Click here for latest press releases from around the county.
JANUARY 2012
Digital art project comes to Exeter's gothic cathedral
Old will meet new this summer as Multimedia artist Mark Ware, thanks to Arts Council funding, creates an exciting, innovative and high quality multimedia digital art project in collaboration with Exeter Cathedral. The project will use digital and HD technology to celebrate the city landmark's nine centuries of history and bring new audiences to both the Cathedral and this art form.
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Exeter RAMM attracts record visitor numbers
Visitors have been flocking to the revitalised Royal Albert Memorial Museum Queen Street since it re-opened last month. More than 52,000 people have now visited RAMM since December 15.
Read full article (thisisexeter.co.uk)
DECEMBER 2011
A very merry Christmas at the National Marine Aquarium
With the Christmas holidays now in full swing, the team at the National Marine Aquarium has been celebrating a bumper festive season with record visitor numbers so far throughout December.
Families visiting the Aquarium this year have been treated to a wealth of new exhibits, talks and shows, including interactive Summer Science Shows in the Aquarium’s new purpose-built AquaLab facilities. Other new attractions which have proved popular during 2011 have been one of the Aquarium’s latest centre-piece exhibits, the Eddystone tank, which opened in April and has been designed to meticulously mirror life on Plymouth’s own Eddystone Reef, alongside the new £500,000 Just Add H₂O learning facilities.
Find out more about the National Marine Aquarium
Visit Exmoor launches new guide
The new 2012 Exmoor, Coast & Quantock Hills brochure manages to squeeze a whole lot of useful information and evocative imagery into its glossy pages this year. The brochure promotes the area as a high quality visitor destination and it makes for an inspiring read.
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NOVEMBER 2011
The South West Tourism Awards shortlist has been announced and there are Devon finalists for no fewer than 19 awards, of which 13 are Winners.
The total 45 Winners across the South West were chosen from amongst 350 entries and will find out whether they have won a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award at a prestigious ceremony hosted by travel writer Simon Calder on 6th February at Torquay's Riviera Centre.
Good luck to all the Devon finalists:
Compton Pool Farm (Winner) - Self Catering & Serviced Apartmenr of the Year category
Aerosaurus Balloons (Winner) - Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience of the Year category
Calvert Trust Exmoor (Winner) - Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience of the Year category and (Winner) Access for All category
Arundell Arms Hotel (Highly Commended) - Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience of the Year category and (Winner) Business Tourism category
Gidleigh Park (Winner) - Taste of South West category and (Highly Commended) Small Hotel of the Year category
The Lamb Inn (Highly Commended) - Taste of South West category
Finlake Holiday Park (Winner) - Holiday Park & Village of the Year category
Wheatland Farm (Winner) - Sustainable Tourism category
Pennywell Farm (Highly Commended) - Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category
Atlantis Holiday Apartments (Winner) - Access for All category
River Dart Adventures (Winner) - Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category
Bovey Castle (Winner) - Large Hotel of the Year category
Chris Murray at Pennywell Farm (Winner) - Outstanding Customer Service category
Sam Dunn at Finlake Holiday Park (Highly Commended) - Outstanding Customer Service category
Larkbeare Grange (Winner) - Bed & Breakfast and Guest Accommodation of the Year
Hedgehog Corner (Highly Commended) - Bed & Breakfast and Guest Accommodation of the Year
Dartmoor Leaps into Action
Save the date. Dartmoor is celebrating the forthcoming Olympics, and toasting all things sporting with its own Active Dartmoor Week. For seven days Dartmoor will be host to challenge events, showcasing the wide variety of things to do and see in the most spectacular landscape.
Devon tourism businesses celebrate sucess at the Devon Tourism Awards 2011
The superb quality of Devon's tourism businesses was recognised last night at the second Devon Tourism Awards. Amongst the top success stories, Gidleigh Park in Chagford won the prestigious Winner of Winners Award and Pennywell Farm's Chris Murray received the Award for Outstanding Contribution.
