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
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Sponsored by Great Western Railway
www.gwr.com
Gold
St Michael's Mount, Marazion, www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk
Silver
Trebah Garden, Falmouth, www.trebah-garden.co.uk
LARGE ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Triodos Bank www.triodos.co.uk
Gold
Eden Project, Bodelva, www.edenproject.com
Silver
Trebah Garden, Falmouth, www.trebah-garden.co.uk
Bronze
National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth, www.nmmc.co.uk
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hotel Perfect www.hotelperfect.co.uk
Gold
Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate, St Ives, www.carbisbayhotel.co.uk
Silver
The Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth, www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO CORNISH TOURISM
Sponsored by Visit Cornwall www.visitcornwall.com
Pat Smith of Bosinver Farm Cottages www.bosinver.com
PUB OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by SBC property www.sbcproperty.com
Gold
The Ship Inn, Wadebridge, www.shipinnwadebridge.com
Silver
The Rising Sun, Truro, www.risingsuntruro.co.uk
Bronze
The Pandora Inn, Falmouth, www.pandorainn.com
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Holiday Cornwall www.holidaycornwall.co.uk
Gold
Trewithen Restaurant, Lostwithiel, www.trewithenrestaurant.com
Silver
The Dining Room restaurant, Rock, www.thediningroomrock.co.uk
Bronze
Paul Ainsworth at Number 6, Padstow, www.number6inpadstow.co.uk
SELF CATERING
Sponsored by Quality in Tourism www.qualityintourism.com
Gold
Treworgey Cottages, Liskeard, www.cornishdreamcottages.co.uk
Silver
Glynn Barton Cottages, Bodmin, www.glynnbarton.co.uk
Bronze
Boscrowan Farm, Penzance, www.boscrowan.co.uk
Roundhouse Barn Holidays, St Just in Roseland, www.roundhousebarnholidays.co.uk
Commended
The Sea Garden Cottages, Isles of Scilly, www.tresco.co.uk/staying-on-tresco/sea-garden-cottages
SMALL ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Seymac Distribution
www.seymacdistribution.com
Gold
Screech Owl Sanctuary, St Columb, www.screechowlsanctuary.co.uk
Silver
Wheal Martyn, St Austell, www.wheal-martyn.com
Bronze
Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Penzance, www.penleehouse.org.uk
Commended
Trewidden Garden, Penzance, www.trewiddengarden.co.uk
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Francis Clark www.francisclark.co.uk
Gold
Hell Bay Hotel, Isles of Scilly, www.hellbay.co.uk
Silver
Talland Bay Hotel, Looe, www.tallandbayhotel.co.uk
Bronze
The Alverton Hotel, Truro, www.thealverton.co.uk
Commended
The Godolphin Arms, Marazion, www.godolphinarms.co.uk
SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE
Sponsored by Brewer and Bunney www.brewerandbunney.co.uk
Gold
The Headland Hotel & Spa, Newquay, www.headlandhotel.co.uk
Silver
The Scarlet Spa, Mawgan Porth, www.scarlethotel.co.uk
Bronze
Tresco Leisure Spa, Isles of Scilly, www.tresco.co.uk
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Sponsored by Skinner’s Brewery www.skinnersbrewery.com
Gold
Railholiday Ltd, Saltash, www.railholiday.co.uk
Silver
Eden Project, Bodelva, www.edenproject.com
Bronze
The Pandora Inn, Falmouth, www.pandorainn.com
Commended
Bedknobs, Bodmin, www.bedknobs.co.uk
Roundhouse Barn Holidays, St Just in Roseland, www.roundhousebarnholidays.co.uk
TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Nixon www.nixondesign.com
Gold
Padstow Christmas Festival, Padstow, www.padstowchristmasfestival.co.uk
Silver
The Great Cornish Food Festival, Truro, www.greatcornishfood.co.uk
Bronze
Looe Music Festival, Looe, www.looemusic.co.uk
TOURIST INFORMATION SERVICE
Sponsored by MiHi www.mihidigital.co.uk
Gold
Bodmin Visitor Information Centre, Bodmin, www.bodminlive.com
Silver
Launceston Tourist Information Centre, Launceston, www.visitlaunceston.co.uk
UNSUNG HERO AWARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Sponsored by South West Water Business Services www.swwbusiness.co.uk
Geoffrey Pearce of The Godolphin Arms, Marazion, www.godolphinarms.co.uk
VENUE & BUSINESS TOURISM
Sponsored by Christie & Co www.christie.com
Gold
The Headland Hotel & Spa, Newquay, www.headlandhotel.co.uk
Silver
Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate, St Ives, www.carbisbayhotel.co.uk
Bronze
Polhawn Fort, Torpoint, www.polhawnfort.com
WILDLIFE FRIENDLY BUSINESS AWARD
Sponsored by Cornwall Environmental Consultants
www.cecenvironment.co.uk
Gold
Railholiday Ltd, Saltash, www.railholiday.co.uk
Silver
Perran Sands Holiday Park, Perranporth, www.haven.com/perransands
Bronze
Forest Holidays - Deerpark, Liskeard, www.forestholidays.co.uk/south-west-england/deerpark-holidays
Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary, Looe, www.monkeysanctuary.org
Commended
Trevella Park, Newquay, www.trevella.co.uk
WINNER OF WINNERS
Sponsored by St Austell Brewery www.staustellbrewery.co.uk
Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park, Padstow, www.motheriveysbay.com
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