Dorset Tourism Awards 2013 16 November 2013

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A celebration of excellence Can we help you to reduce the burden of VAT? By careful planning we have helped many clients in the hospitality industry reduce their VAT liabilities. For more information contact: Andrew Alder, Bournemouth T: 01202 204733 or Michael Strong, Bristol T: 0117 915 1617. www.saffery.com

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Dorset Tourism Awards 2013

2 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

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Special night for tourism achievements

BY EVA JONES wdnews@b-nm.co.uk It was an emotional and ground-breaking evening on Thursday as Dorset celebrated its best at the inaugural Dorset Tourism Awards ceremony, held in the fitting location of The Tank Museum, Bovington.

The evening saw 39 awards presented to winners from across the county, with several multiple winners including the Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne, National Trust Brownsea Island, The Inn at Cranborne and BridgeHouse Hotel in Beaminster. West Dorset Leisure Holidays also shone out as Gold winner in two categories, with its managing director, Martin Cox, receiving a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism.

The Dorset Tourism Awards were launched in June this year, following extensive liaison between their founder, Robin Barker, and local tourism leaders. Mr Barker was both proud and excited at the awards event, saying: “Dorset offers something special, yet for various reasons has not always punched its weight as a top destination – that’s why some 10 months ago my colleagues and I started liaising with the industry here in Dorset to assess the demand for your own Dorset Tourism Awards. The response we had surprised us all.”

The awards attracted 60 entries in 12 different categories, each undergoing a rigorous three-stage judging process comprising initial scoring, visits by a team of mystery shoppers and final assessment by an independent judging panel. Chair of the panel, Professor Peter Jones, said: “I was delighted to act as chair of the judging for the Dorset Tourism Awards and very impressed with the quality of the submissions. We have excellent tourism businesses in Dorset and to be involved in recognising them in this way has been a privilege and a pleasure.

“Dorset can often be overlooked as a premier tourist destination, but the quality of our tourism businesses is testament to the excellence of which we should be proud.

This is reflected in the submis-

sions for the Dorset Tourism Awards and all entrants should be complimented on how well they contribute to what Dorset has to offer.”

A capacity audience of 160 guests enjoyed the awards ceremony, which was hosted in the Tamiya Hall in the heart of the Tank Museum, surrounded by an array of tanks.

Andrew Alder, partner at Headline Sponsors Saffery Champness, said: “We are delighted that tonight’s dinner at the Tank Museum is a sell-out.

The support from entrants and other local organisations for this, the inaugural year of the awards, has been amazing and as part of the celebrations, we have decided to present a further special award this evening for the most entrepreneurial business.”

The special award for innovation and entrepreneurship

39

The number of awards that were presented to people in the county

And the winners are...

Meet and salute the winners of the 2013 Dorset Tourism Awards – Pages 4&5 went to Beach Weddings Bour nemouth.

Sherbor ne’s Eastbury Hotel took the Winner of Winners awards for its consistency of excellence and its ambassadorial role for Dorset, while Geof Curtis, a volunteer on Brownsea Island, took the Gold for Outstanding Customer Service. The other special award was for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism, which was presented to the aforementioned Martin Cox, managing director of West Dorset Leisure Holidays, for his 30 plus years of innovative contribution to tourism in Dorset, the South West and the holiday park sector.

Successful businesses in the Dorset Awards will now be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in January 2014 and then possibly on to the National Visit England Awards later in 2014.

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£85m fossil pit to give fascinating insight to our prehistoric world Plans for an £89 million “prehistoric Eden Project” showcasing the world-class fossils of the Jurassic Coast have been revealed, writes Tina Rowe.

The project, named Jurassica, would see a gigantic hole on Portland covered with a light spider web-like translucent roof to create a spectacular subterranean geological park.

The plan is the brainchild of London-based science journalist Michael Hanlon, who used to live in Dorset and hunted for fossils there as a child.

He described it as “the most economic development in West Dorset” which could produce 200 jobs. The team is speaking to potential investors before applying for Heritage Lottery funding.

The project would be designed by international architect Renzo Piano, and is supported by patron Sir David Attenborough. Sir Tim Smit, the driving force behind the successful Eden Project in Cornwall, is a trustee and the engineering is being led by the team responsible for the Eden Project and the refurbishment of Sydney Opera House.

Jurassica would be sited in Yeolands Pit, a 120ft deep, 300ft wide hole at Broadcroft

‘Jurassica would be the world’s first carbon-negative large visitor attraction’ Science journalist Michael Hanlon

Two stunning images of the best of Dorset, courtesy of award-winning Dorset photographer Richard Austin. Far left, above: a fishing boat leaves the harbour at Lyme Regis in Dorset. The mist clings to the ocean from where the River Char flows into the sea at Charmouth. Far left, below: part of Dorset’s impressive Tank Museum, in Bovington, where the awards ceremony was held. Above, main image: fossil hunting on the celebrated Jurassic Coast at Charmouth

Quarry. It is one third the size of the Millennium Dome.

The pit is owned by Portland Stone Firms Ltd and is now redundant.

Jurassica would be an educational and heritage-focused charitable trust and act as a hub for the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mr Hanlon says visitors would be presented with a stunning visage as they emerge into the quarry – the world of 140 million years ago come to life against a unique backdrop of in-situ strata and fossils. Fauna and flora of the Mesozoic era would also be represented, including dinosaurs, marine reptiles, invertebrates and plants.

Mr Hanlon has presented his scheme to the Jurassic Coast Partnership of authorities and stakeholders along the coast which runs from East Devon to Poole. A spokesman said yesterday it is “watching with interest”.

Palaeontologists have been concerned for some time that important fossils found on the coast could disappear into private or foreign collections because there is no major local showplace for them, although there are a number of smaller museums. Fossil-hunters are generally keen to see their finds be put on public display.

Mr Hanlon said the team would “use the backdrop of Portland and its famous stone

to best advantage building an environmentally sympathetic and green structure. Jurassica would be the world’s first carbon-negative large visitor attraction.”

Tim Clothworthy, estates manager for Portland Stone Firms Ltd, said: “We have had a meeting with Mike Hanlon and are working closely with the team. We are very positive and supportive.”

Broadcroft quarry has produced fossils such as ammonites and fish, and parts of giant tree trunks. Part of it is a nature reserve.

Yeolands Pit was created as the company quarried below the high quality stone so famously used for buildings worldwide and into the “churt” layer used for aggregate. Eventually it hit the clay beds below, so the pit is now redundant, but has a remarkable “stratigraphic column” showing a complete slice through time.

Businesses and organisations are invited to a dinner and presentation with Mr Hanlon on December 2 to learn how they can become involved.

It will be East Cliff Hotel, Grove Road, Bournemouth and sponsored by High Speed Ferries.

4 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS THE 2013 WINNERS

Bed & breakfast and guest accommodation of the year sponsored by Goadsby www.goadsby.com GOLD Launceston Farm B&B, Blandford Forum www.launcestonfarm.co.uk SILVER The Inn at Cranborne, Cranborne www.theinnatcranborne.co.uk BRONZE The White House, Charmouth www.whitehousehotel.com Tourism information service Sponsored by Anytime Booking www.anytimebooking.co.uk JOINT GOLD Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre, Lyme Regis www.visit-dorset.com and Poole Welcome Centre, Poole www.pooletourism.com BRONZE Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham www.visit-dorset.com Holiday park of the year Sponsored

by NatWest www.natwest.com GOLD Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport www.highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk SILVER South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk BRONZE Rockley Park, Hamworthy www.rockleypark.co.uk

