DORSET'S top businesses were celebrated at an annual awards evening in the county. 

The Dorset Tourism Awards, which is in its tenth year, were presented at the Tank Museum on Thursday, January 26. 

It was the first in-person ceremony since the Covid-19 pandemic which was presented by broadcaster and journalist Jordan Clark.

In total 53 winner trophies were presented at the ceremony with businesses across Weymouth, Dorchester and west Dorset featuring regularly among the winners, runners up and the commended prizes.

Successful businesses in the Dorset Awards will now be fast-tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in March and possibly into the national VisitEngland awards later in the year.

Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism added: “It is so heart-warming to see these fabulous hospitality businesses celebrating together again after an extraordinary two years.

"To win in such circumstances is a very special achievement and I congratulate each and every one of them.” 

DORSET TOURISM AWARDS 2022/23 

FINALISTS AND COMMENDED 

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth University Business School

Gold

Dorset Museum, Dorchester.

Silver

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.

Bronze

Birchcroft – Hideaway, Bournemouth

B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Goadsby

Gold

The Brunswick Bed and Breakfast, Weymouth

Silver

Kelston Guest House, Weymouth.

BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by NFU Mutual, Bournemouth

Gold

Lighthouse, Poole.

Silver

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.

Bronze 

Dorset Museum, Dorchester.

CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Clipper

Gold

Picnic Park Deli, Bournemouth.

Silver

Taste Café at Dorset Museum, Dorchester.

Bronze 

Seasons Kitchen & Coffee Barn, Ringwood.

CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Holidaymaker App

Gold

Monkton Wyld Holiday Park, Charmouth.

Silver

Longthorns Farm, Wareham.

Bronze 

Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth.

DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Hoseasons

Gold

Golden Acre Jurassic Coastal Lodges, Bridport.

Silver

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.

EATING OUT AWARD sponsored by Black Cow Vodka

Gold

Renoufs Cheese and Wine Bar (Wimborne) Wimborne.

Silver

The Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth.

Bronze

Restaurant Les Enfants Terribles, Weymouth.

ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth Water

Gold

The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne.

Silver

Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster

Bronze

Green House Hotel, Bournemouth.

Commended

Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Bournemouth.

EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Quality in Tourism

Gold

Get Lost Powerboat Training, Poole

Silver

Alpaca Walking Experience, Longthorns Farm, Wareham.

Bronze

Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Bournemouth.

Commended

The Saltwater Sauna, Sandbanks

FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY AWARD sponsored by NFU Mutual, Bournemouth

Gold

Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth.

GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Anytime Booking

Gold

Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster

Silver

Hollands Farmhouse, Dorchester

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tozers

Gold

Durdle Door Holiday Park, Lulworth.

Silver

Hoburne Park, Christchurch.

HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Mews

Gold

The PIG-on the Beach, Swanage.

Silver

Captain’s Club Hotel, Christchurch

Bronze 

The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne.

The King’s Arms, Dorchester

Commended

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.

RNLI College, Poole.

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Booking.com  

Gold

Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole.

Silver

Dorset Museum, Dorchester.

Bronze

Lighthouse, Poole.

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD sponsored by Visit Dorset

Gold

Coppet Hill Partners, Bridport

Silver

The Bide, Milton Abbas

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO DORSET TOURISM sponsored by Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Tourism

Sara Uzzell

RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by Saffery Champness

Gold

Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth.

Silver

Lighthouse, Poole.

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Touch Stay

Gold

Burnbake Forest Lodges & Campsite, Corfe Castle.

Silver

Lulworth Holidays – Woodside Lodge, Lulworth.

Bronze

Hollands Farmhouse, Dorchester

The Bide, Milton Abbas

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Baboo Gelato   

Gold

Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne.

Silver

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park, Verwood.

Bronze

Nothe Fort, Weymouth.

TOURISM EVENT / FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Lyme Bay Winery

Gold

Inside Out Dorset 20201 – Activate Performing Arts, Dorchester.

Silver

Sherborne Abbey Festival 2022, Sherborne.

Commended

Christmas 2021 – We are Weymouth (BID), Weymouth.

UNSUNG HERO AWARD sponsored by Moors Valley Country Park & Forest

Gold

Mary Pidgley, Birchcroft – Hideaway, Bournemouth

WINNER OF WINNERS sponsored by Dorset LEP

Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole.