NORTH DEVON BUSINESSES WIN BIG AT 2017 DEVON TOURISM AWARDS

Leading North Devon businesses have been celebrating their success at Visit Devon’s 2017 Devon Tourism Awards. 

North Devon has Devon’s best glamping site, sporting experience and customer service – and that’s a fact, having been decided at Visit Devon’s 2017 Devon Tourism Awards this week!

There were plenty of winners from the region, with Skern Lodge and Longlands landing Gold awards for Best Active and Sporting Experience and Best Glamping and Alternative Accommodation awards respectively, while Stephen Eddy from Exmoor Zoo won the Gold award for Outstanding Customer Service.

Quince Honey Farm scooped a whopping three Silver awards, RHS Rosemoor landed a remarkable two Silvers, and Broomhill Art Hotel and Sculpture Garden were Highly Commended in their field.

There were further Gold awards for Millbrook Estate and Westward Living (two), while Country Cousins and Nelly May’s Parlour also came away being highly commended.

Commenting after the awards, a prestigious event at Plymouth’s Guildhall, organiser and Visit Devon director Robin Barker commented: “I am so elated that we made the decision to launch these awards eight years ago. The investments in excellence, and especially in outstanding service we’ve seen since are literally flabbergasting.

“And the delight we see each year from winners, along with their feedback, tells me that we are making a difference to Devon and to its number one industry. Well done to all.”

Now in their eighth year, the Devon Tourism awards saw a record 205 entries entering 25 different categories, with 76 awards announced on the night. The event was hosted and enhanced by illuminating presentations from Simon Calder on global factors in tourism and an uplifting talk from Arctic explorer Ann Daniels, who lives in Devon.

The full list of North Devon winners and highly commended businesses, in association with Hoseasons, is as follows (in bold, in alphabetical order):

ACTIVE & SPORTING EXPERIENCE AWARD, SPONSORED BY IGNYTE LTD

GOLD
• Skern Lodge, Bideford
SILVER
• Reach Outdoors, Paignton
BRONZE
• Go Ape Haldon, Exeter,

ARTISTIC, CULTURAL & LEARNING EXPERIENCE AWARD, SPONSORED BY PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

GOLD
• Plymouth Gin, Plymouth
SILVER
• Quince Honey Farm, South Molton
BRONZE
• Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Seaton Tramway, Seaton

CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY OWENS

GOLD
• The Guardhouse Cafe, Brixham
SILVER
• Cantina Kitchen and Bar, Paignton
BRONZE
• Tickety-Boo, Ottery St Mary
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Nelly May’s Parlour, Ilfracombe

GLAMPING & ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY DART PR

GOLD
• Longlands, Combe Martin
SILVER
• O’Connors Campers, Okehampton
BRONZE
• The Orchard Retreat, Cheriton Fitzpaine
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping, West Hill

GUIDED TOUR OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY CUSTOMERWISE

GOLD
• Unique Devon Tours, Newton Abbot
SILVER
• Quince Honey Farm, South Molton
BRONZE
• Plymouth Gin, Plymouth

INTERNATIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY EXETER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

GOLD
• Westward Living, Westward Ho!
SILVER
• South West Coast Path Association
BRONZE
• Unique Devon Tours, Newton Abbot
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Country Cousins, Ilfracombe
• Mountlands Language School, Exmouth

LARGE ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY DARTINGTON CRYSTAL

GOLD
• Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
SILVER
• RHS Rosemoor, Great Torrington
BRONZE
• Crealy Adventure Park & Resort, Clyst St Mary
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• National Trust Greenway, Galmpton

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD, SPONSORED BY SOUTH WEST WATER BUSINESS

GOLD
• Stephen Eddy at Exmoor Zoo

RESTAURANT/BISTRO OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY THE SOURCE TRADE SHOW

GOLD
• The Elephant Restaurant, Torquay
SILVER
• Great Western Restaurant at Bovey Castle, North Bovey
BRONZE
• Old Vienna Restaurant, Torquay
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Broomhill Art Hotel & Sculpture Gardens, Barnstaple

SELF CATERING HOLIDAY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY VICKERY HOLMAN

GOLD
• Westward Living, Westward Ho!
SILVER
• Aish Cross Holiday Cottages, Totnes
BRONZE
• South View Lodges, Exeter
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Bidwell Farm Cottages, Upottery

SMALL ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY APP FOR DEVON WITH WESTWARD MARKETING

GOLD
• Plymouth Gin, Plymouth
SILVER
• Quince Honey Farm, South Molton,
BRONZE
• The Bear Trail, Cullompton

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD, SPONSORED BY BRITTANY FERRIES

GOLD
• Millbrook Estate, Umberleigh
SILVER
• River Dart Country Park, Ashburton
JOINT BRONZE
• Cofton Holidays, Dawlish
• Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Adventure Okehampton, Okehampton

VENUE & BUSINESS TOURISM AWARD, SPONSORED BY BEYOND ESCAPES

GOLD
• Deer Park Country Hotel, Honiton
SILVER
• RHS Rosemoor, Great Torrington
BRONZE
• The Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Plymouth

The full list of winners can be seen at www.devontourismawards.org.uk