Weymouth's Al Molo restaurant, Nothe Fort and Fish ‘n’ Fritz restaurant and takeaway were among the winners in a tourism showcase celebrating the best of the best of Dorset.
In what has been an unprecedented year for the industry, businesses which have demonstrated 'resilience and fortitude' in coping with the impact of the pandemic were praised at the 2020 Dorset Tourism Awards.
Organisers nearly cancelled the event – but said the level of early entries received, and the creativity and determination shown by entrants inspired them to make it happen. It went ahead online on Thursday.
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.
The awards period cover from mid 2019 to September 2020 – with a few variations for different categories. The deadline for entries had been extended due to people being off work and businesses closed.
Local winners included Al Molo, the fine dining Italian restaurant, at the entrance to the former Pier Bandstand in Weymouth, which won gold in the Restaurant Of The Year category.
Co-owner Tim Newton said: “2020 has been a terrible year, the most challenging year in business I have ever known. We want to thank our staff from the bottom of our hearts for all their hard work and going the extra mile to keep themselves and our loyal customers safe. It has not been easy for them and this award recognises all effort and hard work."
Fish ’n’ Fritz won the gold award in the Casual Dining category.
The accolade follows on the back of four other recent prestigious awards – The National Fish &
Chip Awards 2020 - Top 20 Fish & Chips Shop Of The Year Awards, the Top 3 Marketing Innovation Award, TripAdvisors Travellers’ Choice Award and FRY Magazines 10 Best Restaurants.
Owner Paul Hay said: "A very big thank you to Simone my manager and all the staff who have been instrumental in making it possible to get us to the finals through their hard work and determination over this most challenging year."
Weymouth's Nothe Fort won Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.
The Fort’s entry highlighted how its team had responded to the pandemic to ensure the attraction could open to the public in a safe way.
Nothe Fort Chairman James Farquharson said: “We are so proud to have won. I would like to acknowledge the generations of local volunteers whose hard work over the last 40 years provided the strong foundation we needed to survive, as well as our current team of staff and volunteers, who put in place new ways of working very quickly so that we could open safely."
Other local gold award winners include Tank Museum (Large Visitor Attraction of the Year); The Half Moon, Melplash (Pub of the Year); Dorset House, Lyme Regis (B&B and Guesthouse of the Year); White Star Running's Run Jurassic 2019 at Bridport (Tourism Event/Festival of the Year); Bridport TIC (Visitor Information Service of the Year).
Meanwhile, Jurassic Coast Guides - which offers professionally guided walks, charity walks, tours, corporate walking events, and shore excursions - took two gold awards for Experience of the Year and International Visitor Experience.
Another multiple-winner was Sculpture by the Lakes, taking a bronze and three silver awards.
The day's top winner was Bournemouth’s Marsham Court Hotel, collecting three gold awards plus the prestigious Winner of Winners award.
The event saw 61 awards presented in 22 categories. 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.
Organisers say the eighth 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.
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.
Chairman of the Judging Panel Professor Peter Jones said: “Dorset tourism, like tourism the world over, is demonstrating resilience and fortitude in coping with the impact and implications of Covid-19 in some amazing ways. Entrants demonstrated creativity and innovation, passion for the industry, and enthusiasm in providing a great experience for their customers in the most difficult of circumstances."
2020 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS
WINNERS & COMMENDED (in alphabetical order)
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD
Gold
HolidayInDorset – Birchcroft, Ferndown
Silver
West Bay Discovery Centre
Bronze
Ellwood Cottages, Blandford
West Bay Play Area
Commended
Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR
Gold
Dorset House, Lyme Regis
Silver
St John’s Guest House, Weymouth
Bronze
Mory House Bed & Breakfast, Southbourne
Commended
Channel View Guesthouse, Weymouth
BUSINESS EVENTS & WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR
Gold
Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
Silver
Upton Country Park, Poole
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Gold
Picnic Park Deli, Bournemouth
Silver
Seasons Kitchen and Coffee Barn, Ringwood
Bronze
Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth
Commended
Upton Country Park Tea Rooms
CAMPING, CARAVANNING AND HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
Gold
South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster
Silver
Durdle Door Holiday Park
Bronze
Swanage Coastal Park
CASUAL DINING AWARD
Gold
Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Weymouth
Silver
Oriel on the Quay, Poole
Bronze
Peppina, Swanage
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Gold
Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
Silver
Upton Country Park
Commended
Polygon Pets Ltd, Poole
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Gold
Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth
Silver
Farmstead Glamping, Sturminster Newton
Bronze
Bridport Tourist Information Centre
Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington
Commended
English Oak Vineyard, Poole
EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR (ACTIVE OR LEARNING)
Gold
Jurassic Coast Guides, Milborne St Andrew
Silver
Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Bournemouth
Bronze
Fore / Adventure, Studland
GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tozers, tozers.co.uk
Gold
Farmstead Glamping, Sturminster Newton
Silver
Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Gold
Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
Silver
The Bull Hotel, Bridport
The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne
Bronze
RNLI College, Poole
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold
Jurassic Coast Guides, Milborne St Andrew
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold
The Tank Museum
Silver
Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, Bournemouth
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD
Gold
The Cross Keys, Sherborne
Silver
Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Bournemouth
Bronze
Hammoon Manor – Luxury Retreat ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, Sturminster Newton
Commended
The Tunnel Tree Tops, Charmouth
PUB OF THE YEAR
Gold
The Half Moon, Melplash
Silver
The Cross Keys, Sherborne
Bronze
The Milton Arms, Blandford
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Gold
Al Molo, Weymouth
Silver
Moose Kitchen, Charminster
Bronze
Zim Braai Ltd, Poole
Commended
Shalims Indian Restaurant, Weymouth
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Gold
Burnbake Forest Lodges & Campsite, Corfe Castle
Silver
Dove House and Swallows, Dorchester
Bronze
Hammoon Manor – Luxury Retreat ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, Sturminster Newton
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold
Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Silver
Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington
Bronze
English Oak Vineyard, Poole
Commended
Dorset Falconry Park, Dorchester
West Bay Discovery Centre
TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Gold
White Star Running – Run Jurassic 2019, Bridport
Sculpture by the Lakes – Dorset Arts Festival 2020
Bronze
Dorset Festivals Consortium – Dorset Moon 2019
TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD
Gold
The Grange at Oborne
Silver
Sculpture by the Lakes
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Unsung Heroes
Heather Brown, Dorset Foodie Feed
Kellie Court, Tangerine Café & Gallery, Beaminster
Yessica Falcon, Bournemouth Tourist Information Centre
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Gold
Bridport Tourist Information Centre
Silver
Shaftesbury Tourist Information Centre
WINNER OF WINNERS
Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
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