Acorn Inn & Nothe Fort South West Tourism winners 2024

The Acorn Inn at Evershot and Weymouth's Nothe Fort were announced as Gold winners in the the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, held at the University of Exeter.

The Acorn Inn was named as 'Pub of the Year' and Natalie Legg, who runs the pub with her husband Rich, couldn’t believe they had won the top gong.

She said: “It’s unbelievable we went into it thinking the competition is incredibly tough.

“We have been in it three times and taken the silver twice, but when they called gold, it was unbelievable, its been a tough year but its was nice to win the gold.”

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Rich and Natalie Legg collected the Pub of the Year Award for the Acorn Inn at the South West Excellence Tourism Awards (Image: Nick Williams)

Natalie went on to explain that despite the challenges of rising costs, if it wasn’t for her team, they would not have been able to win the prestigious award.

She added: “Costs get away and you have to be really on the ball with everything you have to do. We are thankful were we are and the all team pull together and work so hard it makes it worth it.

“It’s so great for the team and a reward for them and everything they do.

Around 300 people attended the awards ceremony which Natalie said had a ‘great atmosphere’ and revealed that they had come out on top thanks to their all round food service and ambiance saying ‘a lot of stars aligned’.

Elsewhere, the Nothe Fort claimed a Gold Award for ‘Best Small Attraction of the Year’.

Nothe Fort staff picking up their award at the South West Excellence Tourism Awards (Image: Nick Williams)

The Weymouth-based tourist hotspot had a record breaking year in 2023 as 89,000 poured through its gates.

It is the second time the fort has claimed Gold at the awards and is ‘validation’ for all the hard work that the team has put in.

James Farquharson, chairman of Nothe Fort said: “It’s all going really well, it’s validation for all the brilliant effort the whole team has put in to make Nothe Fort a must visit attraction in south Dorset, which has been our vision for a few years.

“The journey is never finished, and we are still looking at creating a Cold War nuclear bunker and a Victorian gun deck so when people visit there is always something new."

Rosanna Dean picking up her award at the South West Excellence Awards (Image: Nick Williams)

Among the other winners on the night, from across Dorset were Rosanna Dean at the Tank Museum who claimed the Unsung Hero Award.

Upwey Wishing Well tearooms was also pleased to have picked up a Bronze Award with owner Jacci Pestana expressing her gratitude for the award.

She said: "This recognition is a testament to our team's dedication to providing exceptional experiences at Upwey Wishing Well.

“We're thrilled to receive acknowledgment as one of the Best Tearoom in South West England, and it's all thanks to our incredible staff and the wonderful patrons who continue to support us.”