6 Saturday, April 24, 2021 WESTERN MORNING NEWS NEWS Plans backed for ‘premier market town’ TRANSFORMATIVE plans that for the specific projects within the be lost, but also that it wouldn’t Stars of tourist aim to regenerate Newton Abbot bid, which include pedestrian and provide a suitable performance town centre to make it Devon’s cycling improvements for better space for entertainment. premier market town have been links to shopping facilities, a new Backing the proposals, Cllr Nina backed – despite fears it would do cinema built on the site of the Jeffries, executive member for more harm than good and it would existing New Look store, and the economy and jobs, said: “This will destroy the historic theatre. reduction of the dominance of the help long held ambitions for New- industry are Teignbridge District Council’s car park in Queen Street. ton Abbot to be the premier mar- executive earlier this month had The current Alexandra cinema ket town and will help create a unanimously agreed to accept the will be converted into a bar/res- vibrant town centre for everyone, £9.2m of Government funding taurant and events venue, with a in particular future generations.” from the Future High Streets Fund high quality market space provid- Cllr Jackie Hook added: “This is for plans which would transform ed in the existing market area, but an opportunity for Newton Abbot. honoured in the Market and Food Hall, Alexan- to do so would require knocking “It will enable businesses to dra Cinema and Market Square. down the dividing internal wall, prosper, and quality of life for all Thursday’s full council meeting leaving some councillors feeling the town’s residents to be saw members agree to the budget the magic of the building would enhanced.” South West

HE cream of South West Tourism WMN REPORTER businesses have been honoured [email protected] Tat a special online ceremony, with many winners marked out for their Every winner at the online ceremony quality, sustainability and resilience in on Thursday night was given the chance the face of an unprecedented year oper- to react to their award during one of ating in the coronavirus crisis. three hour-long sessions. Emotions In all 76 winners from across the were running high, with many winners Westcountry, from Gloucestershire to expressing huge thanks to their staff, the tip of Cornwall, were announced in customers – and the judges – for being the 2020/21 South West Tourism Excel- recognised. lence Tourism Awards in what turned Winners came from Dorset, Somer- out to be an emotional online event. set, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Sponsored by South West Water, the Bath, Devon and Cornwall. Accommo- awards programme opened for entry in dation, food and drink, attractions, March 2020 and, with plenty of adapta- events and experiences all had their tions and extensions along the way, it winners, along with those recognised concluded this week. for innovation, new businesses, sustain- Just as hospitality businesses have able tourism and accessibility. had to change and innovate during this Twenty five winners took the top gold extraordinary period, so too have the accolade, including a special outstand- awards, with judging taking account of ing contribution award to the members business entries, digital presence and of the Great South West Tourism Part- feedback along with evidence of Covid- nership, who have dedicated so much secure measures, prior to decisions of their time over the last year to lobby- taken by an independent panel. ing for and supporting the industry dur- 2020/2021 SOUTH WEST TOURISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD, sponsored SILVER by South West Tourism Alliance, swtourismalliance.org.uk n Teacup Tearoom, Cornwall, teacuptearoom.com, @ GOLD teacup_tearoom n Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk @ BRONZE noahs_ark_zoo n Fishcombe Cove Café, Devon, facebook.com/ SILVER fishcombecovecafe n Sara’s Cottage, Cornwall, sarascottage.co.uk @SarasCottage BRONZE CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR, n Leafy Fields Glamping, Devon, leafyfieldsglamping.com @ sponsored by Vickery Holman, vickeryholman.com LeafyFields GOLD COMMENDED n South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Dorset, n HolidayInDorset – Birchcroft, Dorset, birchcroft-hideaway. southlytchettmanor.co.uk, @campsitedorset co.uk SILVER n Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall, gwelanmor.com @ n Polmanter Touring Park, Cornwall, polmanter.com @ LandalGwelanMor PolmanterStIves BRONZE B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Lovegrove n Mena Farm: Touring, Camping, Glamping, Cornwall, Essentials, lovegroveessentials.com menafarm.co.uk @MenaFarmCamping GOLD n Dorset House, Dorset, dorsethouselyme.com @ CASUAL DINING AWARD, sponsored by Plymouth Business Dorsethouselyme School, plymouth.ac.uk/schools SILVER GOLD n St John’s Guest House, Dorset, stjohnsguesthouse.co.uk @ n The PIG at Combe, Devon, thepighotel.com/at-combe @ Fishersdream The_Pig_Hotel COMMENDED SILVER n Barnabas House B&B, Devon, barnabas-house.co.uk @ n Cary Arms & Spa, Devon, caryarms.co.uk @CaryArms BarnabasHouse BRONZE n Brightham House Boutique Bed and Breakfast, Devon, n Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Dorset, fishnfritz.co.uk @fishnfritzweymouth brighthamhouse.co.uk @BrighthamHouse COMMENDED n The Old Stables Bed & Breakfast, Somerset, n Bango Kitchen, Cornwall, theshellfishpig.co.uk theoldstablesbandb.com @oldstablesbandb n On the Waterfront, Devon, waterfrontexeter.co.uk @ OTWexeter BUSINESS EVENTS & WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Clockwork Marketing, clock-work.co.uk DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, sponsored by GOLD Forthglade, forthglade.com n Treseren, Cornwall, treseren.co.uk @treserencornwall GOLD SILVER n The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Cornwall, sealsanctuary. n Paschoe House, Devon, paschoehouse.co.uk @ sealifetrust.org, @Seal_Sanctuary paschoehouse SILVER BRONZE n Bolberry Farm Cottages, Devon, bolberryfarmcottages.co. n Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset, marshamcourthotel.co.uk @ uk @BolberryFarmCot MarshamCourt BRONZE COMMENDED n Kernock Cottages, Cornwall, kernockcottages.com @ n Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall, gwelanmor.com @ KernockCottages LandalGwelanMor COMMENDED n Upton Country Park, Dorset, uptoncountrypark.com @ n Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset, marshamcourthotel.co.uk @ UptonCPark MarshamCourt n Saunton Beach Villas, Devon, sauntonbeachvillas.co.uk @ CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR, sponsored Owens Coffee, SauntonVillas owenscoffee.com GOLD ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM n Picnic Park Deli, Dorset, picnicparkdeli.com @picnicparkdeli AWARD, sponsored by South West Water, southwestwater.co.uk WESTERN MORNING NEWS Saturday, April 24, 2021 7 NEWS

>>Carlyon Bay hotel, Cornwall

ing the most difficult of times. There with the tourism sector to enhance was also a special award for water and protect our natural environment efficiency, recognised as being of and to ensure that the South West is increasing importance both to busi- a sustainable and beautiful place to ness operations and the climate. live and visit for many years to Jo Ecroyd, customer service direc- come.” tor of headline sponsors South West Robin Barker, director of services Water, said: “As a top FTSE business for Tourism Ltd, who has managed in the South West, we see it as our the Awards over the past decade, responsibility to promote and con- said: “Of all the years, this has been tribute to the regional economy, in the one that has generated the most which tourism plays such an impor- challenges as well as the most emo- tant role. It has certainly been a chal- tions, and we are so gratified to have lenging year for businesses, and we played our part in giving our out- applaud all our winners for their per- standing businesses something to severance in the face of the challeng- celebrate. They are all so deserving! es from the pandemic over the past We can’t wait to get out and visit as y e a r.” many of them as possible.” Rob Scarrott, head of water Co-organiser Nell Barrington resources and planning at South added: “I have been really humbled West Water, said: “Special congratu- to hear stories from these amazing lations to The Sanctuary for winning tourism and hospitality businesses the Extraordinary Water Efficiency about how they have overcome Award at this year’s South West Tour- adversity in these terrible times. It ism Awards. The economy and well- has been great to be able to celebrate >>The Pig at Combe, Gittisham being of our region is reliant on the their success today and I hope they environment we live in. That’s why have a fantastic season. Congratula- we’re keen to continue our work tions to them all.”

