Falmouth businesses triumphed last night at the South West Tourism Awards.

The Pandora Inn at Restronguet was the big winner from the area, taking gold for tourism pub of the year.

The awards, which saw a record 350 entries, encompass the whole of the south west, stretching as far as Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

It is the second year in a row that the Pandora has taken gold in this category at the awards, with the trophy adding to collection it has amassed since reopening in March 2012 following fire damage.

Other winners from the Falmouth area included the Falmouth Oyster Festival, which won joint silver for tourism event of the year, and Trebah Garden near Mawnan Smith shared bronze in the large visitor attraction of the year category; the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan were highly commended.

Elsewhere in the county Gwel an Mor Resort at Portreath won bronze in the holiday park of the year category, in which Perran Sands Holiday Park at Perranporth was highly commended, while Geevor Tin Mine at Pendeen took silver for small visitor attraction of the year, with St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre taking bronze.

Christine Hornsby from Perran Sands Holiday Park won join silver in the tourism superstar award for customer service, the Porthminster Beach Cafe at St Ives was highly commended in the taste of south west award.

The Alverton at Truro was highly commended in the small hotel of the year award, while the South West Coast Path won the award for outstanding contribution to tourism.

All entrants underwent a rigorous short-listing process and 213 went on to be visited by a team of 35 mystery shoppers.

Up to four award winners from each category in this year’s awards will now go on to represent the region at the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in May.

  • In a good night for the Pandora Inn, the creek-side pub also took the award for food pub of the year (tenancy) at the Tribute Estate Awards, run by St Austell Brewery.

Falmouth Packet:

Falmouth Oyster Festival took joint silver for tourism event of the year

 

Falmouth Packet:

Trebah Garden shared bronze in the large visitor attraction of the year category