2020 Dorset Tourism Awards finalists

An awards showcase celebrating the best of the best in the local tourism industry has announced the finalists – at an 'unprecedented time' for the sector.

It's been a year like no other for tourism businesses with some struggling to stay afloat amid the pandemic.

So news that businesses from west Dorset have made the shortlist of the 2020 Dorset Tourism Awards will come as a very welcome boost.

Local entries include Bridport Tourist Information Centre, a previous winner which is a finalist in two categories - Visitor Information Service of the Year and for the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award.

The West Bay Discovery Centre, a previous Gold award winner, and the West Bay Play Area, a previous Bronze award winner, are both competing in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award category. The Discovery Centre is also Commended in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category.

Other local finalists include Bridport's Bull Hotel (Hotel of the Year); The Half Moon, Melplash (Pub of the Year); Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster (Glamping Business of the Year); White Star Running's Run Jurassic 2019 (Tourism Event/Festival of the Year); Dorset House, Lyme Regis (B&B and Guesthouse of the Year). The Tunnel Tree Tops is Commended in the New Tourism Business Award category.

Meanwhile, Kellie Court, cafè manager at the Tangerine Café & Gallery in Beaminster is a finalist in the Unsung Hero Award in recognition of the contribution she has made since the business opened in 2019.

Organisers say the eighth year of the competition has been run in 'unprecedented times for tourism' – but the focus on excellence and feedback for entrants has remained as relevant as ever.

The awards cover the period from mid 2019 to September 2020.

Awards organiser Robin Barker said: “The past 10 months have been a challenge for everyone – to survive let alone prosper. Having considered abandoning the Awards I’m so glad we persevered, adapting and changing along the way. The delight we’re witnessing amongst finalists on being told of their success makes it all so worthwhile.”

The finalists were announced after an extended ten-month programme. A total of 91 entries were received, with 60 selected as finalists who are now in suspense until awards day scheduled for February 4.

Clare Bushby of headline sponsors Clockwork Marketing said: “The Dorset Tourism Awards are more vital than ever before. They provide normality during a surreal time, where everything seems weighted against hospitality. Equally as important, they give credit—where credit is more than due.

"Rather than despairing, entrants into this year’s awards have been remarkably inventive when faced with the impact of coronavirus. They have shown, against all the odds, that a pandemic needn’t stand in the way of excellent hospitality. This is in no small part due to their unflinching resolve and unbreakable passion for their industry."

Chairman of the Judging Panel Professor Peter Jones added: “Dorset tourism, like tourism the world over, is demonstrating resilience and fortitude in coping with the impact and implications of Covid-19 in some amazing ways."

2020/21 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS

FINALISTS & COMMENDED (in alphabetical order)

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD

Finalists

Ellwood Cottages, Blandford

HolidayInDorset – Birchcroft, Ferndown

West Bay Discovery Centre

West Bay Play Area – Bridport Town Council

Commended

Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth

B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Dorset House, Lyme Regis

Mory House Bed & Breakfast, Southbourne

St John’s Guest House, Weymouth

Commended

Channel View Guesthouse, Weymouth

BUSINESS EVENTS & WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth

Upton Country Park

CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth

Picnic Park Deli, Bournemouth

Seasons Kitchen and Coffee Barn, Ringwood

Commended Upton Country Park Tea Rooms

CASUAL DINING AWARD

Finalists

Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Weymouth

Oriel on the Quay, Poole

Peppina, Swanage

DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth

Upton Country Park, Poole

Commended

Polygon Pets Ltd, Poole

ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD

Finalists

Bridport Tourist Information Centre

Farmstead Glamping, Sturminster Newton

Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth

Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington

Commended

English Oak Vineyard, Poole

EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR (ACTIVE OR LEARNING)

Finalists

Fore / Adventure, Studland

Jurassic Coast Guides, Milborne St Andrew

Shore Campers, Bournemouth

GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster

Farmstead Glamping, Sturminster Newton

HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth

RNLI College, Poole

The Bull Hotel, Bridport

The Grange at Oborne, near Sherborne

INTERNATIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

Winner to be announced on the day

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, Bournemouth

The Tank Museum, Bovington

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD

Finalists

Hammoon Manor – Luxury Retreat ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, Sturminster Newton

Shore Campers, Bournemouth

The Cross Keys, Sherborne

Commended

The Tunnel Tree Tops, Charmouth

PUB OF THE YEAR

Finalists

The Cross Keys, Sherborne

The Half Moon, Melplash

The Milton Arms, Blandford

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Al Molo, Weymouth

Moose Kitchen, Bournemouth

Zim Braai Ltd, Poole,

Commended

Shalims Indian Restaurant, Weymouth

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Burnbake Forest Lodges & Campsite, Corfe Castle

Dove House and Swallows, near Dorchester

Hammoon Manor – Luxury Retreat ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, Sturminster Newton

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Finalists

English Oak Vineyard, Poole

Nothe Fort, Weymouth

Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington

Commended

Dorset Falconry Park, near Dorchester

West Bay Discovery Centre

TOURING CAMPING & CARAVANNING AND HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Durdle Door Holiday Park, Lulworth

South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster

Swanage Coastal Park

TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Dorset Festivals Consortium – Dorset Moon 2019

Sculpture by the Lakes – Dorset Arts Festival 2020, Pallington

White Star Running – Run Jurassic 2019, Bridport

TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD

Finalists

Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington

The Grange at Oborne

UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Finalists

Heather Brown, Dorset Foodie Feed

Kellie Court, Tangerine Café & Gallery, Beaminster

Yessica Falcon, Bournemouth Tourist Information Centre

VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Bridport Tourist Information Centre

Shaftesbury Tourist Information Centre

WINNER OF WINNERS

To be announced on the day