2020/2021 SOUTH WEST TOURISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS SPONSORED BY SOUTH WEST WATER, SOUTHWESTWATER.CO.UK GOLD solicitors, stephens-scown.co.uk n The Roost Luxury Glamping, Glos, theroostglamping. BRONZE lincombe_hall n The Sanctuary Cornwall, thesanctuarycornwall.co.uk @ GOLD co.uk n Nethway Farm Holiday Cottages, Devon, nethwayfarm. COMMENDED SanctuaryCornwl n Andrewshayes Holiday Park, Devon, andrewshayes.co.uk SILVER co.uk n Mullion Cove Spa, Cornwall, mullion-cove.co.uk @ SILVER @andrewshayesA35 n The Hudnalls Hideout Treehouse, Glos, hudnallshideout. COMMENDED mullioncove n Camp Kernow, Cornwall, campkernow.org.uk @ SILVER co.uk n Lower Campscott Farm Cottages, Devon, lowercampscott. CampKernow n Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall, gwelanmor.com @ BRONZE co.uk @LowerCampscott TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Met BRONZE LandalGwelanMor n Cross Lane House, Somerset, crosslanehouse.com@ n The Apartment, Bath,apartmentbath.com @ Office, metoffice.gov.uk n Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk @ BRONZE CrossLaneHouse apartmentbath_ GOLD noahs_ark_zoo n Ladram Bay Holiday Park, Devon, ladrambay.co.uk @ n The Cross Keys, Dorset, thecrosskeyssherborne.com @ n White Star Running – Run Jurassic 2019, Dorset, COMMENDED LadramBay crosskeyssherb SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Buckleigh Linen runjurassic.co.uk n Little Comfort Farm, Devon, littlecomfortfarm.co.uk @ COMMENDED Services, buckleigh.co.uk SILVER LittleComfortFm n Lady’s Mile Holiday Park, Devon, ladysmile.co.uk @ COMMENDED GOLD n Sculpture by the Lakes – Dorset Arts Festival 2020 n Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, Cornwall, Ladys_Mile n The Cottages at Blackadon Farm, Devon, n Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Wiltshire whatleymanor. sculpturebythelakes.co.uk @SculptureLakes motheriveysbay.com @MotherIveysBay n Martha’s Orchard, Cornwall, marthasorchard.co.uk @ cottagesatblackadonfarm.co.uk com @Whatley_Manor BRONZE n Pause Cat Café, Dorset, pausecatcafe.co.uk @ MarthasOrchard SILVER n eat:Portishead, Somerset eatfestivals.org @EatFestivals PauseCatCafe OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SOUTH WEST n The Horn of Plenty Country House Hotel & Restaurant, COMMENDED LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Hotel Perfect, TOURISM, sponsored by Bristol Airport, bristolairport.co.uk Devon, thehornofplenty.co.uk @hornofplenty1 n Falmouth Oyster Festival 2019, Cornwall, EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR (ACTIVE OR LEARNING) hotelperfect.co.uk n The Great South West Tourism Partnership Group BRONZE falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk @FalOysterFest sponsored by VisitBath, visitbath.co.uk GOLD (Spokespeople: Amanda Lumley, VisitPlymouth, and Alistair n Cary Arms & Spa, Devon, caryarms.co.uk @CaryArms GOLD n Carlyon Bay Hotel, Cornwall, carlyonbay.com @ Handyside, South West Tourism Alliance) COMMENDED TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD, sponsored by Quality in n Jurassic Coast Guides, Dorset, jurassiccoastguides.co.uk @ CarlyonBayHotel n Gara Rock Hotel, Devon, gararock.com @gararockhotel Tourism, qualityintourism.com jurassicguides SILVER PUB OF THE YEAR, n Mullion Cove Hotel & Spa, Cornwall, mullion-cove.co.uk @ GOLD SILVER n Budock Vean Hotel, Cornwall, budockvean.co.uk @ sponsored by Plymouth Gin, plymouthgin.com mullioncove n Quince Honey Farm, Devon, quincehoneyfarm.co.uk @ n Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Dorset, shorecampers. BudockVeanHotel GOLD n The PIG at Harlyn Bay, Cornwall, thepighotel.com @ quincehoneyfarm co.uk @ShoreCampers BRONZE n The Pandora Inn, Cornwall, pandorainn.com, @ The_Pig_Hotel SILVER BRONZE n The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, Bath, royalcrescent.co. PandoraInn n St Moritz Hotel, Cornwall, stmoritzhotel.co.uk @ n Savouring Bath, Bath, savouringbath.com @ uk @royalcrescent SILVER SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by