Finalists announced for South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2020/21
After the longest awards season ever 75 Finalists and 33 Commended have been named in this year’s regional Tourism Awards, which saw 416 entries from across Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Sponsored by South West Water, the awards programme opened for entry in March 2020, with plenty of adaptations and extensions along the way. Launched prior to the first lockdown, judging has taken account of business entries, digital presence and feedback along with evidence of Covid-secure measures, with judges poring over entry forms, websites, social media and review sites prior to decisions taken by an independent panel.
The awards will be presented online on 22 April, with a prior ‘Meet The Finalist’ event on 13 April when finalists and sponsors get the chance to share in their news and plans.
Up to five finalists have been announced in each category, but all will have to wait until 22 April to learn whether they have won Gold, Silver or Bronze awards.
Jo Ecroyd, Customer Service Director of headline sponsors South West Water, said: “We’re delighted to be headline sponsors of this year’s South West Tourism Awards. As a top FTSE business in the South West, we see it as our responsibility to promote and contribute to the regional economy, in which tourism plays such an important role. It has certainly been a challenging year for businesses, and we applaud all our finalists for their perseverance in the face of the challenges from the pandemic over the past year.
"The economy and wellbeing of our region is reliant on the environment we live in. That’s why we’re keen to continue our work with the tourism sector to enhance and protect our natural environment and to ensure that the South West is a sustainable and beautiful place to live and visit for many years to come.”
Robin Barker, director of Services for Tourism Ltd, who manage the Awards, commented: “We so nearly cancelled this year’s awards but are so glad we continued. The reaction from businesses, the stories they’ve told, and the innovation and inspiration we’ve witnessed amongst hundreds of small businesses has been humbling. We’re so pleased to be able to play our part in supporting such a deserving and important sector.”
Co-organiser Nell Barrington added: “I have been humbled to hear the stories from these just amazing businesses overcoming adversity and to see their excitement about welcoming back visitors. I look forward to the time when I can celebrate with them all in person. They have all worked so hard and rightly deserve this recognition. Congratulations to them all.
2020/2021 SOUTH WEST TOURISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
FINALISTS & COMMENDED(in alphabetic order)
Sponsored by South West Water, southwestwater.co.uk
Cornish businesses in bold.
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD
Finalists
- Leafy Fields Glamping, Devon, leafyfieldsglamping.com @LeafyFields
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk @noahs_ark_zoo
- Sara’s Cottage, Cornwall, sarascottage.co.uk @SarasCottage
Commended
- HolidayInDorset – Birchcroft, Dorset, birchcroft-hideaway.co.uk
- Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Dorset House, Dorset, dorsethouselyme.com @Dorsethouselyme
- Highcliffe House, Devon, highcliffehouse.co.uk @HighcliffExmoor
- St John’s Guest House, Dorset, stjohnsguesthouse.co.uk @Fishersdream
Commended
- Barnabas House B&B, Devon, barnabas-house.co.uk @BarnabasHouse
- Brightham House Boutique Bed and Breakfast, Devon, brighthamhouse.co.uk @BrighthamHouse
- The Old Stables Bed & Breakfast, Somerset, theoldstablesbandb.com @oldstablesbandb
BUSINESS EVENTS & WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Clockwork Marketing, clock-work.co.uk
Finalists
- Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset, marshamcourthotel.co.uk @MarshamCourt
- Paschoe House, Devon, paschoehouse.co.uk @paschoehouse
- Treseren, Cornwall, treseren.co.uk @TreserenC
Commended
- Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
- Upton Country Park, Dorset uptoncountrypark.com @UptonCPark
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Fishcombe Cove Café, Devon, fishcombecovecafe
- Picnic Park Deli, Dorset, picnicparkdeli.com @picnicparkdeli
- Teacup Tearoom, Cornwall, teacuptearoom.com, @teacup_tearoom
CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Vickery Holman, vickeryholman.com
Finalists
- Mena Farm: Touring, Camping, Glamping, Cornwall, menafarm.co.uk @MenaFarmCamping
- Polmanter Touring Park, Cornwall, polmanter.com @PolmanterStIves
- South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Dorset, southlytchettmanor.co.uk, @campsitedorset
CASUAL DINING AWARD
Finalists
- Cary Arms & Spa, Devon, caryarms.co.uk @CaryArms
- Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Dorset, fishnfritz.co.uk @fishnfritzwey
- The PIG at Combe, Devon, thepighotel.com/at-combe @The_Pig_Hotel
Commended
- Bango Kitchen, Cornwall, theshellfishpig.co.uk
- On the Waterfront, Devon, waterfrontexeter.co.uk @OTWexeter
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Forthglade, forthglade.com
Finalists
- Bolberry Farm Cottages, Devon, bolberryfarmcottages.co.uk @BolberryFarmCot
- Kernock Cottages, Cornwall, kernockcottages.com @KernockCottages
- The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Cornwall, sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org, @Seal_Sanctuary
Commended
- Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset, marshamcourthotel.co.uk @MarshamCourt
- Saunton Beach Villas, Devon, sauntonbeachvillas.co.uk @SauntonVillas
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD, sponsored by South West Water, southwestwater.co.uk
Finalists
- Camp Kernow, Cornwall, campkernow.org.uk @CampKernow
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk @noahs_ark_zoo
- The Sanctuary Cornwall, thesanctuarycornwall.co.uk @SanctuaryCornwl
Commended
- Little Comfort Farm, Devon, littlecomfortfarm.co.uk @LittleComfortFm
- Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, Cornwall, motheriveysbay.com @MotherIveysBay
- Pause Cat Café, Dorset, pausecatcafe.co.uk @PauseCatCafe
EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR (ACTIVE OR LEARNING)
Finalists
- Jurassic Coast Guides, Dorset, jurassiccoastguides.co.uk @jurassicguides
- Savouring Bath, Bath, savouringbath.com @SavouringBath
- Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Dorset, shorecampers.co.uk @ShoreCampers
Commended
- Fore / Adventure, Dorset, foreadventure.co.uk @foreadventure
- Paradise Park – Red Panda Experience, Cornwall, paradisepark.org.uk @CornishParadise
GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Brownscombe Luxury Glamping, Devon, brownscombe.co.uk @BrownscombeUK
- Devon Yurt, Devon, devonyurt.co.uk @devonyurt
- Ekopod, Cornwall, ekopod.co.uk
- Farmstead Glamping, Dorset, farmsteadglamping.com @FarmsteadGlamp
Commended
- Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Dorset, dorsetforestgardenglamping.co.uk
- Leafy Field Glamping, Devon, leafyfieldsglamping.com @LeafyFields
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Stephens Scown solicitors, stephens-scown.co.uk
Finalists
- Andrewshayes Holiday Park, Devon, andrewshayes.co.uk @andrewshayesA35
- Ladram Bay Holiday Park, Devon, ladrambay.co.uk @LadramBay
- Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
Commended
- Lady’s Mile Holiday Park, Devon, ladysmile.co.uk @Ladys_Mile
- Martha’s Orchard, Cornwall, marthasorchard.co.uk @MarthasOrchard
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Hotel Perfect, hotelperfect.co.uk
Finalists
- Budock Vean Hotel, Cornwall, budockvean.co.uk @BudockVeanHotel
- Carlyon Bay Hotel, Cornwall, carlyonbay.com @CarlyonBayHotel
- The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, Bath, royalcrescent.co.uk @royalcrescent
Commended
- Fowey Hall Hotel, Cornwall, foweyhallhotel.co.uk @foweyhall
- Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset, marshamcourthotel.co.uk @MarshamCourt
- Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire lucknampark.co.uk @LucknamPark
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Worldpay, fisglobal.com/en-gb/merchant-solutions-worldpay
Finalists
- Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol ssgreatbritain.org
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk @noahs_ark_zoo
- Paradise Park and JungleBarn Indoor Play Centre, Cornwall, paradisepark.org.uk, @Cornishparadise
- The Tank Museum, Dorset, tankmuseum.org @TankMuseum
- Wild Place Project, Bristol, wildplace.org.uk @wild_place
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD, sponsored by Soundview, soundviewmedia.co.uk
Finalists
- Cross Lane House, Somerset, crosslanehouse.com@CrossLaneHouse
- The Cross Keys, Dorset, thecrosskeyssherborne.com @crosskeyssherb
