Hospitality businesses regarded as the best in the county are celebrating winning in the Dorset Tourism Awards.

Now in its 10th year, the awards ceremony was held at the Tank Museum - in what was the first in-person event since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It was a special face-to-face reunion for many as they enjoyed being together after two years of online events. Many are also excited by the chance of onward progression to the regional South West and national VisitEngland awards.

Some 53 trophies were up for grabs at the prestigious awards ceremony with gold, silver, bronze and commendations rewarded to various types of businesses from across the county. 

The Brunswick Bed and Breakfast in Weymouth won gold in the Bed and Breakfast and Guesthouse of the year category.

Owner Eddie Henchy said: “We are very proud of what we achieved. It is helpful we are on one of the best terraces, just a stone’s throw from the beach. 

“We had no idea, we hoped we would win, but you obviously don’t know what to expect.

“Great credit goes to my wife Vikki who oversaw renovations as well as Smarthome renovations. 

“I’d to thank Luke Hanson, a local lad, and Spencer Miles. They were three local firms that have been here for the renovations and have been great.”

Bagwell Farm Touring Park in Chickerell came away with three awards at this year’s awards. 

The park came up trumps in the gold in the Resilience and Innovation category, gold in the Future of Tourism category and bronze in the Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year category.

Park Manager Karen Kennedy said: “This is a real tribute to the hard work and dedication of our amazing team who work so hard to make Bagwell Farm a fabulous place to visit.”

The Nothe Fort couldn’t make it a hat trick in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year although they did claim a bronze award this year.

A statement from Nothe Fort said: “We are so proud to have won bronze in the Small Visitor Attraction for the Dorset Tourism Awards 2023. Thank you to all our lovely visitors, volunteers and staff and community partners. You have all made this accomplishment happen.”

Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism said: “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.”

Other local gold winners include Dorset Museum (Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award); Monkton Wyld Holiday Park (Camping & Caravanning Park of the Year); Golden Acre Jurassic Coastal Lodges, Bridport (Dog Friendly Business of the Year); Bagwell Farm Touring Park (Future of Hospitality Award and Resilience and Innovation Award); Inside Out Dorset by Activate Performing Arts (Tourism Event/Festival of the Year); Durdle Door Holiday Park (Holiday Park of the Year).

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.