The best tourism businesses across South West England were recognised at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2013-14, in association with Source for Business.
The winners were revealed at Plymouth’s Holiday Inn, where 66 different awards were announced following a rigorous judging process in which a record 350 entries were considered.
The ceremony was hosted by ITV Westcountry news presenter Ian Axton, with a stimulating opening presentation by travel writer Sally Shalam, one of the few in her trade to focus on British rather than overseas travel.
The awards broke the previous record for entries.
Amongst the Gold winners were Cornwall’s Pentillie Castle, the Headland Hotel, the Pandora Inn and Little White Alice.
Devon picked up fewer awards overall, but more at the Gold level, with the top awards for English Riviera Tourism Company, the Arundell Arms, River Cottage in Plymouth and the Old Rectory Hotel.
Somerset took a Gold for Coleridge Cottage.
Alongside the awards for businesses was the rather different ‘Superstar’ award for outstanding customer service.
This saw tougher competition than ever before, with a draw for the top position between Dickon Allen from Montacute in Somerset and Matt Druce from Westward Living in Devon.
In addition to the category awards, two special awards were presented. Pennywell Farm received a special award for water management whilst the award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism went to The South West Coast Path.
The night’s final Winner of Winners award, went to Calvert Trust Exmoor, who also picked up two other Golds having inspired the judging panel with their achievements, vision and inspiration.
Up to four award winners from each category in this year’s awards will all now go on to represent the region at the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in May.
Chair of Judges, Alistair Handyside, said: “The list of finalists really does look like a who’s who of the best in the South West. Once again the entrants have surpassed themselves in showing that investment, innovation and creativity remain at the heart of the visitor economy in the region.”
John Crouch, Marketing Manager for Title Sponsors, Source for Business, said:
“The Tourism Awards once again demonstrate how impressively the tourism sector is delivering a great visitor experience in the south west.”
THE FINALISTS
BED & BREAKFAST AND GUEST ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by e-Strategy – www.e-strategy.net
GOLD
Pentillie Castle, St Mellion, Cornwall www.pentillie.co.ukSILVER
The Seafood Restaurant – restaurant with rooms, Padstow, Cornwall www.rickstein.com
BRONZE
Launceston Farm B&B, Blandford Forum, Dorset www.launcestonfarm.co.uk
Pendragon Country House, Davidstow, Cornwall www.pendragoncountryhouse.comHIGHLY COMMENDED
The Elmdene, Torquay, Devon www.elmdenehotel.co.uk
The Village Pub, Cirencester, Glos www.thevillagepub.co.uk
SELF CATERING ESTABLISHMENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Pavey Group - www.paveygroup.co.uk
GOLD
Headland Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall www.headlandhotel.co.ukSILVER
Seahorse Apartments & Westward Living at Duckhaven Stud, Westward Ho! Devon www.westwardliving.co.uk
BRONZE
The Big House Company, Wellington, Somerset www.thebighouseco.com
Greenwood Grange, Dorchester, Dorset www.greenwoodgrange.co.ukHIGHLY COMMENDED
Little White Alice, Carnmenellis, Cornwall www.littlewhitealice.co.uk
West Pitt Farm, Tiverton, Devon www.westpittfarm.co.uk
TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by A Head for PR - www.aheadforpr.co.ukGOLD
Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival, Salisbury, Wilts www.salisburyfestival.co.ukSILVER
Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth, Dorset www.dorsetseafood.co.uk
Falmouth Oyster Festival, Falmouth, Cornwall www.falmouthoysterfestival.co.ukBRONZE
RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day, Yeovilton, Somerset www.royalnavy.mod.uk/yeovilton-airday
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink, Exeter, Devon www.exeterfoodandrinkfestival.co.uk
Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Peach, Watergate Bay, Cornwall www.watergatebay.co.uk/polo
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Stephens Scown solicitors www.stephens-scown.co.ukGOLD
Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport, Dorset www.highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk
SILVER
Wooda Farm Holiday Park, Poughill, Cornwall www.wooda.co.uk
BRONZE
Cofton Country Holidays, Dawlish, Devon www.coftonholidays.co.uk
Gwel an Mor Resort, Portreath, Cornwall www.gwelanmor.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Finlake Holiday Park, Chudleigh, Devon www.finlake.co.uk
The Park Mawgan Porth, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall www.mawganporth.co.uk
Perran Sands Holiday Park, Perranporth, Cornwall www.haven.com/parks/cornwall/perran-sands
South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster, Dorset www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk
TOURIST INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Quality in Tourism - www.qualityintourism.comGOLD
English Riviera Visitor Information Service, Devon www.englishriviera.co.ukSILVER
Dartmouth Tourist Information Centre, Devon www.discoverdartmouth.com
BRONZE
Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre, Dorset www.visit-dorset.com
Poole Welcome Centre, Dorset www.pooletourism.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bodmin Visitor Information Centre, Cornwall www.bodminlive.com
Ilfracombe Tourist Information Centre, Devon www.visitilfracombe.co.uk
Launceston TIC, Cornwall www.visitlaunceston.co.uk
VENUE & BUSINESS TOURISM AWARD
Sponsored by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking - www.lloydsbankbusiness.comGOLD
Arundell Arms Hotel, Lifton, Devon www.arundellarms.co.ukSILVER
Deer Park Country House Hotel, Weston, Devon www.deerparkcountryhotel.co.ukBRONZE
Dartington Hall, Dartington, Devon www.dartingtonhall.com
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Resort South West - www.resortsouthwest.comGOLD
National Trust Coleridge Cottage, Nether Stowey, Somerset www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coleridgecottage
SILVER
Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen, Cornwall www.geevor.comBRONZE
St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre, St Austell, Cornwall www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/visitor-centre
Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life, Tiverton, Devon www.tivertonmuseum.org.ukHIGHLY COMMENDED
National Trust Trerice, Kestle Mill, Cornwall www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trerice
Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary, Looe, Cornwall www.monkeysanctuary.org
TOURISM ACTIVITY, SPORT & EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Moore Scarrott - www.moore-scarrott.co.ukGOLD
Calvert Trust Exmoor, Kentisbury, Devon www.calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoorSILVER
Arundell Arms Hotel, Lifton, Devon www.arundellarms.co.uk
National Trust Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea
BRONZE
Polkerris Beach, Polkerris, Cornwall www.polkerrisbeach.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Big Zoo Animals Keeper Experience at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Wraxall, Somerset www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk
Le Vignoble, Plymouth, Devon www.levignoble.co.uk
TOURISM SUPERSTAR AWARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Sponsored by The Met Office - www.metoffice.gov.ukJOINT GOLD
Dickon Allen from Montacute House, Montacute, Somerset www.nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute-house
Matt Druce from Westward Living at Duckhaven Stud, Westward Ho! Devon www.westwardliving.co.uk
JOINT SILVER
Geof Curtis from Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea
Christine Hornsby from Perran Sands Holiday Park, Perranporth, Cornwall www.haven.com/parks/cornwall/perran-sands
TASTE OF SOUTH WEST AWARD
Sponsored by Hale Events - www.hale-events.comJOINT GOLD
Bybrook Restaurant at the Manor House, Castle Combe, Wilts www.manorhouse.co.uk
River Cottage Canteen & Deli, Plymouth, Devon www.rivercottage.net/canteensJOINT SILVER
Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne, Dorset www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk
The Herring, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall www.bedruthan.com/theherringrestaurant
