DORSET WINNERS CELEBRATE IN NATIONAL TOURISM AWARDS  

 

Tourism businesses from across the South West were celebrating last night (5 June) as host Alex Polizzi presented the annual VisitEngland awards to the best in the country.

The announcements marked the conclusion of the 2023/24 awards cycle which started in 2023 when businesses entered their local tourism awards in Dorset, Bristol, Bath and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. The national winners were announced at a glittering event in Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel with categories ranging from Atractions, Pubs and Self Catering businesses to B and Bs, Small Hotel and New Tourism Business.

Nominations for the national awards were put forward following the South West Tourism Excellence awards at Exeter University in March, following completion of the Dorset, Bristol, Bath and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall tourism awards. Since then the nominees have been through a further round of national judging leading to the announcement of national winners.

Dorset celebrated two winners, a Gold for Nothe Fort in the Small Visitor Attraction category and a Silver for the Acorn Inn in the popular Pub category.

Nothe Fort told us "To be recognised as a national winner is an amazing feeling.  We are thrilled to have got to the finals Visit England Awards for Excellence Awards, and to have won Gold for Small Visitor Attraction is wonderful.  This award will make the Nothe Fort team, our visitors and our home town of Weymouth so proud."

Bristol, Bath and Somerset winners were a Gold for WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre and a Bronze for Somerset’s Bossington Hall.  Devon celebrated with Sleepy Owl Devon winning both a Gold and a Silver.  There were three Cornwall winners, with The Peterville Inn taking Gold,  My Cottages in St Ives winning a Silver and The Pig at Harlyn Bay winning Bronze.

Robin Barker from South West awards organisers Services for Tourism, commented: “It was a delight to share in the success of an astounding group of tourism businesses. Their commitment to excellence, sustainability, accessibility and customer service is a testament to their whole teams, whether managers, front of house staff, cleaners or volunteers.”

Co-Director Nell Barrington added: “It was a privilege to be able to share in the celebrations with these passionate businesses, all of them showcasing the very best aspects of the region.”

The 2024/25 awards are currently open for entry with a deadline of 23 June.  Businesses are encouraged to enter in their county schemes, with the chance of going on to national success.

Below are all the South West winners in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024:

DORSET

GOLD - Small Visitor Attraction of the Year - Nothe Fort (operated by Weymouth Civic Society)

SILVER – Pub of the Year - The Acorn Inn

BRISTOL, BATH AND SOMERSET

GOLD, Large Visitor Attraction of the Year - WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire 

BRONZE - B&B and Guest House of the Year - Bossington Hall, Somerset 

CORNWALL

GOLD - Pub of the Year - The Peterville Inn

SILVER - Self Catering Accommodation of the Year - My Cottages in St Ives, 

BRONZE - Small Hotel of the Year - THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay

DEVON

GOLD - Self Catering Accommodation of the Year and SILVER - New Tourism Business of the Year - Sleepy Owl Devon

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