Celebration for Tourism in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
The Winners in the 2020/21 Cornwall Tourism Awards have been announced during an emotional and dramatic online Awards Day.
In an innovative awards day hosted over five sessions by Daphne Skinnard and Robin Barker on Thursday 25 February this year’s Winners in the Cornwall Tourism Awards have been announced.
The online event saw 74 awards presented in 27 categories with a final surprise ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ award being the final announcement. It was the culmination of an 11 month programme that started in March 2020 with entrants judged on a combination of their entry submissions, digital presence, reviews and external evidence.
A surprise award went to Martin Barlow, owner of the Budock Vean Hotel, winning the prestigious Outstanding Contribution Award, whilst Watergate Bay’s Ben Harper took the award for Business Leader. Amongst the other top winners was Landal Gwel an Mor, winning Gold for Holiday Park of the Year as well as awards for Access, Small Attraction, Spa and Wellbeing, and Wedding Venue. Sara’s Cottage was another multiple winner picking up golds for Access and Self Catering, whilst Mullion Cove Hotel and Spa took gold for Small Hotel and Carlyon Bay Hotel the gold for Large Hotel. The Old Embassy House took the gold for B&B and Guesthouse of the Year with Polmanter Touring Park and Ekopod taking the final two accommodation golds for touring park and glamping.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary showed its further improvements taking gold in both the Wildlife Friendly and Dog Friendly categories with Paradise Park also taking two golds for Large Visitor Attraction and Experience of the Year. The Shipwreck Treasure Museum took the Small Attraction gold, with Treseren winning gold for Wedding Venue and St Moritz Hotel gold for Tourism Innovation. It was good to see Falmouth Oyster Festival 2019 taking the gold for tourism event of the year and Visit Newquay Tourist Information the gold for Visitor Information.
Food and drink businesses were also recognised with Teacup Tearoom winning gold for Café/Tearoom of the Year, The Pandora Inn for Pub of the Year (for the 4th year running) and Bango Kitchen the gold for Restaurant and Casual Dining.
Prestigious golds also went to The Sanctuary Cornwall for Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, and to Cove24 Restaurant and Bar in the New Tourism Business category.
The Awards also recognised five ‘Unsung Heroes’ who had gone above and beyond during 2020. These were Gary Zammit of Feadon Wildlife Centre, Kim Spencer of SECTA, Patrick Trembath of PK Porthcurno, Robert Hawkins of Martha’s Orchard and Sally Pickles from The Bowgie Inn.
The 19th year of the competition has been run in unprecedented times for tourism, but the focus on excellence and feedback for entrants has remained as relevant as ever.
Awards organizer Robin Barker of Services for Tourism said: “It would have been very easy to cancel the Awards this year – we did think long and hard about it, but the level of early entries we received in spite of everything, and the creativity and determination shown by entrants inspired us to find a way to make this happen – and your responses and feedback ever since have completely blown us away. The reactions from today’s winners including words such as “overwhelmed”, “heartwarning” and “moments of sparkle” have made it all worthwhile.”
Deborah Heather of headline sponsors Quality in Tourism says: “I’ve just spent an amazing day with the awe-inspiring tourism industry of Cornwall. They go from strength to strength each year. We are so proud at Quality in Tourism to be headline sponsor of the Cornwall Tourism Awards. I am humbled by and optimistic because of these industry leaders.”
Malcolm Bell, Head of VisitCornwall, comments: “In what has been an extraordinary year for Cornwall it is refreshing to have something for our excellent tourism businesses to celebrate. Many congratulations to everyone for your ongoing investments in excellence.”
All of the winners will be automatically considered for the regional South West Tourism Excellence Awards later in the year as well as receiving feedback from the judging process. The 2021/22 awards are planned to be launched in April.
