A LUXURY townhouse hotel in Dorset has won a nationally coveted award for going above and beyond.
The Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne, with its original Georgian design, has won the Gold Award from Visit England.
The accolade celebrates accommodation establishments that outperform in their category and offer exceptional quality within their star rating.
The awards help guests find special places where hosts go the extra mile, whatever the size, style or star rating of the accommodation.
The prestigious award comes after the 21-bedroom hotel completed a refurbishment in early 2019 after the property was acquired by hotelier of 40 years, international entrepreneur Peter de Savary.
Mr Savary grew up in Dorset and has a particular fondness for Sherborne, so he leapt at the chance to acquire the property in February 2018.
He said: "The Visit England Awards are extremely prestigious and cherished by those hotels that receive the ultimate accolade.
"The Eastbury in Sherborne in the glorious Dorset countryside is honoured to have received the Gold award with a rating of 93 per cent this year.
"We're most appreciative of receiving this recognition and I have every confidence that our wonderful staff will continue to maintain the exemplary standards which our guests thoroughly enjoy.
"I hope many people will choose to enjoy a marvellous holiday in England rather than travel abroad - it makes good sense.
"I'm delighted to praise our exemplary Eastbury team and say a big thank you to our guests and of course to Visit England."
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Much of the building's original Georgian charm and elegance is maintained and is just five minutes stroll from Sherborne Abbey, otherwise the Abbey Church of St. Mary the Virgin.
Gold Awards are available to participants in the hotel, guest accommodation, self-catering (three-star to five-star), serviced apartment, glamping, park (four-star to five-star) and hotel boat schemes.
Businesses nominated for a Gold Award may receive a second ‘mystery visit’ by an area manager before the award is confirmed.
The hotel, which provides nine dog-friendly rooms, also provides a luxury garden spa complete with indoor hydrotherapy tub, sauna and steam cabin.
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