Winners announced at Devon Tourism Awards 2011

Release Date: 23/11/2011

The cream of Devon’s tourism industry was recognised last night at the 2011 Devon Tourism Awards, attended by over 200 guests.

Exeter’s Sandy Park played host to the glitzy awards presentation presided over by favourite Devon celebrity Judi Spiers and where no fewer than 13 Gold Awards and 15 Gold Product Awards were presented to businesses across 10 categories.

East and Mid Devon businesses excelled this year and it was Gidleigh Park that stole the show by picking up Gold Awards in the Hotel of the Year and Taste of Devon categories as well as scooping the prestigious ‘Winner of Winners’ award.

Rosie Bates, General Manager of Visit Devon commented: “Picking up three awards is a tremendous achievement and we congratulate Gidleigh Park for leading the way in demonstrating the exceptional quality and excellence on offer to visitors to Devon.

“We are thrilled for all the businesses that have received awards and wish the best of luck to those going forward into the regional and national awards.” Alongside Gidleigh Park, Bovey Castle also picked up a Gold Award for Hotel of the Year, Finlake Holiday Park in Chudleigh won Holiday Park of the Year and Larkbeare Grange in Talaton was awarded Bed & Breakfast and Guest Accommodation of the Year.

Amongst the Silver Winners are Hembury Court at Broadhembury, Whimple-based Aerosaurus Balloons, Cobley Farm Free Range Eggs in Crediton, Ilsington Country House Hotel, Sidmouth’s Oakdown Country Holiday Park, Hedgehog Corner Guest Accommodation in Axminster, and Woodovis Park in Tavistock.

The area performed well for Bronze awards too, with awards going to Exeter Sausage and Grill and two awards to Devon Cliffs Holiday Park in Exmouth.

Successful businesses in the Devon Awards will be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2012, and possibly on to the National Visit England Awards in May next year.

The full list of winners is as follows:

SELF CATERING ESTABLISHMENT OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Pavey Group www.paveygroup.co.uk GOLD • Compton Pool Farm, Marldon www.comptonpool.co.uk SILVER • Hembury Court, Broadhembury www.hemburycourt.co.uk BRONZE • Atlantis Holiday Apartments, Torquay www.atlantistorquay.co.uk

TOURISM ACTIVITY, SPORT & EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Brewer and Bunney www.brewerandbunney.co.uk GOLD • Calvert Trust Exmoor, Kentisbury www.calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoor SILVER • Aerosaurus Balloons, Whimple www.ballooning.co.uk BRONZE • Arundell Arms Hotel, Lifton www.arundellarms.co.uk FOOD & DRINK DEVON ‘PRODUCER OF THE YEAR’ AWARD Sponsored by The Venus Company www.lovingthebeach.co.uk GOLD • Riverford Farm Foods, Staverton www.riverfordfarmshop.co.uk SILVER • Cobley Farm free range eggs, Crediton www.cobleyfarmfreerangeeggsdevon.co.uk BRONZE • Bell and Loxton LLP, Kingsbridge www.bellandloxton.co.uk • Riverford Farm Dairies, Staverton www.riverforddairy.co.uk

GOLD PRODUCT AWARDS • Bell & Loxton - Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil • Cobley Farm – Large Eggs • Cottage Kitchen – Gluten Free Carrot Cake • JB Preserves - Damson Jam; Piccalilli • Just Us Organics – Chicken Breast • Killerton Estate – Cider; Set Honey; Apple Chutney • Lovaton Farm - Dexter X Devon sirloin steak; Gloucester Old Spot dry cure back bacon • Milltop Orchard – Cox/Bramley Apple Juice; Katy Apple Juice • Moostone Meats - Coarse Farmhouse Pork Chipolatas; Beef Rump Steak • Pyman Pâtés - Free Range Chicken Liver, Tarragon & Oak Chardonnay Pâté; Smoked Mackerel with Toasted Walnuts • Pipers Farm - Red Ruby Steak; Lamb & Mint Pie • Red Rock Brewery – Back Beach light golden ale • Riverford Farm Dairies – Clotted Cream; Semi-skimmed milk; Organic Salted Butter • Riverford Farm Foods - Lemon Drizzle Cake; Stuffed Peppers with Pork • Stevie B’s Bakery - Chelsea Bun; Rye White Rustic Cob

