English Riviera Celebrates Tourism Excellence
The winners have been announced amidst a night of celebration at the inaugural English Riviera Tourism Awards last night (3 October) at The Imperial Torquay.
A diverse range of outstanding businesses were presented trophies, with Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves receiving Gold awards for Access and Inclusivity, International Tourism, Visitor Attraction of the Year and the prestigious Winner of Winners award. Lorrens Ladies Spa picked up two Golds for Spa and Wellbeing and with owners Suzanne and Steve taking a Customer Service Superstar Award. Cary Arms and Spa also took two Gold awards, one as Hotel of the Year and the other a Customer Service Superstar Award for Lisa Bradford.
Accommodation Golds went to the 25 Boutique B&B and Whitehill Country Park, with Reach Outdoors taking Gold for Active, Sporting and Learning Experience and Dartmouth Steam Railway’s Train of Lights taking Gold for Tourism Innovation. The Dog Friendly Gold went to Below Decks Restaurant and Bar, with the Torbay Airshow taking Gold for Tourism Event and Festival of the Year.
A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to David Dabbs for his 48 years at the coalface of hospitality in the Riviera.
A further 29 Silver, Bronze and Commended awards were presented during the night, where guests heard insights on global tourism trends and challenges from travel journalist Alison Rice, herself an experienced tourism awards judge and commentator.
Carolyn Custerson, Chief Executive of the English Riviera BID Company said: “Last night was all about celebrating local excellence and we certainly did that, the atmosphere and comradeship in the room has been just fantastic. The English Riviera is certainly a world class seaside resort.”
Chris Hart of Wollens, Sponsors of the Awards, said: “Wollens were delighted to be the headline partner for the inaugural English Riviera BID Tourism awards held last night, a great celebration of excellence in the Riviera, perfectly supported by a fine locally sourced menu and drinks selection. Congratulations to everyone who was shortlisted and announced as winners.”
The awards were launched as part of the English Riviera BID Company’s plans to encourage excellence across the area. All entrants will receive feedback, as well as being considered for the Devon, South West and possibly VisitEngland Awards.
Photos are available for free download from Photos, click HERE to watch video highlights of the Awards ceremony
ENGLISH RIVIERA TOURISM AWARDS
2019 Results
in association with Wollens, wollens.co.uk
ACCESS AND INCLUSIVITY AWARD
Gold
Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, kents-cavern.co.uk, @Kents_Cavern
Silver
Palace Theatre, palacetheatrepaignton.co.uk, @theatrepaignton
Bronze
Torre Abbey Museum, torre-abbey.org.uk, @torreabbey
ACTIVE, SPORTING & LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold
Reach Outdoors, reach-outdoors.com, @reach_outdoors
Silver
Sea Kayak Torbay, seakayaktorbay.co.uk, @SeaKayakTorbay
Bronze
Torquay’s Dinosaur World, torquaysdinosaurworld.co.uk
BED & BREAKFAST OF THE YEAR
Gold
The 25 Boutique B&B, the25.uk, @The25Torquay
Silver
Driftwood B&B, driftwoodbandb.co.uk, @brixham_b
The Somerville Boutique B&B, somervilletorquay.co.uk, @The_Somerville
Bronze
Heathcliff House, heathcliffhouse.co.uk, @HouseHeathcliff
CAFÉ & TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Gold
Chocella / Ella’s Chocolate Emporium & Tea Rooms, chocella.co.uk, @ChocellaBrixham
Silver
Royal Windsor Restaurant Carvery & Tea Room, royalwindsortearoom.com
Bronze
Cantina Kitchen + Bar, cantinagoodrington.co.uk
CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERSTAR
Gold
Lisa Bradford, Cary Arms & Spa, caryarms.co.uk, @caryarms
Suzanne & Steve Vickerstaff, Lorrens Ladies Spa, lorrensladiesspa.co.uk, @LorrensSpa
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Gold
Below Decks Restaurant & Bar, belowdecks.co.uk
Silver
Whitehill Country Park, whitehill-park.co.uk, @WhitehillPark
Commended
The Commodore, commodorepaignton.com
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
Gold
Whitehill Country Park, whitehill-park.co.uk, @WhitehillPark
Silver
Hoburne Devon Bay, hoburne.com/holiday-parks/south-devon/devon-bay
Bronze
Beverley Holidays, beverley-holidays.co.uk @BeverleyHoliday
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Gold
Cary Arms & Spa, caryarms.co.uk, @caryarms
Silver
Orestone Manor, orestonemanor.com, @Orestonemanor
Bronze
Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa, belgravesands.com, @Belgrave_Sands
INTERNATIONAL & INBOUND TOURISM AWARD
Gold
Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, kents-cavern.co.uk, @Kents_Cavern
Silver
The Babbacombe Hotel, thebabbacombehotel.co.uk
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
David Dabbs
RESTAURANT / BISTRO OF THE YEAR
Gold
The Salty Sparrow Bistro Café, thesaltysparrow.co.uk @Salty_Sparrow_
Silver
Orestone Manor, orestonemanor.com, @Orestonemanor
Bronze
Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa, belgravesands.com, @Belgrave_Sands
Cary Arms & Spa, caryarms.co.uk, @caryarms
SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold
Lorrens Ladies Spa, lorrensladiesspa.co.uk, @LorrensSpa
Silver
Cary Arms & Spa, caryarms.co.uk, @caryarms
Bronze
Reflections Spa at Belgrave Sands Hotel, belgravesands.com, @Belgrave_Sands
TOURISM EVENT & FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Gold
Torbay Airshow, englishrivieraairshow.co.uk @RivieraAirshow
Silver
Brixfest, brixfest.com @Brixfest
Bronze
Brixham Pirate Festival, brixhampirates.com @brixhampirates
The Seafood Feast 2018, englishriviera.co.uk/whats-on/englands-seafood-feast @theseafoodfeast
TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD
Gold
Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company – Train of Lights, dsrrbchristmas.co.uk, @dartmouthRR
Silver
Palace Theatre, palacetheatrepaignton.co.uk, @theatrepaignton
Bronze
The 25 Boutique B&B, the25.uk, @The25Torquay
VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold
Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, kents-cavern.co.uk, @Kents_Cavern
Silver
Torquay’s Dinosaur World, torquaysdinosaurworld.co.uk
Bronze
Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company, dartmouthrailriver.co.uk, @dartmouthRR
Commended
Torre Abbey Museum, torre-abbey.org.uk, @torreabbey
WINNER OF WINNERS
Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, kents-cavern.co.uk, @Kents_Cavern
