Gold, silver and bronze medals for Falmouth at Cornwall Tourism Awards

It was a good night for the Falmouth area at the Cornwall Tourism Awards in Newquay last night with one gold, four silvers and four bronzes.

The Waymarker near Constantine came out top in the Cafe and Tearoom of the year winning gold.

The Greenbank Hotel narrowly missed out on the gold, winning a silver for large hotel of the year, while Trebah Gardens won two silvers, one for International Visitor Experience and another for Large Attraction of the Year.

The National Maritime Museum, Cornwall won a silver in the Access and Inclusivity Award and bronze in the Large Attraction of the Year

Picnic Cornwall won bronze in the cafe and tearoom of the year category while The Pandora Inn won bronze in Pub of the Year and Sustainable Tourism Award categories.

The businesses all fought off stiff competition to win medals in their categories with a record 172 entries to this year's award with six months of judging 111 judging visits to businesses.

The Greenbank Hotel's general manager, Ben Young said, “It’s a huge honour to even be shortlisted for this award; it pays recognition to the hard work of our staff and to our commitment to continually improving our guests’ experiences. It was brilliant to see Falmouth doing so well in the awards - huge congratulations to the National Maritime Museum, Trebah Gardens, Picnic and The Waymarker."

This is the second award in as many months for the Falmouth-based café, deli and hamper delivery service Picnic, which was named Independent Café of the Year at the national Café Quality Food and Drink Awards in October.

Owner, Jo Foreman, who took over the business in the summer, says, “We’re thrilled to have won another award. Our aim is to serve the best seasonal food from the best Cornish producers to give our customers a true taste of Cornwall, which means this award isn’t just for the Picnic team.”

“It’s also well-deserved recognition for all of the fantastic local producers who provide us with the food and ingredients we serve in the café and use in our homemade soups, stews, cakes and treats. We couldn’t do it without them, and I’d like to say a big thank you to them, as well as to my superb team.”

Now in their 14th year, the awards, sponsored by Hoseasons, saw an increase to 24 categories, reflecting the ever-increasing diversity of the industry, as well as seeing an increase by 18% to 172 entries from across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Ceremony at the Headland Hotel, Newquay, saw guest appearances by Rosamund Barteau, daughter of Poldark author Winston Graham, and Cornish-born comedian Rory McGrath.

Amongst those leading the celebrations were Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, picking up Gold awards for Access & Inclusivity and Holiday Park & Village as well as the prestigious Winner of Winners award. Another double-winner was Railholiday, taking home Golds for Sustainable Tourism and Wildlife Friendly. There was also a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism for Pat Smith of Bosinver Farm Holidays.

Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall, said: “What an incredible achievement for so many deserving tourism businesses. To win a Cornwall Tourism Award takes dedication, hard-work and a 360 degree commitment to excellence across the business. Each and every one of the winning businesses should be proud of their trophies and the vital part they play in Cornwall’s success as a leading visitor destination. It is thanks to businesses such as those recognised by the Cornwall Tourism Awards that Cornwall is synonymous with quality.”

Paul Hardingham, Commercial Director of Headline Sponsors Hoseasons, said: “We’d like to offer huge congratulations to each and every one of the winners at this year’s awards. Cornwall continues to attract millions of holidaymakers every year and it’s the passion, energy and commitment of these businesses that ensure it remains the jewel in the crown of the Great British holiday industry.”

Awards organizer Robin Barker of Services for Tourism adds: “Each year I am stunned by how tourism businesses continue to reinvent themselves and their visitor offering. This year is no exception and I offer huge congratulations to all the winners.”

The 24 award categories cover everything from B&Bs and holiday parks to pubs and activity providers, and for the first year include a new spa and wellbeing category, one for tourism events and another for business and wedding venues. Other Gold winners on the night were Padstow Seafood School, Pebble House B&B, Whalesborough Cottages and The Olde House. Amongst the Attractions, the Screech Owl Sanctuary and Eden Project took Golds, whilst in food and drink categories the top awards went to The Waymarker, The Ship Inn and Trewithen Restaurant.