Beautiful Days wins 2011 UK Festival Award
Beautiful Days festival which takes place at Escot Park near Exeter won BEST FAMILY FESTIVAL at the 2011 UK Festival Awards in London last week. After being shortlisted for the last five years in the same category, the festival picked up the coveted award at the ceremony at London’s Roundhouse where the industry paid tribute to the best the country has to offer. The event saw 16 trophies handed out throughout the evening, with other big winners including Glastonbury and Bestival.
Find out more about the festival.
Devon wins silver award for the Best UK Holiday County or Region at the British Travel Awards
For the second year running Devon has been nominated, short-listed and voted as the second Best UK Holiday County or Region in the 2011 BTA. Winners were announced at a ceremony on 2nd November following over 700,000 votes since voting opened in June, which makes the BTA the largest independent awards scheme in the UK.
Find out more about the judging process
View winners of the Best UK/Domestic Holiday category
Otter named UK's most sustainable brewery
Devon's Otter Brewery has scooped the prestigious ‘Best Sustainability’ award at the 2011 SIBA Business Awards. Otter Brewery is a family run business and was established by David and Mary Ann McCaig in 1990. It drew praise from the judges for a wide range of green initiatives including the use of reed beds to naturally filter waste water, wildlife conservation, extensive recycling and the clever design of their bespoke eco cellar.
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Combe House Devon Wins Johansen’s Most Romantic UK Hotel Award for Excellence
Combe House Devon, near Exeter has won the coveted Condé Nast Johansens and 2012 Award for Excellence in the ‘Most Romantic Hotel’ category.
OCTOBER 2011
Exmoor National Park given award for most stunning night sky
Stargazers from around the world are expected to descend on Exmoor National Park after it became only the second place on Earth to be designated an International Dark-Sky Reserve.
Learn more about International Dark Sky Places
Royal Albert Memorial Museum re-opens
One of Britain’s finest regional museums re-opens to the public on 15 December 2011 after a multi-million pound redevelopment with an spectacular programme of exhibitions with paintings by Monet, Canaletto and early photographs from the Royal Collection.
Read more about the opening exhibition
October half term at the National Marine Aquarium
Visitors to the National Marine Aquarium this half term will be able to get up close and personal with some of the Aquarium’s biggest residents, as it welcomes guests for the Sleeping with Sharks event on Saturday 22nd October.
Find out more about the sleepover here
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It’s all about friends at Exeter’s Best Mate meeting
Best Mate Novice Chase Day at Exeter Racecourse on Tuesday, October 18 celebrates the course’s association with the three-times Cheltenham Gold Cup winner whose jumps career was launched at the Devon track. It is a two-for-one entry and students free entry day.
Find out more about Exeter Racecourse here
ODE restaurant in Shaldon recognised as sustainability champion
ODE restaurant in Shaldon has been awarded Three Star rating for its sustainability. ODE is one of four hundred restaurants across the UK, including major groups, independent favourites and fine dining establishments putting their sustainability credentials to the test. Owners and chefs say they are submitting their restaurants to independent scrutiny by the Sustainable Restaurant Association for three reasons: They believe it’s what consumers want, it’s good for business and they believe sustainability is important.
SEPTEMBER 2011
Bumper Apple Day at Rosemoor
Thanks to unusual weather conditions earlier this year, RHS Garden Rosemoor’s Apple Orchard is laden with fruit in time for Rosemoor’s popular Apple Day. In this bumper year for apples, the event on 9th October will be as packed with interest as the Orchard is packed with fruit.
Relentless Energy Drink Super Series comes to Lynmouth, North Devon
An elite surf tour created by Relentless Energy Drink in collaboration with UK Pro Surf Tour is holding its second of three heats in Lynmouth.
Find out more on the Relentless website here
South Devon Chilli Farm to open chilli-themed Farm Shop and Cafe
The new shop and cafe will be officially opened on 21st September by BBC Radio Devon's David Fitzgerald. The new cafe serves a variety of chilli-themed dishes as well as traditional Devon cafe staples.
Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium proves a popular choice
The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth has seen an increase in the number of summer visitors. It said more than 52,000 people visited the Devon attraction this summer - an increase of 6% on the previous summer season.
New attractions proving popular this summer have included the Eddystone tank, which has been designed to meticulously mirror life on Plymouth’s own Eddystone Reef with creatures including grey mullet, flatfish, conger eels and wrasse, alongside native sharks, lobsters and crabs.
The Tour of Britain returns to Devon
Devon will once again be hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain with Dartmoor providing one of the backdrops. The Dartmoor section could prove a deciding factor in the Tour as riders tackle the steep climbs past Haytor, Coffin Stone and Huccaby Tor next Thursday.
Find out more about the Devon stage of the Tour of Britain, 15th September
View press release (Dartmoor National Park Authority)
Modbury hoists plastic bag sail to help debris-clogged oceans as America’s Cup gets underway
The South Devon town, which made worldwide headlines when it became the first to go plastic bag free, is putting its support behind the forthcoming America’s World Cup Series, and using the occasion to raise awareness of the continuing plastic pollution of the oceans.
AUGUST 2011
The Agatha Christie Challenge
A trio of competitions to challenge even the most resourceful amateur sleuths has been devised to celebrate the world famous Agatha Christie Festival, taking place on the English Riviera 11 – 18th September 2011.
Find out more about the festival
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Food to Die For at Devon’s Agatha Christie Festival
The world-famous annual Agatha Christie Festival unites murder mystery fans and food lovers. Once again taking place on the stunning English Riviera in South Devon, from 11th-18th September, this spectacular festival includes a wealth of fine dining options to die for!
The spectacular festival celebrates the world’s greatest crime fiction writer, Dame Agatha Christie and her best-known detectives, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Foodie fans will enjoy tasting West Country culinary delights during exciting murder-mystery luncheons, dinners, afternoon tea dances, canapé receptions, vintage bus tours with supper, garden parties and more.
Find out more about the festival
The Artist and the Chicken - What came first?
Combe House Devon, near Exeter will be hosting a variety of seasonal lunches and events throughout October to mark the month-long Celebration of Food. Devon Hotel of the Year 2010, this stunning Grade I Elizabethan manor hotel, restaurant and kitchen gardens is hidden on a 3,500 acre country estate at Gittisham where Arabian horses and pheasants roam freely.
Find out more about Combe House
Kick-start your summer adventure with Go Ape!
Go Ape has launched its exciting new summer campaign encouraging friends, couples, families and extremists to get outdoors and have some fun. With Go Ape’s six-week summer season now live, running from 25 July to 4 September, adventure seekers will have the opportunity to get involved in a fun, social and interactive competition with an array of exciting prizes on offer. Applicants are being invited to take a picture of their best summer adventure moments and upload it via www.goape.co.uk/summer. All applicants who have submitted uploads will instantly be rewarded with a 25 per cent discount at Go Ape this summer, giving them the opportunity to embark on a tree-top adventure.
JULY 2011
Exmoor Food Festival returns for 10 day celebration
Featuring several new events, the tenth Exmoor Food Festival will run for ten days from Friday 30th September to Sunday 9th October with a raft of cookery workshops, themed evenings, food fairs and tasting platters. It will showcase the variety of quality, independent food and drink producers in this beautiful part of the West Country, which straddles North Devon and West Somerset.
The tasty programme kicks off on 30th September with a two-hour evening cookery demonstration by Streamcombe Cookery School and Farthings Farm Shop near Dulverton; exploring interesting ways to cook and serve the season’s game with plenty of opportunity for sampling, hands-on experience and tasting some matched wines.
Rosemoor's open-air pinocchio
RHS Garden Rosemoor’s Summer programme of Open Air Theatre concludes on Saturday 6 August with a performance of Pinocchio by Heartbreak Productions.
