A night of celebration for Devon

Last night saw an evening of celebration in Torquay, at the Devon Tourism Awards! Held at the Riveria International Conference Centre in Torquay, the awards saw 73 trophies, created by Dartington Crystal, handed out to businesses from all over the county.

Robin Barker, the organiser from Services for Tourism, commented: “What an extraordinary industry and county this is! Whatever is thrown at this sector, there is a dynamic core that bypasses the hurdles and continues to innovate and invest – and what’s also great is that entries into the awards are up, especially in the New Tourism Business, Ethical Responsible and Sustainable and Accessible and Inclusive Tourism categories, all of them so central to a thriving region.”

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

The full list of winners and commended is below.

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
B&B and Guesthouse of the Year
Business Events Venue of the Year
Café/Tearoom of the Year
Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year
Casual Dining Award
Dog Friendly Business of the Year
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
Experience of the Year
Glamping Business of the Year
Holiday Park of the Year
Large Hotel of the Year
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
New Tourism Business Award
Outstanding Contribution to Devon Tourism
Pub of the year
Restaurant of the Year
Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
Small Hotel of the Year
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
Unsung Hero Award
Visitor Information Service of the Year
Wedding Venue of the Year
Winner of Winners

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

(sponsored by Lifeworks)

Gold
Seaton Tramway, Seaton
Silver
Arlington Court & National Trust Carriage Museum, Barnstaple
Bronze
Lower Keats Glamping, Axminster

B&B and Guesthouse of the Year

(sponsored by Booking.com)

Gold
Waterfront House, Dartmouth

Silver
Highcliffe House, Lynton

Bronze
Riverside B&B, Newton Abbot

Commended
One Drake Road, Tavistock

Business Events Venue of the Year

(sponsored by VoltShare)

Gold
Dartmoor Zoo, Plymouth

Silver
Raceworld, Woodbury Salterton

Café/Tearoom of the Year

(sponsored by Curworthy Cheese)

Gold
Alder Vineyard, Oakhampton

Silver
North Coast Café, Lynton
The Kitchen, Sidmouth

Bronze
Nectary Restaurant, South Molton

Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year

(sponsored by Wildanet)

Gold
Lynmouth Holiday Retreat, Lynmouth

Silver
Wray Valley Camping, Newton Abbot

Bronze
Stowford Village, Ilfracombe

Casual Dining Award

(sponsored by Vickery Holman)

Gold
Cary Arms & Spa, Babbacombe

Silver
The Cove Café Bar, Kingsbridge

Bronze
Pig and Olive, Bideford

Dog Friendly Business of the Year

(sponsored by the Samphire Club)

Gold
Millbrook Cottage & Estate, Umberleigh

Silver
Rill House, Slapton
Sleepy Owl Devon, Bideford

Bronze
The Duck and Bean, Tiverton

Commended
Mill End Hotel, Chagford

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award

(sponsored by Quality in Tourism)

Gold
Sleepy Owl Devon, Bideford

Silver
Brackenhill Glamping, Ivybridge
Princesshay, Exeter

Bronze
Lower Keats Glamping, Axminster

Experience of the Year

(sponsored by Granny Gothards)

Gold
The Story Time Tram – Seaton Tramway, Seaton

Silver
Indoor Karting – Raceworld, Woodbury Salterton
Naughty but Nice Retreats – Devon Dogs, Okehampton

Bronze
Go Adventuring – Adventure Okehampton, Okehampton
An Introduction to Stool Making – the Weld Space, Plymouth

Glamping Business of the Year

(sponsored by Anytime Booking)

Gold
Valleyside Escapes, Tiverton

Silver
Brackenhill Glamping, Ivybridge

Bronze
Dittisham Hideaway, Dittisham
Lower Keats Glamping, Axminster

Holiday Park of the Year

(sponsored by Tozers)

Gold
Ladram Bay Holiday Park, Budleigh Salterton

Silver
Cofton Holidays, Dawlish

Bronze
Beverley Holidays, Paignton

Commended
South Bay Holiday Park, Brixham

Large Hotel of the Year

(sponsored by Guestline)

Gold
Bovey Castle, North Bovey

Silver
Lincombe Hall, Torquay

Bronze
The Manor & Ashbury Resorts, Okehampton

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

(sponsored by Plymouth Business School)

Gold
The Milky Way Adventure Park, Bideford

Silver
Seaton Tramway, Seaton

Bronze
Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth

New Tourism Business Award

(sponsored by DCW Plymers)

Gold
Sleepy Owl Devon, Bideford

Silver
Whitebeam Wood, Slapton

Bronze
The Old Warehouse, Kingsbridge

Commended
The Mole Resort, Umberleigh
Granite Way Cycle Hub and Café, Okehampton

Outstanding Contribution to Devon Tourism

(sponsored by Visit Devon)

Claire Flower

Pub of the year

(sponsored by Bays Brewery)

Gold
The Castle Inn, Lydford

Silver
The Offshore Bar and Restaurant, Torquay

Bronze
The Nightjar Inn, Aylesbeare

Restaurant of the Year

(sponsored by NFU Mutual, Exeter)

Gold
The Fig Tree @ 36, Plymouth

Silver
Gara Rock, Salcombe

Bronze
Small World Tapas, Torquay

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year

(sponsored by TouchStay)

Gold
Sleepy Owl Devon, Bideford

Silver
Little Comfort Farm, Braunton

Bronze
Aish Cross Holiday Cottages, Totnes
Cofton Holidays, Dawlish

Commended
Byron Luxury Apartments, Woolacombe

Small Hotel of the Year

(sponsored by Luscombe)

Gold
Lympstone Manor Hotel, Lympstone

Silver
The Pig at Combe, Honiton

Bronze
Gara Rock, Salcombe

Commended
Mill End Hotel, Chagford
Cary Arms & Spa, Babbacombe

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

(sponsored by AGI)

Gold
Alder Vineyard, Okehampton

Silver
Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton

Bronze
Tiverton Canal Co. Horse Drawn Barge and Living Heritage Attraction, Tiverton

Tourism Event/Festival of the Year

(sponsored by Dartington Crystal)

Gold
Exeter Carnival, Exeter

Silver
The Polar Express Tram Ride – Seaton Tramway, Seaton

Bronze
Princess School at Bear Town, Cullompton

Unsung Hero Award

(sponsored by Destination Plymouth)

Shelly Worthy Everleigh, Born Hectic Events, Newton Abbot

Visitor Information Service of the Year

(sponsored by MiHi Digital)

Gold
English Riviera Visitor Information Service, Torquay

Silver
Plymouth Tourist Information Centre and Mayflower Museum, Plymouth

Wedding Venue of the Year

(sponsored by Plymouth Gin)

Gold
Rockbeare Manor, Rockbeare

Commended
Dartmoor Zoo, Plymouth

Winner of Winners

(sponsored by Handelsbanken)

Alder Vineyard, Okehampton

Lawrence Palk, Director of B2B Sales at headline sponsors Wildanet, said: “Many congratulations to all the finalists and winners from last night’s award ceremony. It was a privilege to be part of what was a fantastic event, recognising the exceptional talent and huge contribution that businesses in this sector are making to the benefit of their guests, the local economy across Devon, the South West and the industry at large.

“We are extremely proud to support the Devon Tourism Awards and to be helping provide more and more businesses in this sector with better broadband and improved digital connectivity to enable their business to achieve even greater success in the future. Thanks again to Robin Barker and the team for organising another incredible event and we’re looking forward to next year already.”

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners!

All images from Nick Williams