TOURISM businesses from across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly were celebrating on Thursday night at the largest ever celebration of tourism excellence.

After seven months of assessing evidence and a rigorous three-phase judging process, the winners of this year’s Cornwall Tourism Awards have been announced.

Now in their 17th year, the awards saw 80 awards presented across 26 different categories, with new ones this year for Tourism Innovation and New Business.

It was the first time the awards had been held in Truro Cathedral, with a record 398 guests attending.

Local winners included the Pandora Inn at Restronguet, which retained its gold award in the Tourism Pub of the Year category, while the Heron Inn at Malpas was highly commended.

Falmouth businesses took the top two awards in B&B and Guesthouse of the Year, with The Sandy Duck taking gold and Chelsea House silver.

Porthleven Food Festival won silver in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year category.

Glendurgan Garden won bronze in the Large Attraction of the Year category, with Trelissick Garden taking silver, as well as a highly commended for Wildlife Friendly Tourism, in which Paradise Park at Hayle won joint bronze.

The Natural Health Spa at Budock Vean Hotel won bronze in the Spa, Pampering and Wellbeing Experience category, with the Idle Rocks at St Mawes bronze in Small Hotel/Boutique Accommodation and joint bronze in Restaurant/Bistro of the Year. The Alverton in Truro won bronze in Large Hotel.

Geevor Tin Mine at Pendeen won silver in International Visitor Experience of the Year and Treasure Trails at Truro took a silver in the Learning Experience category.

Top winner on the night was Railholiday, self catering railway carriage holiday accommodation, which picked up the prestigious Winner of Winners trophy alongside three further trophies.

There was a surprise special award for the team of the TV show Doc Martin, for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism, with executive producer Mark Crowdy only expecting to give a speech.

Awards organiser Robin Barker told all winners: “I’d like to congratulate you for having the courage to have a go, and put yourself through what is recognised as the country’s most rigorous tourism awards judging process.”

Successful businesses in the Cornwall Awards will be fast-tracked into matching categories in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2019, to be held for the first time under Concorde at Aerospace Bristol.

For a full list of finalists see below or visit www.cornwalltourismawards.org.uk.