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Devon County Council www.devon.gov.uk

GOLD • Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh www.pennywellfarm.co.uk SILVER • The Big Sheep, Bideford www.thebigsheep.co.uk • River Dart Adventures, Ashburton www.riverdart.co.uk

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD Sponsored by A Head For PR www.aheadforpr.co.uk GOLD • Wheatland Farm, Winkleigh www.wheatlandfarm.co.uk SILVER • Woodovis Park, Tavistock www.woodovis.com BRONZE • Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, Exmouth www.haven.com • National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth www.national-aquarium.co.uk HOTEL OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Colliers International www.colliers.com/uk/hotels GOLD • Bovey Castle, North Bovey www.boveycastle.com • Gidleigh Park, Chagford www.gidleigh.com SILVER • Ilsington Country House Hotel, Ilsington www.ilsington.co.uk OTHER AWARDS Sponsored by Francis Clark LLP www.francisclark.co.uk OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD • Chris Murray, Pennywell Farm HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Stephens Scown Solicitors www.stephens-scown.co.uk GOLD • Finlake Holiday Park, Chudleigh www.finlake.co.uk SILVER • Oakdown Country Holiday Park, Sidmouth www.oakdown.co.uk BRONZE • Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, Exmouth www.haven.com • Hele Valley Holiday Park, Ilfracombe www.helevalley.co.uk TASTE OF DEVON AWARD Sponsored by Food and Drink Devon www.lovetheflavour.co.uk GOLD • Gidleigh Park, Chagford www.gidleigh.com • The Lamb Inn, Sandford www.lambinnsandford.co.uk BRONZE • Exeter Sausage and Grill, Exeter www.exetersausageandgrill.co.uk

BED & BREAKFAST AND GUEST ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR Sponsored by South West Water www.southwestwater.co.uk GOLD • Larkbeare Grange, Talaton www.larkbeare.net SILVER • Hedgehog Corner Guest Accommodation, Axminster www.hedgehogcorner.co.uk WINNER OF WINNERS Sponsored by Exeter International Airport www.exeter-airport.co.uk • Gidleigh Park, Chagford www.gidleigh.com

www.devontourismawards.org.uk

For more information about Visit Devon or the Devon Tourism Awards, contact Rosie Bates, General Manager of Visit Devon, T/: 01392 382831 or M/: 07854 952 352 or E/: rosie@visitdevon.co.uk or go to www.visitdevon.co.uk .

For further press information please contact: Jane Adkins T/: 01935 813114 M/: 07960 698089 E/: jane@aheadforpr.co.uk Gail Livingstone T/: 01823 252415 M/:07767 055595 E/: gail@aheadforpr.co.uk

About Visit Devon Visit Devon is the destination management organisation responsible for promoting Devon to the world. The organisation acts as a voice for tourism in Devon and its aim is simple - to increase the number of visitors to Devon by promoting the county as a year-round destination for business or leisure. The organization brings together, adds value to and enhances the work and activities undertaken by the six Area Tourism Partnerships across the county. Visit Devon is committed to growing the tourism sector sustainably, increasing the skills within the industry, and raising the quality of the visitor experience.

Visit Devon is a public-private partnership limited by guarantee. The not for profit company comprises nine member organizations including the six Area Tourism Partnerships (Exeter and Essential Devon, Visit Plymouth, North Devon+, The Dartmoor Partnership, The English Riviera Tourist Board, and Visit South Devon) Devon County Council, The Devon Association of Tourist Attractions (Data), and Devon Farms. Visit Devon is the trading name of Destination Devon Ltd