Tourism and hospitality businesses are celebrating being named as the best in the county at the Dorset Tourism Awards.
In its 11th year, the award ceremony was held at the Weymouth Pavilion and marked a return to pre-pandemic numbers.
Taking place on Thursday, February 1, 260 winners and sponsors attended the event as hospitality businesses of all kinds were recognised for their excellence following a rigorous judging process.
The awards were preceded by an introduction by journalist Dr Kate Adie, recently announced as the new President of the Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Some 65 winner trophies were presented including a Winner of Winners award to the Dorset Museum, a special Unsung Hero award to the Tank Museum’s Rosanna Dean, and a further special Future of Hospitality award to Marsham Court Hotel.
The Upwey Wishing Well received a prestigious Gold Award for Best Tearoom in Dorset. Jacci Pestana, Tearoom Owner, expressed her gratitude saying: "This recognition is a testament to our team's dedication to providing exceptional experiences.
"We're overjoyed to be acknowledged as the Best Tearoom in Dorset, and it's all thanks to our incredible staff and the wonderful patrons who continue to support us."
A spokesperson for Nothe Fort said they were thrilled to have won the Gold for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, adding: "This is of course all thanks to the amazing team we have here in Weymouth - thank you all so much."
Amanda Park of sponsors Visit Dorset said: “As proud sponsors of the Dorset Tourism Awards, we are delighted to have the opportunity to come together and celebrate the amazing variety and quality of our fantastic tourism industry, which contributes so much to our Dorset economy. Congratulations to all the finalists.”
Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism said: “I want to add my congratulations to businesses that have literally wowed our independent judges. To deliver excellence in these times is a huge testament to their commitment and dedication.”
Co-organiser Nell Barrington said: “It has been a fabulous evening celebrating with the best tourism and hospitality businesses in Dorset. Congratulations to every one of them not only for their award this evening but for everything they do, all day every day.”
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.
DORSET TOURISM AWARDS 2023/24:
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD
Gold - Dorset Museum, Dorchester
Silver - National Trust – Corfe, Purbeck Estate, Swanage
Bronze - Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth - The Tank Museum, Bovington
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR
Gold - Alexander Lodge, Bournemouth
Silver - Barton Cottage Bed and Breakfast, Dorchester
BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR
Gold - Lighthouse, Poole
Silver - Dorset Museum, Dorchester - The Tank Museum, Bovington
Bronze - Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Gold - Upwey Wishing Well Tearooms, Weymouth
Silver - Compton Acres Café Tearooms, Poole
Bronze - Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth - The Story Pig, Sherborne
CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR
Gold - Wareham Forest Tourist Park, Wareham
Silver - Norden Farm Campsite, Wareham - South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster
Bronze - Coppet Hill Camping and Glamping, Bridport
Commended - Burnbake Forest Lodges and Campsite, Corfe Castle
CASUAL DINING AWARD
Gold - MezeBag – Baraca Restaurant, Bournemouth
Silver - Lolas Restaurant, Bournemouth
Bronze - Poco Pizza, Lyme Regis
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Gold - Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport
Silver - Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth
Bronze - Warmwell Holiday Park, Weymouth
EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold - Treetop Adventure Plus – Moors Valley Go Ape, Ringwood
Silver - Durdle Door Cruise – Weymouth Bay RIB Charter, Weymouth
Bronze - Sea Train Adventure – City Cruises, Poole
Commended - Mellulah Therapy & Yoga Retreat, Evershot
FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY AWARD
Gold - Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
Gold - Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport
Silver - Durdle Door Holiday Park, Wareham
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Gold - Holiday Inn, Bournemouth
Silver - Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch
Bronze - The Nici, Bournemouth
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold - Dorset Museum, Dorchester
Silver - The Tank Museum, Bovington
Bronze - Lighthouse, Poole
Commended - The Oceanarium, Bournemouth Aquarium, Bournemouth
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD
Gold - English Cottage Vacation, Shaftesbury
Silver - The Queen’s Arms, Sherborne
Bronze - Rudge Farm Cottages, Bridport
Commended - Weymouth Land Train, Weymouth
PUB OF THE YEAR
Gold - The Acorn Inn, Dorchester
Silver - The Old Thatch Pub, Kitchen & Country Store, Wimborne
Bronze - The Queen’s Arms, Sherborne
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Gold - St Tropez Lounge, Poole
Silver - Restaurant Les Enfants Terribles, Weymouth
Bronze - The Jetty Restaurant, Christchurch - Upper Deck Restaurant in Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch
Commended - The Oyster & Fish House, Lyme Regis
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Gold - Bournemouth Beach Lodges, Bournemouth
Silver - Rudge Farm Cottages, Bridport
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Gold - Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorchester
Silver - Kings Arms Hotel, Christchurch
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold - Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Silver - Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne - Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth
Bronze - Shire Hall Museum, Dorchester
Commended - Compton Acres, Poole - Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, Bournemouth
TOURISM EVENT / FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Gold - Arts by the Sea Festival 2022, Bournemouth
Silver - Tankfest 2023, Bovington
Bronze - Swanage Regatta and Carnival 2023, Swanage
Commended - Shire Hall Christmas Market 2022, Dorchester
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Gold - Rosanna Dean, The Tank Museum, Bovington
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Gold - Swanage Information Centre, Swanage
Silver - Upton Park Visitor Welcome Centre, Poole
WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR
Gold - Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe
Silver - The Italian Villa at Compton Acres, Poole
Bronze - Dorset Museum Weddings, Dorchester - Kings Arms Hotel, Christchurch
WINNER OF WINNERS
Dorset Museum, Dorchester
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