Brownsea Island, managed by the National Trust and always popular with tourists

Best tourism activity, sport & experience Sponsored by Take One Media www.takeonemedia.co.uk GOLD National Trust Brownsea Island, Poole www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ brownsea SILVER Lyme Bay RIB Charter, Bridport www.lymebayribcharter.co.uk BRONZE Furleigh Estate, Bridport www.furleighestate.co.uk Special entrepreneur award Sponsored by Saffery Champness www.saffery.com Beach Weddings Bournemouth, www.beachweddingsbournemouth.co.uk Tourism event of the year Sponsored by Bournemouth University School of Tourism www.bournemouth.ac.uk/tourism GOLD Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth www.dorsetseafood.co.uk SILVER Rallye Sunseeker 2012 and 2013, Poole www.rallyesunseeker.org BRONZE The British Beach Polo Championships, Poole www.sandpolo.com COMMENDED Sherborne Abbey Festival, Sherborne www.sherborneabbey.org Hotel of the year Sponsored by Clockwork Hospitality

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www.clockworkhospitality.co.uk GOLD BridgeHouse Hotel, Beaminster www.bridge-house.co.uk SILVER Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk BRONZE Hotel Miramar, Bournemouth www.miramar-bournemouth.com Sustainable tourism award Sponsored by A Head for PR www.aheadforpr.co.uk GOLD Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport www.highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk SILVER Captains Club Hotel, Christchurch www.captainsclubhotel.com Self catering establishment of the year Sponsored by Pavey Group – www.paveygroup.co.uk GOLD Greenwood Grange, Dorchester www.greenwoodgrange.co.uk SILVER Dove House and Swallows, Dorchester www.dovehousedorset.co.uk COMMENDED Dream Cottages, Weymouth www.dream-cottages.co.uk Outstanding customer service award Sponsored by Source for Business www.sourceforbusiness.co.uk GOLD Geof Curtis of National Trust Brownsea Island, Poole www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea Eating out award Sponsored by Darren Northeast PR www.darrennortheast.co.uk GOLD Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk JOINT SILVER Arbor Restaurant at The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth www.arbor-restaurant.co.uk and Highcliff Grill at the Marriott, Bournemouth www.highcliffgrill.co.uk BRONZE Beaminster Brasserie, Beaminster www.beaminsterbrasserie.co.uk Visitor attraction of the year Sponsored by Resort South West www.resortsouthwest.com GOLD National Trust Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingstonlacy SILVER The Tank Museum, Bovington www.tankmuseum.org JOINT BRONZE Farmer Palmers, Organford www.farmerpalmers.co.uk and Sandworld, Weymouth www.sandworld.co.uk Tourism pub of the year Sponsored

by Horsey Lightly Fynn www.hlflaw.co.uk GOLD The Inn at Cranborne, Cranborne www.theinnatcranborne.co.uk JOINT BRONZE Lulworth Cove Inn, West Lulworth www.lulworth-coveinn.co.uk and The Old Granary, Wareham www.theoldgranarywareham.co.uk Outstanding contribution to tourism Sponsored by Services for Tourism www.services4tourism.co.uk Martin Cox, Managing Director of West Dorset Leisure Holidays www.wdlh.co.uk Winner of winners Sponsored by the Dorset LEP www.dorsetlep.co.uk Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk

Can we help you to reduce the burden of VAT? By careful planning we have helped many clients in the hospitality industry reduce their VAT liabilities. For more information contact: Andrew Alder, Bournemouth T: 01202 204733 or Michael Strong, Bristol T: 0117 915 1617. www.saffery.com

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Hotel owners ‘thrilled’ after being picked out as the best

BY EVA JONES wdnews@b-nm.co.uk

Award-winning Brownsea Island is dramatically located in Poole Harbour, with spectacular views across to the Purbeck Hills. Thriving natural habitats – including woodland, heathland and a lagoon – create a unique haven for wildlife, such as the rare red squirrel and a wide variety of birds, including dunlin, kingfishers, common and sandwich terns and oystercatchers. The Baden-Powell Outdoor Centre invites you to follow in the footsteps of Lord Baden-Powell and the very first Scouts who camped here in 1907. Groups of Scouts and Guides can camp here during the summer. Our picture, from 2012, saw the National Trust launch the play, South Deep to Blood Alley, which was staged on Brownsea Island PICTURE: CLARE GREEN

The BridgeHouse Hotel is officially the best in Dorset having scooped the Hotel of the Year Award in this year’s Dorset Tourism Awards.