Booking essential –01805 626800 - Adults: £12, Child: £7
The South Devon Crab Festival is set to launch on Sunday July 31 at the Church House Inn in Harberton.
The first year of this great new festival will see families limbering up for the “sideways” races, dressing up for the fancy dress parade, trying their hand at picking crab at the crab demos with local crab fisherman Rob Simmonds or simply relaxing and enjoying eating crab with some great live music! South Devon Crab week - 1st to 7th August. Mitch Tonk's tells you all about it here
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Beeson Farm Cottages awarded 'Highly Commended' by the Green Tourism Business Scheme
Beeson Farm near Kingsbridge, south Devon, has been awarded a coveted award by the GTBS in a recent national awards ceremony.
Event Exeter gains national recognition from leading group travel industry organisation
Event Exeter, part of the University of Exeter, is celebrating after being named runner-up in the Best University Accommodation category of the national 2011 Group Travel Awards.
For more information, see: www.exeter.ac.uk/eventexeter/Group-Travel-Award-2011.php
Ways With Words Offer Free Festival Passes For Young People
Ways with Words is offering Devon-based students the opportunity to attend this year’s Festival at Dartington Hall for free. Over the years, the Ways With Words Bursary Scheme has enabled hundreds of young people to experience the festival as Rover-Pass holders.
This year, to mark the festival’s 20th anniversary, Ways With Words is offering twenty more bursaries to students aged 17-25 who are passionate about books, ideas and current affairs.
The festival runs 8th - 18th July.
Visit www.wayswithwords.co.uk for more information or contact Kate Oliver or Taryn Dennis on 01803 867373 or wayswithwordsbursary@gmail.com
The English Riviera is the star of UK’s “hippest” destination video!
One of the hottest bands of the year. One of the coolest music videos of the summer. And one of the best ways ever of promoting a UK coastal resort!
Breakthrough band Metronomy and a south Devon tourism company have found a way of working together to showcase The English Riviera as the place to see, and be seen, this summer.
Metronomy’s third album, ‘The English Riviera’, took the music press by storm in the spring. And the video for their third single off that album, entitled “The Bay”, was recently shot entirely on location on The English Riviera. The results can be seen on The English Riviera Tourism Company’s website simply by clicking on the Metronomy album cover, which is now on the home page banner (on the right hand side): www.englishriviera.co.uk.
The album as a whole is part love letter to the area of Devon coast where frontman Joseph Mount grew up. Recently described as “a rare British talent”, Mount and his record label, Because UK, were quick to form a progressive partnership with the English Riviera Tourism Company – to the mutual benefit of both parties.
Live bathing water quality information service launched for Devon and the South West
The quality of bathing water in the South West's top beaches can be checked live online through a new site developed in partnership with Surfers Against Sewage, the Environment Agency, tourism leaders and beach managers. Twenty-one Blue Flag or popular beaches are featured with live information available for 16 of them. An interactive map, weather & surf forecasts and general advice helps to make the site very easy to use.
www.beachlive.co.uk
Torre Abbey once again hosts world class art exhibition - Robert Lenkiewicz: Death and the Maiden
Torre Abbey is hosting an exhibition of work bequeathed to the Lenkiewicz Foundation by the internationally renowned artist, Robert Lenkiewicz, from 15 July to 2 October.
Through his paintings, the Plymouth based artist explored social and philosophical issues prompting people to contemplate their own lives and the world they live in. A number of important works will be displayed at Torre Abbey alongside some previously unseen items.
Find out more
Help the search for Britain's best beach hut by voting for Devon's!
A national competition is underway to find Britain's best beach hut. The public have until 19th August, 2011 to vote in a range of categories including Best Presented Hut, Best Beach Hut Association, Best Beach Hut Story, Best Beach Hut Neighbour and Best Beach Hut Photograph.
