The Results are in for the Beautiful South Awards 2013-2014
Champagne corks popped as the results of this year’s Beautiful South Awards were announced at last night’s gala dinner and presentation ceremony. After months of anticipation nearly 300 expectant guests from tourism businesses across the South East gathered at The Felbridge Hotel in West Sussex to hear the results and share in the winners’ success.
Now running for over twenty years the Beautiful South Awards celebrate the very best the South East has to offer for all types of tourism businesses including B&Bs, hotels, holiday parks, self catering, visitor attractions as well as recognising those businesses that have gone the extra mile on accessibility, sustainability and great customer service.
The awards ceremony was co-hosted by TSE Chairman, Ken Robinson CBE and travel journalist and broadcaster Alison Rice. In welcoming guests to the event Ken Robinson thanked title sponsors Shepherd Neame for their generous support and all sponsors and partners for making the event possible.
The Gold winners for 2013-2014 included Coworth Park, a tranquil retreat in Ascot, who lifted the gold award for large hotel of the year. It was a great night for businesses in the New Forest with The Montagu Arms Hotel scooping the top accolade for small hotel of the year, the National Motor Museum and Beaulieu International Autojumble picking up gold and Hoburne in Bashley taking top spot for Holiday Park of the year. Small businesses, which are such a major part of tourism in the south east, were represented by some real gems this year. Top B&B of the year was picked up by Kester House in East Sussex and the small visitor attraction of the year was awarded to Chiltern Open Air Museum.
It was ‘same again please’ at The Feathered Nest Country Inn, but this time ‘make it a double’. This Great Country Pub received gold for the second year running as tourism pub of the year and was also awarded gold for flavour of the south east - an outstanding performance.
"Ken Robinson said: “It is great to see such excellence rewarded. These 2013 Beautiful South Awards represent the culmination of hard work and dedication by the best tourism professionals, in our best tourism businesses, that have been recognised for providing such outstanding customer experiences. I look forward to seeing our winners go on to represent the South East on the national stage at the Visit England Awards for Excellence in 2014.”
Peter Colling, Managing Director of Tourism South East added, “What a brilliant night and reminder to everyone that the South East is home to some of country’s very best tourism businesses and experiences.”
Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame said: "These awards showcase the huge breadth of attractions available in our region. The winners' innovation and dedication are helping to make the south a key destination for visitors from both home and abroad."
See #BSAWARDS for Tweets relating to the Awards.
Click HERE to see photos from the evening.
List of Finalists by Accolade
Business Tourism Award
Sponsored by Shopper Anonymous
Gold Blenheim Palace
Silver Marwell Hotel
Silver Macdonald Windsor Hotel
Highly Commended Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa
Access for All Tourism Award
Sponsored by Tourism for All
Gold Radisson Blu Edwardian Guildford Hotel
Gold Beaulieu Enterprises Limited
Highly Commended Jurys Inn Brighton
Bed and Breakfast, Guest Accommodation of the Year
Sponsored by Barclaycard
Gold Kester House Bed & Breakfast
Silver Colliers Farm Bed and Breakfast
Highly Commended The Old Vine
Highly Commended Five Arrows Hotel
Tourism Experience of the Year
Gold Weber Grill Academy
Silver The Chapel Down Winery
Silver Knights’ Glamping
Highly Commended Bill Spectre's Ghost Trails
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Flagship Consulting
Gold Chiltern Open Air Museum
Silver Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre
Highly Commended Didcot Railway Centre
Highly Commended Go Ape Black Park
Tourism Event of the Year
Gold Beaulieu International Autojumble
Silver The Hampshire Food Festival
Silver Wallingford Food Festival
Highly Commended Lingfield Park Resort - Hooves & Grooves
Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year
Sponsored by Tozers Solicitors
Gold Hoburne Bashley
Silver Crowhurst Park
Highly Commended Away Resorts Ltd
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Take One Media
Gold Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Silver Marwell Zoo
Silver Spinnaker Tower
Highly Commended The Beaney, House of Art and Knowledge
Tourism Pub of the Year
Sponsored by OBC The Accountants
Gold The Feathered Nest
Silver The Old Drum
Highly Commended The Farm @ Friday Street
Large Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by Quality in Tourism
Gold Coworth Park
Silver Lainston House Hotel
Silver Aviator – a hotel by TAG
Highly Commended Tylney Hall Hotel
Outstanding Customer Service Award
Sponsored by Welcome to Excellence
Gold West Marden Farm Accommodation - Carole Edney
Silver Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa - Colin Parkes
Highly Commended The Feathered Nest - Carl Morgan
Highly Commended Tony Read Kent Life
Sustainable Tourism Award
Sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Gold Jurys Inn Brighton
Gold Oakley Court Hotel
Silver Mapledurham Estate
Highly Commended Burford Visitor Information Centre
Small Hotel of the Year
Gold The Montagu Arms Hotel
Silver Fallowfields Hotel and Restaurant
Silver Pelham House
Silver The White Horse Hotel and Brasserie
Highly Commended Cloud Hotel
Self Catering Holiday Provider of the Year
Sponsored by Anytime Booking
Gold West Marden Farm Accommodation
Gold Corner Cottage, Nettlecombe Farm Holidays
Silver South Winchester Lodges
Flavour of the South East
Sponsored by Whitstable Bay
Gold The Feathered Nest
Silver Aviator – a hotel by TAG
Highly Commended The Old Dunnings Mill
Visitor Information Provider of the Year
Sponsored by Tourist Network
Gold Maidstone Visitor Information at Maidstone Museum
Silver Guildford Tourist Information Centre
Highly Commended Kingstonfirst
