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