So if you think any of Devon's iconic huts are in with a chance either enter, browse or vote for your favorites: www.beachhutoftheyear.co.uk
Green flag award hat-trick for Grand Western Canal
The Grand Western Canal and Country Park has picked up the Green Flag award for the third year running. The popular canal, which is managed by Devon County Council, has been presented with the award for high standards of management and maintenance including safety, cleanliness, sustainable management practices, wildlife and heritage conservation and community involvement.
Successful Cookery Demonstrations on the edge of Dartmoor
The Oxenham Arms is receiving an excellent response to its cookery days out at the impossibly picturesque 12th century coaching inn on the edge of Dartmoor.
Dry Stone Walling Course on Dartmoor
Learn how to build and repair dry stone walls on Dartmoor under the tuition of some of Devon’s best Master Craftsmen. Dartmoor National Park Authority is offering a dry stone walling course in September this year, providing hands-on tuition in both dry stone walling and stone facing in traditional Dartmoor style.
view press release
Spend a Summer Evening at Rosemoor Garden
On Friday 15 July you are invited to come and enjoy Rosemoor’s renowned rose collection on a midsummer evening after the garden has closed to the general public. And during the accompanying gourmet dinner you will be serenaded by classical concert guitarist, David Jaggs.
JUNE 2011
The Big Bat Count on Dartmoor
Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), in partnership with the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), will be running a workshop on Saturday 2 July 2011 about bats in Britain and Dartmoor.
Devon festival Beautiful Days adds Tim Minchin to line-up
Australian comedian, composer, songwriter and pianist Tim Minchin has been announced today for Beautiful Days 2011 plus the last few acts for the Main Stage and The Big Top stage line-ups. Beautiful Days is the Levellers festival which takes place at Escot Park in the heart of Devon in August and this year will be the ninth festival. It’s a family music festival with five stages, amazing site art, a huge children's area in the centre of the festival, comedy, theatre, family camping, licensed real ale bars from Otter Brewery & carefully selected food and craft stalls. The festival has no corporate sponsorship or branding.
The Telegraph Ways with Words celebrates 20th anniversary with biggest ever festival
Among the line-up of over 160 events at Dartington Hall, July 8-18, will be:
Marcus Brigstocke, James Naughtie, Melvyn Bragg, Alan Hollinghurst, Maureen Lipman, Ben OkriKaren Armstrong, Harry Hill, Robert Winston, Howard Marks, Margaret Drabble, Douglas HurdShirley Williams, Shappi Khorsandi, A.C. Grayling
Announcing its 20th anniversary line up, The Telegraph Ways With Words Festival is set to celebrate this July with a programme that is larger, more diverse and more global than ever before.
MAY 2011
Combe House Devon Wins Considerate Hotel of the Year ‘Best Green Marketing Initiative’ Award
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Combe House Devon, near Exeter has won the Considerate Hotel of the Year ‘Best Green Marketing Initiative’ award for 2010/11. It was presented to Combe for its newly restored Victorian kitchen gardens, which now supply around 70% of the hotel’s fresh fruit and vegetables in season – guaranteeing food metres not miles!
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North Devon’s multi-award-winning self catering property Millbrook Estate is setting up in competition to Gretna Green...
Millbrook Cottages in North Devon have created a 'Runaway Bride & Groom Package' for couples wishing to elope in the Devon countryside. They are offering an intimate wedding day plus two luxury nights in one of their top suites for just £600 with many other optional extras available. For more information, visit www.millbrookestate.co.uk/runawaywedding.html
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Kirstie Allsopp to host a Tea Party Competition at Devon County Show - Bring along your baked goods! Click here for an entry form.