- The Hudnalls Hideout Treehouse, Glos, hudnallshideout.co.uk
- The Roost Luxury Glamping, Glos, theroostglamping.co.uk
Commended
- The Cottages at Blackadon Farm, Devon, cottagesatblackadonfarm.co.uk
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SOUTH WEST TOURISM, sponsored by Bristol Airport, bristolairport.co.uk
- To be announced on the day
PUB OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- The Boathouse, Cornwall, theboathousefalmouth.co.uk, @theboathousefal
- The Pandora Inn, Cornwall, pandorainn.com, @PandoraInn
- Three Crowns, Devon, threecrowns-chagford.co.uk @ThreeCrownsChag
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Al Molo, Dorset, almolo.co.uk, @AlMoloWeymouth
- Cove24 Restaurant and Bar, Cornwall, cove24.uk @Cove24nqy
- Moose Kitchen, Dorset, moosekitchen.co.uk
- The Angel – Taste of Devon, theangeldartmouth.co.uk @theangeldevon
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by PKF Francis Clark, pkf-francisclark.co.uk
Finalists
- Higher Wiscombe, Devon, higherwiscombe.com @HigherWiscombe
- Nethway Farm Holiday Cottages, Devon, nethwayfarm.co.uk
- Sara’s Cottage, Cornwall, sarascottage.co.uk @SarasCottage
Commended
- Lower Campscott Farm Cottages, Devon, lowercampscott.co.uk @LowerCampscott
- The Apartment, Bath,apartmentbath.com @apartmentbath_
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Buckleigh Linen Services, buckleigh.co.uk
Finalists
- Cary Arms & Spa, Devon, caryarms.co.uk @CaryArms
- The Horn of Plenty Country House Hotel & Restaurant, Devon, thehornofplenty.co.uk @hornofplenty1
- Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Wiltshire whatleymanor.com @Whatley_Manor
Commended
- Gara Rock Hotel, Devon, gararock.com @gararockhotel
- Mullion Cove Hotel & Spa, Cornwall, mullion-cove.co.uk @mullioncove
- The PIG at Harlyn Bay, Cornwall, thepighotel.com @The_Pig_Hotel
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Pear Communications, pearcommunications.org
Finalists
- Nothe Fort, Dorset, nothefort.org.uk @NotheFort
- Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset, sculpturebythelakes.co.uk @SculptureLakes
- Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Cornwall, shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk @CtShipwreck
Commended
- Dean Forest Railway, Glos, deanforestrailway.co.uk @DeanForRailway
SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Jarrang, jarrang.com
Finalists
- Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall, gwelanmor.com @LandalGwelanMor
- Lincombe Hall Hotel, Devon, lincombehallhotel.co.uk @lincombe_hall
- Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire lucknampark.co.uk @LucknamPark
- St Michaels Resort, Cornwall, stmichaelsresort.com, @stmichaelsresort
Commended
- Mullion Cove Spa, Cornwall, mullion-cove.co.uk @mullioncove
TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Met Office, metoffice.gov.uk
Finalists
- eat:Portishead, Somerset eatfestivals.org @EatFestivals
- Sculpture by the Lakes – Dorset Arts Festival 2020 sculpturebythelakes.co.uk @SculptureLakes
- White Star Running – Run Jurassic 2019, Dorset, runjurassic.co.uk
Commended
- Falmouth Oyster Festival 2019, Cornwall, falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk @FalOysterFest
TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD, sponsored by Quality in Tourism, qualityintourism.com
Finalists
- Quince Honey Farm, Devon, quincehoneyfarm.co.uk @quincehoneyfarm
- St Moritz Hotel, Cornwall, stmoritzhotel.co.uk @stmoritzhotel
- Savouring Bath, Bath, savouringbath.com @SavouringBath
Commended
- The Grange at Oborne, Dorset, thegrangeatoborne.co.uk, @grangeatoborne
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
This category is not being run at South West level, please visit Bristol, Bath & Somerset, Cornwall, Devon and Dorset websites to see details of this year's County winners.
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Lynmouth Pavilion Exmoor National Park Centre, Devon, exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk @ExmoorNP
- South Somerset Visitor Information Centre / South Somerset District Council, Somerset visitsouthsomerset.com @VisitSSomerset
- Visit Newquay Tourist Information Centre, Cornwall, visitnewquay.org @Tourism_Newquay
The reaction from businesses, the stories they’ve told, and the innovation and inspiration we’ve witnessed amongst hundreds of small businesses has been humbling.