The hotel’s restaurant, the Beaminster Brasserie, also picked up Bronze in the best Eating Out category at the ceremony held at the Bovington Tank Museum.

Hotel owners Mark and Joanna Donovan said: “We are totally thrilled by these awards. It’s recognition of all the hard work and dedication of all our staff through some difficult times for both Beaminster and the hotel.

“We have always believed the BridgeHouse to be a magical place to both stay and eat.

After nine years hard work, it’s wonderful to know that others agree.

“What is particularly great about the Best Hotel Award is that it appreciates our total product from food to service and bedrooms to ambiance. It involves the entire team all working towards one aim – a fantastic customer experience.”

Earlier this year the BridgeHouse also won gold in the Taste of the West Awards and has also been selected again for this year’s Good Hotel Guide and the Michelin Food Guide.

“2013 is now officially a vintage year for the BridgeHouse,” added Mark, who with his wife, Joanna, also welcomed twin girls earlier this year to the Donovan household. “It’s been a momentous year every which way. Now we’re looking forward to Christmas.”

The hotel will now be considered for the South West Tourism regional Awards and, if successful, may be nominated to represent the region at the national VisitEngland awards.

Mark added: “Jo and I are totally thrilled by the Gold Award for Dorset’s Hotel of the Year. We were up against some really tough opposition and so it’s particularly pleasing to have won.”

He continued: “The award has helped to top an incredible year for Jo and I both professionally and privately with the birth of our twin daughters, Tilly and Rosie. It also makes us appreciate our staff who have done such an amazing job while we have coped with our new arrivals. We’re extremely proud of their achievement.

“It’s good for our customers, too, as it shows that small can be beautiful and that the BridgeHouse truly is a very special place to stay.”

Robin Barker, founder of the awards, said on the night: “This is a momentous occasion. I have loved Dorset as a tourism destination since I was a small child, when my

The BridgeHouse Hotel is officially the best in Dorset having scooped the Hotel of the Year Award in this year’s Dorset Tourism Awards

parents took me on holiday in Charmouth. Later I went on school trips to Swanage and on countless sailing weeks in Poole, Christchurch and Lyme Regis. Every trip to this part of the world left memories of the unique landscape and – for me – those unforgettable Moores ‘Dorset Knob’ biscuits the family always headed home with.

“Dorset offers something special, yet for various reasons has not always punched its weight as a top destination – that’s why some ten months ago my colleague Nell Barrington and I started liaising with the industry here in Dorset to assess the demand for your own Dorset Tourism Awards.

“The response we had surprised us all and – although it took several months to secure enough sponsors to press the ‘go’ button, everything has been flat out ever since.”

Mr Barker saluted the awards’ headline sponsors, Saffery Champness, as well as all the category sponsors and sponsors in kind.

He said: “These awards would not have been possible

without you. It has also been a pleasure working with such an enlightened group of businesses. I must also thank our many mystery shoppers, who gave freely of their time to help identify the best among the 60 entries into this year’s awards.

“To our judging panel and its chair, Professor Peter Jones, thanks for poring over reams of reports and for making decisions based on the evidence, free of any commercial or political pressures. To the Tank Museum and all your staff, for bending over backwards to accommodate us in this unique place. Also to your local suppliers who have supplied the food tonight – North Leaze Farm, Woodsford Leaves, Yetminster Farms and the Dorset blueberry company.”

Mr Barker finished by saying: “ I must thank you – the awards entrants – for investing your time in applying and in helping drive up the quality of visitor experience to Dorset and of Dorset as a world-class destination. Many thanks to you all.”

6 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

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Abbey among the honoured The Dorset Tourism Awards were launched in June this year, following extensive liaison between their founder, Robin Barker, and local tourism leaders.

Mr Barker said: “Dorset offers something special, yet for various reasons has not always punched its weight as a top destination – that’s why some 10 months ago my colleagues and I started liaising with the industry here in Dorset to assess the demand for your own Dorset Tourism Awards. The response we had surprised us all.”