Luxury East Devon Holiday Cottages up for Top Green Award
Having won a small cabinet full of awards in 2010, for Sustainable Tourism as well as for Tourism Excellence in general, luxury Mazzard Farm holiday cottages in East Devon is proud to announce that it has been included on the shortlist for a GTBS Green Tourism Gold Star. Just twenty tourism businesses are on the shortlist, which places Mazzard Farm officially in the top 2% of the greenest tourism businesses in the UK and Ireland! Ten winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, which will be held in the Royal Thames Yacht Club, London on 9th June.
www.mazzardfarm.com
Congratulations also to Beeson Farm Cottages and Combe Farm Trust, shortlisted for the GTBS Gold Star.
www.beesonhols.co.uk www.coombefarmwoods.co.uk
Devon comes out top in list of Blue Flag beaches
Devon this year has 15 Blue Flag beaches. Seven of these and a further nine beaches are also awarded a Quality Coast award. The internationally recognised awards are recognition of top notch facilities, litter-free beaches and a high standard of water quality.
Nearly half of the awarded beaches in Devon are in the English Riviera, where Oddicombe, Meadfoot, Broadsands, Breakwater, Paignton and Preston beaches all now hold a Blue Flag and a Quality Coast Award.
Devon County Show celebrates regional speciality with the Big Devonshire Cream Tea marquee
Devon County Show will this year have a whole marquee devoted to the Devon Cream Tea! Richard Hunt of the Grand Hotel in Torquay will be serving up the county's iconic treats complete with Langage Farm cream and Devonshire Tea, as well as attempting to create the world's largest scone.
The campaign for gaining Protected Designation of Origin status for the Devon Cream Tea also continues so why not go along to the The BIG Devonshire Cream Tea marquee to show your support. 19th - 21st May, Westpoint, Exeter.
World's first ever Nike Running by Sweatshop store opens in Exeter
Devon is the choice location for another 'first' as Nike Running has partnered with Sweatshop to open their flagship store in Exeter's city centre. The shop will offer the 'ultimate shopping experience for ever type of runner' and will open on Good Friday 22nd April.
Three Devon businesses are winners of silver awards at the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2011
The three Devon businesses shortlisted for national awards have each picked up silver in their respective categories, making them part of the country's best tourism businesses. After winning gold at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2010-11, each of the below went on to face fierce competition from around the country to receive the following:
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Bovey Castle country house hotel on Dartmoor is a silver winner of the Best Large Hotel award.
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Millbrook Cottages in North Devon is a silver winner of the Best Self Catering Holiday of the year award.
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Sarah Lee from The Big Sheep tourist attraction also in North Devon is a silver winner of the Outstanding Customer Service award.
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Woolacombe in top 10 beaches in UK
TripAdvisor voters have named North Devon's Woolacombe beach as the 7th best beach in the country quoted as being 'stunning' and 'fantastic'.
Read more...
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America's Cup to be held in Plymouth
The International sailing regatta will be held in Plymouth in September. Now in its 34th year, the America's Cup World Series will feature regattas around the world with 15 teams from 12 countries compete.
Catch the event from 10th to 18th September.
Three Devon businesses have made it to the finals of Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2011!
Congratulations to Bovey Castle, Millbrook Cottages and Sarah Lee of the Big Sheep who will join 51 other finalists to discover whether they have won Gold or Silver at the prestigious awards cermony in Birmingham in April.
The Excellence awards celebrate the best of tourism in England and the three Devon finalists faced some stiff competition.
Cream of Devon Food and Drink showcases at the BBC Good Food Show.jpg)
The cream of Devon’s food and drink producers will be showcasing their talents at the UK’s biggest and most prestigious consumer food show, the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC in Birmingham later this month (24 – 28 November).
Visitors to the Devon stand (B30) at the five-day food extravaganza will be able to taste and experience the best of Devon’s produce, and have the chance to win a range of exciting holiday prizes involving Devon’s top hotels, accommodation providers and restaurants.
Devon’s leading tourism businesses are celebrating after being recognised as being the “best in the west” after winning Gold at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2010-2011
5 Gold winners, 6 Silver winners and 3 Bronze winners are celebrating after Monday's (15th) prestigious event at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay.