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Juliet’s Garden Restaurant & Bar, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly www.julietsgardenrestaurant.co.uk
Northcote Manor Country House Hotel, Umberleigh, Devon www.northcotemanor.co.uk
Porthminster Beach Cafe, St Ives, Cornwall www.porthminstercafe.co.uk
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel & Restaurant, Clearwell, Glos www.tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk
TOURISM PUB OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Purple Cloud Consultancy - www.purplecloudconsultancy.co.ukGOLD
Pandora Inn, Mylor, Cornwall www.pandorainn.comSILVER
The Cornish Arms, St Merryn, Cornwall www.rickstein.com
Start Bay Inn, Torcross, Devon www.startbayinn.co.ukBRONZE
The New Inn, Tresco, Isles of Scilly www.tresco.co.ukHIGHLY COMMENDED
The Inn at Cranborne, Cranborne, Dorset www.theinnatcranborne.co.uk
The Jack in the Green, Rockbeare, Devon www.jackinthegreen.uk.com
The Lamb Inn, Sandford, Devon www.lambinnsandford.co.uk
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Sponsored by Plymouth University, School of Tourism & Hospitality - www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/thGOLD
Little White Alice, Carnmenellis, Cornwall www.littlewhitealice.co.ukSILVER
Compton Pool Farm, Marldon, Devon www.comptonpool.co.ukBRONZE
Arundell Arms Hotel, Lifton, Devon www.arundellarms.co.uk
Railholiday, St Germans, Cornwall www.railholiday.co.ukHIGHLY COMMENDED
Hedgehog Corner, Uplyme, Devon www.hedgehogcorner.co.uk
Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon www.pennywellfarm.co.uk
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Take One Media – www.takeonemedia.co.uk
GOLD
Longleat, Warminster, Wilts www.longleat.co.uk
SILVER
The Big Sheep, Bideford, Devon www.thebigsheep.co.ukBRONZE
Cotehele, Saltash, Cornwall www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele Trebah Garden, Mawnan Smith, Cornwall www.trebah-garden.co.ukHIGHLY COMMENDED
Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall www.edenproject.com
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, Cornwall www.heligan.com
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor
Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon www.pennywellfarm.co.uk
ACCESS FOR ALL AWARD
Sponsored by Tourism for All - www.tourismforall.org.ukGOLD
Calvert Trust Exmoor, Kentisbury, Devon www.calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoorSILVER
A Little Bit of Heaven, Lostwithiel, Cornwall www.alittlebitofheaven.co.uk
Mortons House Hotel, Corfe Castle, Dorset www.mortonshouse.co.ukBRONZE
Countryside Mobility South West, Exeter, Devon www.countrysidemobility.org
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Wingz Bird & Animal Sanctuary, Par, Cornwall www.wingzbirdsanctuary.co.uk
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hotel Perfect - www.hotelperfect.co.ukGOLD
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Colerne, Wilts www.lucknampark.co.ukSILVER
Headland Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall www.headlandhotel.co.uk
The Manor House Hotel & Golf Club, Castle Combe, Wilts www.manorhouse.co.ukBRONZE
Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall www.bedruthan.com
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Buckleigh Linen Services - www.buckleigh.co.ukGOLD
The Old Rectory Hotel, Martinhoe, Devon www.oldrectoryhotel.co.ukSILVER
Hell Bay Hotel, Bryher, Isles of Scilly www.hellbay.co.ukBRONZE
Barnsley House Hotel, Cirencester, Glos www.barnsleyhouse.com
Talland Bay Hotel, Looe, Cornwall www.tallandbayhotel.co.ukHIGHLY COMMENDED
The Alverton, Truro. Cornwall www.thealverton.co.uk
BridgeHouse Hotel, Beaminster, Dorset www.bridge-house.co.uk
Percy’s Country Hotel, Virginstow, Devon www.percys.co.uk
WINNER OF WINNERS
Sponsored by First Great Western www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
Calvert Trust Exmoor, Kentisbury, Devon www.calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoor
SPECIAL AWARD FOR WATER MANAGEMENT
Source for Business www.sourceforbusiness.co.ukPennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon www.pennywellfarm.co.uk
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TOURISM
The South West Coast Path www.southwestcoastpath.com