stmoritzhotel SavouringBath COMMENDED n Three Crowns, Devon, threecrowns-chagford.co.uk @ Pear Communications, pearcommunications.org BRONZE COMMENDED n Fowey Hall Hotel, Cornwall, foweyhallhotel.co.uk @ ThreeCrownsChag GOLD n Savouring Bath, Bath, savouringbath.com @ n Fore / Adventure, Dorset, foreadventure.co.uk @ foweyhall BRONZE n Nothe Fort, Dorset, nothefort.org.uk @NotheFort SavouringBath foreadventure n Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset, marshamcourthotel.co.uk n The Boathouse, Cornwall, theboathousefalmouth.co.uk, SILVER COMMENDED n Paradise Park – Red Panda Experience, Cornwall, @MarshamCourt @theboathousefal n Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset, sculpturebythelakes.co.uk n The Grange at Oborne, Dorset, thegrangeatoborne.co.uk, paradisepark.org.uk @CornishParadise n Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire lucknampark.co.uk @SculptureLakes @grangeatoborne @LucknamPark RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR, sponsored by St Austell Brewery, BRONZE GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Anytime staustellbrewery.co.uk n Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Cornwall, VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR, in Booking, anytimebooking.co.uk LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by GOLD shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk @CtShipwreck association with South West Coast Path Association, GOLD Worldpay, fisglobal.com/en-gb/merchant-solutions-worldpay n Al Molo, Dorset, almolo.co.uk, @AlMoloWeymouth COMMENDED southwestcoastpath.org.uk n Brownscombe Luxury Glamping, Devon, brownscombe. GOLD SILVER n Dean Forest Railway, Glos, deanforestrailway.co.uk @ GOLD co.uk @BrownscombeUK n Wild Place Project, Bristol, wildplace.org.uk @wild_place n The Angel – Taste of Devon, theangeldartmouth.co.uk @ DeanForRailway n Lynmouth Pavilion Exmoor National Park Centre, Devon, SILVER SILVER theangeldevon exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk @ExmoorNP n Devon Yurt, Devon, devonyurt.co.uk @devonyurt n The Tank Museum, Dorset, tankmuseum.org @ BRONZE SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR, sponsored SILVER BRONZE TankMuseum n Cove24 Restaurant and Bar, Cornwall, cove24.uk @ by Jarrang, jarrang.com n South Somerset Visitor Information Centre / South n Ekopod, Cornwall, ekopod.co.uk BRONZE Cove24nqy GOLD Somerset District Council, Somerset visitsouthsomerset.com n Farmstead Glamping, Dorset, farmsteadglamping.com @ n Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol ssgreatbritain.org n Moose Kitchen, Dorset, moosekitchen.co.uk n Landal Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall, gwelanmor.com @ @VisitSSomerset FarmsteadGlamp n Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk @ LandalGwelanMor BRONZE COMMENDED noahs_ark_zoo SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR, SILVER n Visit Newquay Tourist Information Centre, Cornwall, n Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Dorset, n Paradise Park and JungleBarn Indoor Play Centre, sponsored by PKF Francis Clark, pkf-francisclark.co.uk n Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire lucknampark.co.uk visitnewquay.org @Tourism_Newquay dorsetforestgardenglamping.co.uk Cornwall, paradisepark.org.uk, @Cornishparadise GOLD @LucknamPark n Leafy Field Glamping, Devon, leafyfieldsglamping.com @ n Higher Wiscombe, Devon, higherwiscombe.com @ BRONZE WATER CONSERVATION AWARD, sponsored by South West LeafyFields NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD sponsored by Soundview, HigherWiscombe n St Michaels Resort, Cornwall, stmichaelsresort.com/spa, Water, southwestwater.co.uk soundviewmedia.co.uk SILVER @stmichaelsresort n The Sanctuary Cornwall, thesanctuarycornwall.co.uk @ HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Stephens Scown GOLD n Sara’s Cottage, Cornwall, sarascottage.co.uk @SarasCottage n Lincombe Hall Hotel, Devon, lincombehallhotel.co.uk @ SanctuaryCornwl