Visit Devon and Classic Cottages run a competition to win a week in Kirstie Allsopp's homemade home in Devon
Meadowgate hardly requires an introduction as this beautifully renovated house is Kirstie Allsopp’s ‘Homemade Home’. The competition to win a week's break at the cottage runs until 3rd December 2010 and includes a free veg box from Local Farm Box and a family day pass at the Milky Way Adventure Park for the lucky winner.
For a chance of winning this unique, one-off prize simply enter here.
South West Tourism Excellence Awards finalists revealed and Devon businesses don't dissapoint
22 Devon finalists across 13 categories - including 16 Devon Tourism Award winners - will find out whether they have won a Gold, Silver or Finalist award at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards ceremony at Torquay's Riviera International Centre on 15th November.
Bideford-based winner of RHS photographic competition
Caroline Cudmore from Bideford has scooped third prize in a national photographic competition.
The image, taken at Rosemoor, was entered into the Royal Horticultural Society’s National Photographic Competition, and Caroline was delighted to win one of the top prizes.
This image was taken at the end of last October when the autumn colours were at their peak. Caroline says “it was a perfect Autumn day and I had been taking a number of pictures throughout the garden, I just happened to look behind me on one of the woodland walks and say how the colours and light were just perfect”.
The complete gallery of winning images from the RHS Photographic Competition can be found on the RHS website here.
Cream of Devon’s tourism industry recognised at first ever Devon Tourism Awards
The cream of Devon’s tourism industry has been recognised for its outstanding service at the first ever Devon Tourism Awards at a prestigious ceremony at the Thurlestone Hotel in South Devon, last night. (September 30).
BBC Radio Devon presenter Judi Spiers who hosted the awards evening commented that the event had proved to be a great success in showcasing the best of Devon’s tourism industry; “Devon is famous for the warm welcome it gives to its visitors, but this event demonstrates that Devon also has an innovative tourism industry which is constantly striving for excellence in what is a very competitive and challenging market. It is wonderful to see so many businesses taking part in the Devon Awards and proving that the county is very much a leading player in UK tourism.”
Successful businesses in the Devon Awards will be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in November, and then possibly on to the National Enjoy England Awards in the Spring of next year.
Kids Go Free at RHS Garden Rosemoor this August!
Beat the credit crunch this summer! Bring the kids along to RHS Garden Rosemoor free of charge and enjoy a load of family fun! All children under 16 go free at Rosemoor from 1 - 31 August, representing great value for money for a fun-packed day out – garden entry for a family of four will cost just £14.
Every week during August RHS Garden Rosemoor will also be having activity packed summer family fun days. To tie in with the William Morris exhibition, which is on throughout the summer, the fun days will focus on art and crafts with plenty of opportunities for the whole family to get involved!
Visit Devon this summer and you will find that opera is making a splash in the most unexpected places including with the seals off the North Devon coast.
The New Devon Opera will be performing “Traviata Flash Opera” or edited highlights taken from Verdi’s much-loved La Traviata on the streets of Exeter next month, as part of the city’s Summer Festival. But opera singing in Devon appears to have attracted a brand new audience elsewhere.
Fifty two year old amateur opera singer Paul Chandler from Exeter has been rehearsing for his part in the New Devon Opera’s production of La Traviata while out scuba diving with seals, near Lundy Island. Paul, who sings bass in the chorus, is a consultant geologist and understands how sound travels through water. Last summer, he was out scuba diving when he thought he would try singing to the seals: “I have a very deep bass voice and I thought I would try some notes by singing through the regulator - a piece of diving equipment which helps me breathe through my mouth under water. I tried a few notes from Mozart’s famous opera the Magic Flute and the sound was picked up by some curious male seals that came to investigate.”
Two new “foodie” books just published demonstrate why Devon is fast becoming known as one of the best food regions in the UK.
Alastair Sawday’s Eat Slow Britain and food lover’s guide Taste Britain feature some of the finest producers from one of the most fertile counties in the UK.
