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. These include Al Molo restaurant in Weymouth, the town's Nothe Fort, Dorset House in Lyme Regis, and Jurassic Coast Guides which runs tours all along the Jurassic Coast. Meanwhile, White Star Running's Run Jurassic 2019 event won Tourism Event/Festival of the Year.
Al Molo won the Gold award for 'Restaurant of the Year'.
Tim Newton, one of the owners of Al Molo, said: “Giuseppe and I are both delighted to have won this award. We are now in our sixth year and we are very proud of what we have achieved together with the hard work and dedication from our fantastic team to get us here. We want to thank this year’s sponsors, South West Water and St. Austell Brewery, for believing in us and what we are doing here at Al Molo.
"We are preparing for a busy summer and this award gives us the boost we need to start the season on the 17th of May."
Nothe Fort won ‘Best Small Visitor Attraction'.
James Farquharson, Chairman of Nothe Fort, said: “Weymouth has an incredibly well recognised tourist brand that we should all be proud of. We were one of several local organisations to be recognised in these awards. Let us all enjoy what it feels like to live in a winning town.
“Nothe Fort’s award entry focussed on how we opened safely last year, proving to others that it was possible. I’d like to thank our current team, which rose to the challenge of Covid splendidly. I’d also like to thank previous generations of volunteers and staff whose legacy was a strong organisation able to make changes and thrive.”
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."
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
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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