St Michael’s Mount took Gold in the new International Visitor Experience category, with Geoffrey Pearce from the Godolphin Arms taking Gold as Unsung Hero for Customer Service. Newquay Activity Centre, Padstow Touring Park, Carbis Bay Hotel, Treworgey Cottages, the Hell Bay Hotel also took Gold awards, as did Bodmin Visitor Centre the Padstow Christmas Festival and the host venue – the Headland Hotel.

The winners of the Cornwall Tourism Awards will now represent Cornwall in the South West Tourism Awards and, if successful, go through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2016.

ACCESS & INCLUSIVITY

Sponsored by Purple Cloud Consultancy www.purplecloudconsultancy.co.uk

Gold

Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park, Padstow, www.motheriveysbay.com

Silver

National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth, www.nmmc.co.uk

ACTIVE & SPORTING EXPERIENCE

Sponsored by Sue Bradbury PR www.suebradburypr.com

Gold

Newquay Activity Centre, Newquay, www.newquayactivitycentre.co.uk

Silver

Ticket To Ride Surf School, Newquay, www.tickettoridesurfschool.co.uk

Bronze

Adventure Segway, Mt Edgcumbe, www.adventuresegway.com

Commended

Stithians Lake Outdoor & Active, Redruth, www.outdoorandactive.uk.com

ARTISTIC, CULTURAL & LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Sponsored by The Samphire Club www.thesamphireclub.co.uk

Gold

Padstow Seafood School, Padstow, www.rickstein.com

Silver

St Ives School of Painting, St Ives, www.schoolofpainting.co.uk

Bronze

Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Penzance, www.penleehouse.org.uk

B&B, GUEST ACCOMMODATION & INN OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Nicholson’s www.nicholsonssw.co.uk

Gold

Pebble House, Mevagissey, www.pebblehousecornwall.co.uk

Silver

The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow, www.rickstein.com

Bronze

Roundhouse Barn Holidays, St Just in Roseland, www.roundhousebarnholidays.co.uk

Trevose Harbour House, St Ives, www.trevosehouse.co.uk

CAFÉ & TEAROOM OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Expowest Cornwall www.expowestcornwall.co.uk

Gold

The Waymarker, Falmouth, www.thewaymarker.co.uk

Silver

Boscastle Farm Shop & Café, Boscastle, www.boscastlefarmshop.co.uk

Bronze

Picnic Cornwall Ltd, Falmouth, www.picniccornwall.co.uk

Trengwainton Tearooms, Penzance, www.trengwaintontearooms.com

CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK

Sponsored by Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions www.cata.co.uk

Gold

Padstow Touring Park, Padstow, www.padstowtouringpark.co.uk

Silver

Wooda Farm Holiday Park, Bude, www.wooda.co.uk

Bronze

Trevornick Holiday Park, Holywell Bay, www.trevornick.co.uk

DOG FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION

Sponsored by Jo Downs Glass Design www.jodowns.com

Gold

Whalesborough Cottages, Bude, www.whalesborough.co.uk

Silver

Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park, Padstow, www.motheriveysbay.com

HOLIDAY PARK & VILLAGE

Sponsored by Stephens Scown solicitors www.stephens-scown.co.uk

Gold

Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park, Padstow, www.motheriveysbay.com

Silver

Trevella Park, Newquay, www.trevella.co.uk

Bronze

Perran Sands Holiday Park, Perranporth, www.haven.com/perransands

HOLIDAY RESORTS & LARGE SELF CATERING

Sponsored by Wolf Rock www.wolfrockmarketing.co.uk

Gold

The Olde House, Wadebridge, www.theoldehouse.co.uk

Silver

Whalesborough Cottages, Bude, www.whalesborough.co.uk

Bronze

Piran Meadows, White Cross, www.piranmeadows.co.uk

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