The awards attracted 60 entries in 12 different categories, each undergoing a rigorous three-stage judging process comprising initial scoring, visits by a team of mystery shoppers and final assessment by an independent judging panel.

Successful businesses in the Dorset Awards will now be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in January 2014 and then possibly on to the National Visit England Awards later in 2014.

■ Sherborne Abbey has been

nominated as one of the nation’s 60 “favourite churches” by Camila Batmanghelidjh CBE, the founder and director of Kids Company, a charity which works with vulnerable children and young people.

The Abbey’s annual Music Festival has been given the Highly Commended award in the Tourism Event of the Year category at the Dorset Tourism Awards held at the Dorset Tank Museum, Bovington.

In his pew sheet, The Vicar of Sherborne Eric Woods says: “For a parish church to be up there challenging large commercial and sporting ventures is pretty remarkable.”

John Baker, the festival’s director, collected the engraved glass trophy on the night, and it can now be seen in the parish office.

Lyme Bay Rib Charter, main picture top, and above, the Jurassic Coast at Charmouth, by photographer Richard Austin. Inset right: Sherborne Abbey’s annual Music Festival has been given the Highly Commended award in the ‘ourism Event of the Year category

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Eastbury Hotel winning again Sherbor ne’s Eastbury Hotel had more reason to smile than most on the night of the Dorset Tourism Awards. They were afforded the accolade, Winner of Winners.

A spokesman said afterwards: “The winner of winners awards we were presented with was awarded because of our track record and consistency in other award schemes and for acting as an ambassador for excellence in Dorset. We have led the way in Dorset for several years, winning silver in the South West awards in 2009 and bronze in 2012, best restaurant 2012 and in Dorset Taste Awards, achieving gold status for five years in the Taste of the West awards and winning South West Restaurant of the Year in 2012.

“At the Dorset Tourism Awards we won silver in the hotel category, gold in eating out category and winner of winners! Although a small hotel with just 23 bedrooms we continue to punch above our weight. We really are able to offer something for everyone!”

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Whether it’s a blast through the waves or a more leisurely cruise along the coast you’re looking for, Lyme Bay Rib Charter has something on offer to suit everyone.

They say: “Our Quayside Trips run from Easter until the end of the October. The West Bay Blast is one of the fastest rides on the water. Experience for yourself the truly awesome speed and handling of a RIB, nothing comes close to the feeling you’ll get as we head along the coast at full throttle.

“Amazing value too... £9 per person and £8 for under 12s.

“The daily coastal cruise excursion is becoming extremely popular with its suitability for nearly all the family.”

The company adds: “This is the perfect way to see just how amazing the Dorset coastline and cliffs really are. Thirty minutes at sea offers enough time to view up to 16 miles of coast and millions of years of history. Outstanding value at only £10 per person and £9 for under 12s.

“During the high season, LBRC run a Water Taxi link between the coastal resorts of Lyme Regis and West Bay up to tree times per week, offering up to five hours ashore and taking the hassle out of driving and parking.”

The picturesque traditional fishing harbour of West Bay offers immediate access to the World Heritage Coastline.

LBRC operates all of its Quayside Trips from West Bay Harbour along with a number of charter and corporate options.

This Winter There’s No Better Place To Be Than

The BridgeHouse Beaminster Our 13th century boutique hotel has just won Hotel of the Year 2013 in the Dorset Tourism Awards

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No better way to enjoy this fine view West Bay has plenty of car parking and offers a wide range of places to eat and drink from a bacon roll to fine seafood restaurants.

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8 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

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Proud to sponsor the Dorset Tourism Awards 2013

Saffery Champness provides commercial, tax and accountancy advice to private clients, business owners and their businesses across the UK. Our aim is to build long-term relationships with our clients in order to assist them in the creation and preservation of wealth.

For a no-obligation discussion about how we could assist you, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Andrew Alder, Partner Bournemouth T: +44 (0)1202 204744 E: andrew.alder@saffery.com

Michael Strong, Partner Bristol T: +44 (0)117 915 1617 E: michael.strong@saffery.com

www.saffery.com

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