Torbay businesses do English Riviera proud in Devon Tourism Awards

Torbay businesses did the Bay proud in this year’s Devon Tourism Awards.

Now some of the Gold winners will be nominated to represent the county in the national VisitEngland awards later next year.

Kents Cavern double Gold at the Devon Tourism awards

Kents Cavern came away with a hat-trick of awards in the Tourism Event of the Year, International Tourism and Cafe/Tearoom of the Year categories.

There was a double-strike for Cary Arms in Spa and Wellbeing and Small Hotel of the Year.

Cary Arms at the Devon Tourism Awards

For the Cary Arms the awards come at an exciting time as the hotel welcomes new leadership: Andy Banner-Price joins Cary Arms & Spa as its new Hotel Manager. 

Andy brings with him a sterling reputation from his time at the highly regarded The 25 Boutique B&B, based in Torquay, where he built a reputation for warm, attentive service and guest-centred hospitality winning a multitude of awards there too. “I’m honoured to take the helm at such a cherished seaside retreat,” said Andy Banner-Price. 

Offshore Bar and Restaurant silver in the Devon Tourism Awards Pub of the Year category

Torquay harbourside bar Offshore also grabbed two medals in Pub of the Year and Accessible and Inclusive categories.

Beverley Holidays Bronze for Regenerative Tourism in the Devon Tourism Awards

Beverley Holidays also notched up a brace for regenerative tourism and a highly commended in holiday park of the year.

Lorraine Arnold and her team at Torquay waterfront restaurant Pier Point added to their impressive array of awards with a bronze in Restaurant/Casual Dining.

Lorraine Arnold and Pier Point at the Devon Tourism Awards

Guest houses Blue Waters Lodge and Somerville won silver and bronze respectively in B&B and Guest House of the Year.

Blue Waters Lodge at Devon Tourism Awards

Somerville at Devon Tourism Awards

Torbay also had reason to celebrate when well-known Torbay and South Devon tourism and hospitality figure Vince Flower was recognised for all his sterling work in the industry. Vince, current  Chair of Visit Devon and the Devon and Partners LVEP, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution award.

Vince Flower at the Devon Tourism Awards Pic Nick Williams

Exeter Chiefs’ Sandy Park was the awards venue as 79 trophies were presented to Devon’s leading tourism and hospitality businesses.

The event was the conclusion of four months of judging, with 91 visits carried out by the team of independent judges.  

Guests were entertained by a special insight into the benefits of being accessible by Charlie Radclyffe, representing Disability Together, with a parallel online auction raising £1,735 for the charity.  Guests were also entertained by Maggie Irving, the only woman in the world with a PhD in clowning, who shared her thoughts on the role of comedy in customer service.

The trophies were presented to Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in 24 different categories.

Mark Worden, Director of Headline Sponsors MiHi Digital, said: “Every year the standard rises, and this year’s finalists show exactly why millions of people choose Devon. Their hard work, passion and creativity are what make the county such a special place to visit.”

Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism added: “Witnessing the delight of the winners, whether Bronze, Silver or Gold, and the impact success has on their mood and motivation is impossible to describe. In an era when business is tough for many, it is great to be bringing something positive to all concerned.” 

Torbay winners were:

Cary Arms, GOLD - Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year

Kents Cavern, (Carols in the Cave 2024), GOLD - Tourism Event/Festival of the Year

Kents Cavern, GOLD - International Tourism Award

Offshore Bar & Restaurant, Torquay,  SILVER - Pub of the Year

Blue Waters Lodge, Paignton, SILVER - B&B & Guesthouse of the Year

Offshore Bar & Restaurant, Torquay, BRONZE - Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

Somerville Torquay, BRONZE - B&B & Guesthouse of the Year

Pier Point Bar & Restaurant, Torquay, BRONZE - Restaurant & Casual Dining of the Year

Cary Arms, Babbacombe, SILVER - Small Hotel of the Year

Kents Cavern,  BRONZE - Cafe/Tearoom of the Year

Beverley Holidays, BRONZE - Regenerative Tourism Award

Beverley Holidays, Commended - Holiday Park of the Year

Vince Flower, Outstanding Contribution to Devon Tourism.