2020/2021 CORNWALL TOURISM AWARDS - FULL LIST
WINNERS & COMMENDED (in alphabetic order)
Sponsored by Quality in Tourism, qualityintourism.com
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD
sponsored by Jarrang, jarrang.com
Gold
Sara’s Cottage, Truro, sarascottage.co.uk @SarasCottage
Silver
Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Portreath, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
Bronze
Harrods Cornish Cottages, Penhallow, harrods-cornwall.co.uk
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Worldpay fisglobal.com/en-gb/merchant-solutions-worldpay
Gold
Old Embassy House, Fowey oldembassyhouse.co.uk @OldEmbassy
Silver
Trewornan Manor, Wadebridge trewornanmanor.co.uk @Trewornanmanor
Bronze
Wingletang Guest House, Isles of Scilly, wingletangguesthouse.co.uk
BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Be theBusiness, bethebusiness.com
· Ben Harper - Watergate Bay Hotel, watergatebay.co.uk @WatergateBay
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Cornish Tea and Coffee, cornish-tea.co.uk
Gold
Teacup Tearoom, Mevagissey, teacuptearoom.com, @teacup_tearoom
Silver
The Thirstea Co, Portscatho, thethirsteacompany.co.uk @ThethirsteaCo
CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Stephens Scown solicitors, stephens-scown.co.uk
Gold
Polmanter Touring Park, St Ives, polmanter.com @PolmanterStIves
Silver
Mena Farm: Touring, Camping, Glamping, Bodmin, menafarm.co.uk @MenaFarmCamping
Bronze
Treloy Touring Park, Newquay, treloy.co.uk @treloytouring
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Forthglade, forthglade.com
Gold
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org, @Seal_Sanctuary
Silver
Kernock Cottages, Saltash, kernockcottages.com @KernockCottages
Bronze
Gwelmor Holiday Home, Bude, gwelmor.com, @gwelmor
Hut and Hound, St Austell, hutandhound.co.uk
Teacup Tearoom, Mevagissey, teacuptearoom.com, @teacup_tearoom
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
sponsored by South West Water, southwestwater.co.uk
Gold
The Sanctuary Cornwall, Golant, thesanctuarycornwall.co.uk @SanctuaryCornwl
Silver
Camp Kernow, Truro, campkernow.org.uk @CampKernow
Bronze
Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, Padstow, motheriveysbay.com @MotherIveysBay
EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR (ACTIVE OR LEARNING)
sponsored by Pear Communications, pearcommunications.org
Gold
Paradise Park – Red Panda Experience, Hayle, paradisepark.org.uk @CornishParadise
Silver
Paddle Cornwall SUP, Golant, paddlecornwallsup.co.uk @paddlecornwallsup
Bronze
Bare Feet Coasteer, Newquay, barefeetcoasteer.com @nickewebb
GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Jo Downs Handmade Glass, jodowns.com
Gold
Ekopod, Launceston, ekopod.co.uk
Silver
Wych Elm Glamping, Coverack, wychelmyurts.co.uk
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Stephens Scown solicitors, stephens-scown.co.uk
Gold
Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Portreath, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
Silver
Martha’s Orchard, Constantine Bay, marthasorchard.co.uk @MarthasOrchard
Commended
Bude Holiday Resort, Bude, ariaresorts.co.uk @ariaresortsuk
Retallack Resort & Spa, St Column Major, ariaresorts.co.uk @ariaresortsuk
Trelawne Manor Holiday Park, Looe, trelawnemanor.co.uk @TrelawneManor
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AWARD
sponsored by Cornwall Airport Newquay, cornwallairportnewquay.com
Gold
Cornwall Plus, Falmouth, cornwall-plus.co.uk @Cornwall_Plus
Silver
Travel England Tours Ltd, travelenglandtours.com, @TetTours
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Hotel Perfect, hotelperfect.co.uk
Gold
Carlyon Bay Hotel, St Austell, carlyonbay.com @CarlyonBayHotel
Silver
Budock Vean Hotel, Mawnan Smith, budockvean.co.uk @BudockVeanHotel
Bronze
Fowey Hall Hotel, Fowey, foweyhallhotel.co.uk @foweyhall
Commended
Polurrian on the Lizard, Mullion, polurrianhotel.com @PolurrianHotel
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
sponsored by The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, islesofscilly-travel.co.uk
Gold
Paradise Park and JungleBarn Indoor Play Centre, Hayle, paradisepark.org.uk, @Cornishparadise
Silver
Camel Creek Adventure Park, Wadebridge, camelcreek.co.uk @CamelCreekPark
National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth, nmmc.co.uk @TheNMMC
Tintagel Castle (English Heritage), Tintagel, english-heritage.org.uk @EnglishHeritage
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD
sponsored by The Samphire Club, thesamphireclub.co.uk
Gold
Cove24 Restaurant and Bar, Newquay, cove24.uk @Cove24nqy
Silver
Scilly Spirit Distillery, Isles of Scilly, scillyspirit.com @scillyspirit
Bronze
Via Ferrata Cornwall, Penryn, viaferratacornwall.co.uk
Commended
Paddle Cornwall SUP, Golant, paddlecornwallsup.co.uk @paddlecornwallsup
