FINALISTS have been announced for this year’s Dorset Tourism Awards which have seen a record-breaking amount of entries.
Businesses in west Dorset and Purbeck are well represented in the awards which will be presented at Lighthouse Poole on November 8 at a ceremony hosted by BBC Dorset’s Steve Harris, with guest speaker Debra Stephenson.
An increased 125 entries were received this year, with 72 selected as finalists.
The annual competition, now in its sixth year, saw the addition of a Tourism Innovation & New Business category, alongside numerous criteria changes such as the widening of the former Sustainable Tourism category into a new award that recognised Responsible and Ethical tourism, including use of single-use plastics.
Successful businesses in the awards will automatically be considered for matching categories in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2019 with the chance to go on to represent Dorset at the National VisitEngland Awards later in the year.
Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism said: “We love seeing the progression of these awards from their launch six years ago.”
FINALISTS & HIGHLY COMMENDED 2018
Sponsored by Saffery Champness www.saffery.com
(In alphabetic order)
ACCESS AND INCLUSIVITY AWARD
sponsored by Purple Cloud, purplecloudconsultancy.com
Finalists
Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre, Wareham, monkeyworld.org, @mwaperescue
Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester, shirehalldorset.org, @shirehalldorset
The Italian Villa, Poole, the-italian-villa.co.uk, @theitalianvilla
ACTIVE AND SPORTING EXPERIENCE AWARD
Finalists
Moors Valley Go Ape!, Ringwood, goape.co.uk, @GoApeTribe
RockReef and PierZip on Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth, rockreef.co.uk, @rockreef_UK
Weymouth Bay RIB Charter, Weymouth, weymouthbayribcharters.co.uk
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Goadsby, goadsby.com
Finalists
Dorset House, Lyme Regis, dorsethouselyme.com, @dorsethouselyme
Home Farm House, Wimborne St Giles, homefarmhousewsg.com, @HfHswg
Swallows Rest B&B, Weymouth, swallowsrestbedandbreakfast.co.uk, @swallowsrestBB
Highly Commended
Swanage Haven 5* Boutique B&B, Swanage, swanagehaven.com, @swanagehaven
BUSINESS TOURISM AND VENUE AWARD
sponsored by Soundview, soundviewmedia.co.uk
Finalists
Lighthouse, Poole Arts Trust Ltd, Poole, lighthousepoole.co.uk, @lighthousepoole
The Italian Villa, Poole, the-italian-villa.co.uk, @theitalianvilla
Upton Country Park, Poole, uptoncountrypark.com
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
sponsored Dorset Food & Drink, dorsetfoodanddrink.org
Finalists
Bearkat Bistro/Café, Bridport, bearkat.co.uk, @Bearkatclub
Compton Acres Café and Tea Rooms, Poole, comptonacres.co.uk, @compton_acres
Season’s Restaurant, Ringwood, seasonscoffeebarn.co.uk, @SeasonsMV
CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERSTAR AWARD
sponsored by Bournemouth Water Services, bournemouthwater.co.uk
Winners will be announced on the night
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Dog Friendly Dorset, dogsdorset.uk
Finalists
Golden Acre Holiday Bungalows, Bridport, golden-acre.com, @GoldenAcreUK
South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Dorchester, southlytchettmanor.co.uk, @campsitedorset
Upton Country Park, Poole, uptoncountrypark.com
Highly Commended
Bournemouth Beach Lodges, Boscombe, bournemouthbeachlodges.co.uk, @bmthbeachlodges
GLAMPING & ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
sponsored by A Head for PR, aheadforpr.co.uk
Finalists
Bournemouth Beach Lodges, Boscombe. bournemouthbeachlodges.co.uk
Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster, dorsetforestgardenglamping.co.uk
Green Valley Yurts Ltd, Dorchester, greenvalleyyurts.com
GUIDED TOUR OF THE YEAR
Finalists
Jurassic Coast Guides, Milborne St Andrew, jurassiccoastguides.co.uk, @jurassicguides
RNLI College, Poole, rnli.org/college
West Bay Canoes, Dorchester, westbaycanoes.co.uk
HOLIDAY PARK & VILLAGE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Hoseasons, hoseasons.co.uk
Finalists
Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport, highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk, @wdlh
Oakdene Forest Park, St Leonards, shorefield.co.uk, @shorefieldhols
Rockley Park, Poole, haven.com/parks/Dorset/Rockley-park
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Brittany Ferries, Brittany-ferries.co.uk
Finalists
Portland Port Ltd, Portland, portland-port.co.uk, @portland_port
Sherborne Castle and Gardens, Sherborne, sherbornecastle.com, @CastleEnquiries
LARGE ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Resort Dorset, resortdorset.com
Finalists