WINNERS & COMMENDED (in alphabetical order and gold, silver, bronze and commended positions)

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Disability Together:

Gold, Calvert Devon, Kentisbury; Silver, National Park Visitor Centre, Postbridge; Bronze,     Offshore Bar & Restaurant, Torquay; Commended, The Milky Way Adventure Park, Bideford and Whitebeam Wood, Slapton

ACTIVE & LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR sponsored by pkf Francis Clark:

Gold, Wizards of Wyvern - Prodigy Escapes & Experiences, Exeter; Silver, Gin Making Class - Exeter Gin School, Teignmouth and Karting at Raceworld, Woodbury Salterton

B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Foxcombe Bakehouse:

Gold, One Drake Road and Apartments, Tavistock; Silver, Blue Waters Lodge, Paignton; Bronze,  Somerville Boutique B&B, Torquay

BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tamar Security:

Gold, Raceworld, Woodbury Salterton; Silver,  Holne Park House, Ashburton

CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Owens Organic Coffee:

Gold, The Kitchen at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth; Silver,  Wild Thyme Deli & Kitchen, Totnes; Bronze, Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves Café, Torquay

CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Anytime Booking:

Gold, Yeatheridge Farm Caravan Park, Crediton; Silver, Harford Bridge Holiday Park, Tavistock; Bronze  Lynmouth Holiday Retreat, Lynton and  River Dart Country Park, Ashburton

DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Quality in Tourism:

Gold, Whitebeam Wood, Slapton; Silver, Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa, Holsworthy and       Mill End Hotel, Chagford; Bronze,  Cofton Holidays, Dawlish and Rill House, Slapton

GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by T-Stats Solutions:

Gold, Rusty Sheds, Holberton.

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tozers:

Gold, Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa, Holsworthy; Silver,  Andrewshayes Holiday Park, Axminster; Bronze, Cofton Holidays, Dawlish and Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park, Woolacombe; Commended, Beverley Holidays, Paignton

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Trowers & Hamlins:

Gold, Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, Torquay; Silver, Mazzard Farm Holiday Cottages, Ottery St Mary; Bronze, Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter; Commended,  Tinside Lido, Plymouth

LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by VoltShare:

Gold,  Bovey Castle, North Bovey; Silver,  Woolacombe Bay Hotel, Woolacombe; Bronze,      The Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth and Thurlestone Hotel and Spa, Kingsbridge

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Airband:

Gold, Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Lynmouth; Silver, The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth; Bronze, National Trust Coleton Fishacre, Galmpton and Stuart Line Cruises, Exmouth; Commended,  Watermouth Castle, Ilfracombe and  World of Country Life, Littleham

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by NFUM Exeter:

Gold,  Pilchard Cottage, Dawlish; Silver, Scribbleton, Winkleigh

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO DEVON TOURISM sponsored by VisitDevon:

Vince Flower

PUB OF THE YEAR sponsored by Bays Brewery:

Gold,  The Black River Inn, Beaworthy; Silver, Offshore Bar & Restaurant, Torquay; Bronze,      The Chagford Inn, Chagford

REGENERATIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by DCW:

Gold, River Dart Country Park, Ashburton; Silver, Cofton Holidays, Dawlish; Bronze,        Beverley Holidays, Paignton and Whitebeam Wood, Slapton

RESTAURANT & CASUAL DINING OF THE YEAR sponsored by Sandridge Barton:

Gold, Salutation Inn, Topsham; Silver, Pig and Olive Pizza, Westward Ho!; Bronze, Pier Point Bar & Restaurant, Torquay

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Handelsbanken:   

Gold,  Libbear Barton, Shebbear; Silver,  Mornacott Cottages, South Molton;  Whitebeam Wood, Slapton; Bronze, Rill House, Slapton

SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Booking.com:

Gold, Gidleigh Park, Chagford; Silver, Cary Arms & Spa, Babbacombe; Mill End Hotel, Chagford; Bronze,  Northcote Manor, Umberleigh; The Cottage Hotel & Restaurant, Kingsbridge; Commended, Ilsington Country House Hotel & Spa, Ilsington

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Securious:

Gold, River Dart Country Park, Ashburton; Silver, Scribbleton, Winkleigh; Bronze,        Shaldon Wildlife Trust, Shaldon

SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Vickery Holman

Gold, Coastal Renewal - Cary Arms & Spa, Babbacombe; Silver,

Source Spa Day - Source Spa, Sidmouth; Bronze,  Haytor Experience - Ilsington Country House Hotel & Spa, Ilsington and My Special Day - Northcote Manor Hotel and Spa, Umberleigh

TOURISM EVENT / FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Dartington Crystal:

Gold, Carols in the Cave 2024, Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, Torquay; Silver,  The Mid Devon Show 2025, Tiverton; Bronze,  Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway Steampunk Gathering VIII, Lynmouth; Commended,  Ashburton Food Festival 2024

UNSUNG HERO AWARD sponsored by Agilysys:

Gold,  Eleanor Joiner, Prodigy Escapes & Experiences, Exeter

VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Destination Plymouth:

Gold,   Plymouth Tourist Information Centre and The Mayflower Museum; Silver,  National Park Visitor Centre, Postbridge; Bronze, Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre, Haytor; Commended,  Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre

WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Salcombe Gin:

Gold, Valleyside Barn, Bickleigh; Silver, Rockbeare Manor, Rockbeare; Bronze,  Bovey Castle Hotel, North Bovey; Commended, Holne Park House, Ashburton

WINNER OF WINNERS sponsored by Travel Chapter:

Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa, Holsworthy

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