St Martin’s Watersports, Isles of Scilly, stmartinswatersports.co.uk @stmartinswaters
The Residence at Bolenna, Perranporth, bolenna.com
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO CORNISH TOURISM
sponsored by Visit Cornwall, visitcornwall.com
Martin Barlow, Budock Vean Hotel, budockvean.co.uk @BudockVeanHotel
PUB OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Vickery Holman, vickeryholman.com
Gold
The Pandora Inn, Mylor, pandorainn.com, @PandoraInn
Silver
The Boathouse, Falmouth, theboathousefalmouth.co.uk, @theboathousefal
Bronze
The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor, gurnardshead.co.uk @gurnardshead
Commended
The Old Inn and Restaurant, St Breward, theoldinnandrestaurant.co.uk
RESTAURANT & CASUAL DINING OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Trevethan Cornish Gin, trevethandistillery.com
Gold
Bango Kitchen, Penryn, theshellfishpig.co.uk
Silver
Cove24 Restaurant and Bar, Newquay, cove24.uk @Cove24nqy
Bronze
The Idle Rocks Restaurant, St Mawes, idlerocks.com @TheIdleRocks
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Anytime Booking, anytimebooking.co.uk
Gold
Sara’s Cottage, Truro, sarascottage.co.uk @SarasCottage
Silver
My Cottages in St Ives, St Ives, mycottagesinstives.co.uk @Cottages_StIves
Bronze
Cosawes Barton, Truro, cosawesbarton.co.uk @CosawesBarton
Commended
Pencuke Farm Holiday Cottages and Camping, Bude, pencukefarm.co.uk @PencukeFarm
Retallack Resort & Spa, Padstow, ariaresorts.co.uk @ariaresortsuk
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
sponsored by PKF Francis Clark, pkf-francisclark.co.uk
Gold
Mullion Cove Hotel & Spa, Mullion, mullion-cove.co.uk @mullioncove
Silver
The PIG at Harlyn Bay, Padstow, thepighotel.com @The_Pig_Hotel
Bronze
The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, idlerocks.com @TheIdleRocks
Commended
The Old Coastguard, Mousehole, oldcoastguardhotel.co.uk @leroundhouse
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Seymac Distribution, seymacdistribution.com
Gold
Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Charlestown, shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk @CtShipwreck
Silver
Feadon Wildlife Centre, Portreath, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Lovegrove Essentials lovegroveessentials.com
Gold
Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Portreath, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
Silver
St Michaels Resort, Falmouth, stmichaelsresort.com/spa, @stmichaelsresort
Bronze
Mullion Cove Spa, Mullion, mullion-cove.co.uk @mullioncove
TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Skinners Brewery, skinnersbrewery.com
Gold
Falmouth Oyster Festival 2019, falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk @FalOysterFest
Silver
Wavelength Media’s Drive in Cinema Series 2020, wavelengthmag.com @wavelengthmag
TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD
sponsored by Clockwork Marketing clock-work.co.uk
Gold
St Moritz Hotel, Polzeath, stmoritzhotel.co.uk @stmoritzhotel
Silver
Treseren, Newquay, treseren.co.uk @TreserenC
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
sponsored by Quality in Tourism, qualityintourism.com
Unsung Heroes
Gary Zammit, Feadon Wildlife Centre, Portreath gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
Kim Spencer, Wringworthy Cottages, Looe, wringworthy.co.uk @Wringworthy
Patrick Trembath, PK Porthcurno, pkporthcurno.com @PKPorthcurno
Robert Hawkins, Martha’s Orchard, Constantine Bay, marthasorchard.co.uk @MarthasOrchard
Sally Pickles, The Bowgie Inn, Newquay, bowgie.com @BowgieInn
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions, bestdaysoutcornwall.co.uk
Gold
Visit Newquay Tourist Information Centre, visitnewquay.org @Tourism_Newquay
Silver
Bodmin Information Centre, bodminlive.com
Bronze
Fal River Visitor Information Centre, falriver.co.uk @FalRiver
WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Navas Drinks, navasdrinks.com
Gold
Treseren, Newquay, treseren.co.uk @TreserenC
Silver
Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Portreath, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
WILDLIFE FRIENDLY TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD
sponsored by Tevi, tevi.co.uk in association with Cornwall Wildlife Trust, cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk
Gold
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org, @Seal_Sanctuary
Silver
Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, Padstow, motheriveysbay.com @MotherIveysBay
Bronze
Ekopod, Launceston, ekopod.co.uk
Commended
Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Portreath, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
PK Porthcurno – Museum of Global Communications, Porthcurno, pkporthcurno.com @PKPorthcurno
St Ives Holiday Village, St Ives, stivesholidayvillage.co.uk @JohnFowlerHols