Michael Caines, who features in Taste Britain, and is well known as a chef and restaurateur comments “If Devon was in France or Italy, it would be famous as a great food region. In Devon there’s always a food experience to match the location. It may be a Devon ice cream on a sunny beach, a ploughman’s with some interesting local cheese or a glass of Sharpham’s Devon wine down in the South Hams.”
The Chiefs get promotion - Exeter's rugby team beat Bristol to move up into the Premiership
As Exeter Chiefs make history by becoming the first South West team to make it into top flight rugby after their victory against Bristol at the Memorial Stadium, Visit Devon congratulates the team and looks forward to extending a warm welcome to all the away supporters travelling to Exeter next season.
Devon dairy calls for protection of the Devon cream tea
Devon has long been synonymous with the cream tea and now an enterprising Devon farm has launched a campaign to get European protection for the name “Devon cream tea”.
At the opening of the Devon County Show on Thursday, 20 May 2010, Devon-based dairy Langage Farm explained that sub-standard versions of the cream tea with its scone and generous helpings of jam were detrimental to the image of this sought after treat.
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) would mean teas must be produced, processed or prepared in Devon. The campaign, which has been launched following calls to a local radio station, has started with a petition to back the plan.
Top Devon country hotel selected for new Alastair Sawdays book
Combe House Hotel in Gittisham have been selected for the 'Eat Slow Britain' guide as a champion of local and seasonal produce. Look out for the festival of Spring lamb at Combe House from 6th June.
South Devon cove voted to top 25 destinations
Hope Cove has been voted to the top 25 destinations in the UK by TripAdvisor users. Discover the beauty of Inner and Outer Hope with A Walk in Hope or enjoy Hope Cove Beach.
Thurlestone Hotel wins national accolade
Visit Devon congratulates the Thurlestone Hotel in South Devon which has won the national accolade of being England’s best large hotel.
The hotel near Kingsbridge won the Gold Award in the large hotel category at the Enjoy England Excellence Awards, which were held at Brighton on 24 April 2010. It is the second year running that a Devon hotel has won a major tourism award, the double Michelin star hotel Gidleigh Park was voted Hotel of the Year at the 2009 ceremony.
Visit Devon releases What's Hot 2010 guide
Read all about recent new openings and what to look for this year in Devon
Devon Celebrates Success in Tourism Excellence Awards
14 of Devon's tourism businesses have been recognised as the best in the South West in the prestigious South West Tourism Excellence Awards in association with E-Strategy and South West Water. A further 11 Devon based companies were revealed as finalists - more than any other county in the South West.
New Ferry Link between Wales and North Devon
The Severn Ferry Link, taking passengers between Swansea and Ilfracombe, will launch by Easter 2010, bringing the journey time between the two areas down from 3 hours to just 50 minutes. Two return services a day, rising to five at peak times, will bring visitors into North Devon where they can stay for day trips or overnight visits, or be taken by coach to destinations further afield.
Fox & Hounds chef Alex Pallatt named Chef of the Year
The Publican Food & Drink Awards 2009 have named Alex Pallatt, head chef of the Fox & Hounds Country Hotel, Chef of the Year 2009.
Lydford Gorge one of Britain's Best Autumn Walks according to the Daily Telegraph
The National Trust site in the heart of West Devon is steeped in breathtaking natural beauty as well as myth and legend. Ideal for putting on your walking boots and exploring with this circular woodland and riverside walk, taking in the 'White Lady' and the 'Devil's Cauldron'.
Find out more about Lydford Gorge
For current press releases, please see the Media section of the website.
SEPTEMBER 2011
Royal Albert Memorial Museum re-opens
One of Britain’s finest regional museums re-opens to the public on 15 December 2011 after a multi-million pound redevelopment with an spectacular programme of exhibitions with paintings by Monet, Canaletto and early photographs from the Royal Collection.
.jpg "Click here to view our list of 2011 area guides for Devon")
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