Rockreef and PierZip on Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth, rockreef.co.uk, @rockreef_UK
Swanage Railway, Swanage, swanagerailway.co.uk, @SwanRailway
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
sponsored by NFU Mutual, nfumutual.co.uk
Finalists
Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch, harbourhotels.co.uk, @Harbour_Hotels
Moonfleet Manor Hotel, Weymouth, moonfleetmanorhotel.co.uk, @moonfleetmanor
RNLI College, Poole, rnli.org/college
LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Insight6, insight6.com
Finalists
Burngate Stone Carving Centre, Swanage, burngatestonecentre.co.uk
Create at the Cove, West Lulworth, createatthecove.com
Lulworth Outdoors, Wareham, lulworthoutdoors.com, @lulworthrangers
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO DORSET TOURISM
sponsored by Dorset Tourism Association, dorsetlep.co.uk/dorset-tourism-association
Will be announced on the night
RESPONSIBLE ETHICAL & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
sponsored by Quality in Tourism, qualityintourism.com
Finalists
Acorn Inn, Evershot, acorn-inn.co.uk, @Acorn_Inn
Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth, bagwellfarm.co.uk, @bagwellfarm
The Alexandra Hotel & Restaurant, Lyme Regis, hotelalexandra.co.uk, @AlexandraHotel1
Highly Commended
The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne, thegrangeatoborne.co.uk, @grangeatoborne
RESTAURANT/BISTRO OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Conker Gin, conkerspirit.co.uk
Finalists
Crab House Café, Weymouth, crabhousecafe.co.uk
Neo Restaurant, Bournemouth, neorestaurant.co.uk
The Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth, thedorsetburgercompany.co.uk, @The DBC_weymouth
The Jetty, Christchurch Harbour Hotel, harbourhotels.co.uk, @Harbour_Hotels
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
sponsored by NFU Mutual, nfumutual.co.uk
Finalists
Burnbake Forest Lodges, Corfe Castle, burnbake.com, @burnbake_dorset
Dove House & Swallows, Dorchester, dovehousedorset.co.uk
National Trust Portland House, Weymouth, nationaltrust.org.uk/holidaysportland-house-dorset
Nutley Farm, Dorchester, nutleyfarm.co.uk
SMALL ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Moors Valley Country Park, moors-valley.co.uk
Finalists
Compton Acres, Poole, comptonactres.co.uk, @compton_acres
Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park, Verwood, dorset-heavy-horse-centre.co.uk
Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester, shirehalldorset.org
SMALL HOTEL/BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Clockwork, clock-work.co.uk
Finalists
The Alexandra Hotel & Restaurant, Lyme Regis, hotelalexandra.co.uk, @AlexandraHotel1
The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne, thegrangeatoborne.co.uk, @grangeatoborne
The Grosvenor Arms, Shaftesbury, grosvenorarms.co.uk,@GrosvenorDorset
The Lord Bute, Highcliffe, lordbute.com, @lord_bute
SPA, PAMPERING & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Taurus Energy, taurusenergy.co.uk
Finalists
Mellulah Therapy & Yoga Retreat, Milton Abbas, mellulah.co.uk, @mellulahyoga
Purbeck Holistic Therapy, Swanage, purbeckholistictherapy.com
TOURING CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR
Finalists
East Fleet Farm, Chickerell, eastfleet.co.uk
Monkton Wyld Caravan Park, Bridport, monktonwyld.co.uk
South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Dorchester, southlytchettmanor.co.uk, @campsitedorset
Wood Farm Caravan Park, Charmouth, woodfarm.co.uk
TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Visit Dorset, visit-dorset.com
Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show, Chickerell, chickerellsteamshow.uk, @ChickerellShow
Dippy on Tour, Dorchester, dorsetcountymuseum.org, @dorsetmuseum
TOURISM INNOVATION AND NEW BUSINESS AWARD
sponsored by NatWest Business Banking, business.natwest.com
Finalists
Create at the Cove, West Lulworth, createatthecove.com
Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester, shirehalldorset.org, @shirehalldorset
TOURISM PUB OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Porter Dodson, porterdodson.co.uk
Will be announced on the night
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by The Italian Villa, the-italian-villa.co.uk
Finalists
Bridport Tourist Information Centre, Bridport, bridportandwestbay.co.uk, @bridportTIC
Discover Purbeck Tourist Information Centre, wareham, visitswanageandpurbeck.co.uk, @Discoverpurbeck
Swanage Information Centre, Swanage, visit-dorset.com/explore/towns/Swanage, @Swanage TIC
WINNER OF WINNERS
sponsored by Dorset LEP, dorsetlep.co.uk
Will be announced on the night
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