commended
- Fore / Adventure, Dorset
- Paradise Park – Red Panda Experience, Cornwall
GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Brownscombe Luxury Glamping, Devon
Silver
- Devon Yurt, Devon
Bronze
- Ekopod, Cornwall
- Farmstead Glamping, Dorset
Commended
- Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Dorset
- Leafy Field Glamping, Devon
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Andrewshayes Holiday Park, Devon
Silver
- Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwal
Bronze
- Ladram Bay Holiday Park, Devon
Commended
- Lady’s Mile Holiday Park, Devon
- Martha’s Orchard, Cornwall
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Carlyon Bay Hotel, Cornwall
Silver
- Budock Vean Hotel, Cornwall
Bronze
- The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, Bath
Commended
- Fowey Hall Hotel, Cornwall
- Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset
- Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Wild Place Project, Bristol
Silver
- The Tank Museum, Dorset
Bronze
- Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol
- Paradise Park and JungleBarn Indoor Play Centre, Cornwall
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD
Gold
- The Roost Luxury Glamping, Glos
Silver
- The Hudnalls Hideout Treehouse, Glos
Bronze
- Cross Lane House, Somerset
- The Cross Keys, Dorset
Commended
- The Cottages at Blackadon Farm, Devon
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SOUTH WEST TOURISM
·The Great South West Tourism Partnership Group (Spokespeople: Amanda Lumley, VisitPlymouth, and Alistair Handyside, South West Tourism Alliance)
PUB OF THE YEAR
Gold
- The Pandora Inn, Cornwall
Silver
- Three Crowns, Devon
Bronze
- The Boathouse, Cornwall
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Al Molo, Dorset, almolo.co.uk
Silver
- The Angel – Taste of Devon
Bronze
- Cove24 Restaurant and Bar, Cornwall
- Moose Kitchen, Dorset
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Higher Wiscombe, Devon
Silver
- Sara’s Cottage, Cornwall
Bronze
- Nethway Farm Holiday Cottages, Devon
Commended
- Lower Campscott Farm Cottages, Devon
- The Apartment, Bath,apartmentbath.com
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Wiltshire
Silver
- The Horn of Plenty Country House Hotel & Restaurant, Devon
Bronze
- Cary Arms & Spa, Devon, caryarms.co.uk
Commended
- Gara Rock Hotel, Devon
- Mullion Cove Hotel & Spa, Cornwall
- The PIG at Harlyn Bay, Cornwall
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Nothe Fort, Dorset
Silver
- Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset
Bronze
- Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Cornwall
Commended
- Dean Forest Railway, Glos
SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall
Silver
- Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire
Bronze
- St Michaels Resort, Cornwall
- Lincombe Hall Hotel, Devon
Commended
- Mullion Cove Spa, Cornwall
TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Gold
- White Star Running – Run Jurassic 2019, Dorset
Silver
- Sculpture by the Lakes – Dorset Arts Festival 2020
Bronze
- eat:Portishead, Somerset
Commended
- Falmouth Oyster Festival 2019, Cornwall
TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD
Gold
- Quince Honey Farm, Devon
Silver
- St Moritz Hotel, Cornwall
Bronze
- Savouring Bath, Bath
Commended
- The Grange at Oborne, Dorset
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Gold
- Lynmouth Pavilion Exmoor National Park Centre, Devon
Silver
- South Somerset Visitor Information Centre / South Somerset District Council, Somerset
Bronze
- Visit Newquay Tourist Information Centre, Cornwall
WATER CONSERVATION AWARD
- The Sanctuary, Cornwall
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