Dorset tourism businesses enjoyed an explosive evening of celebrations as they descended on The Tank Museum for the 10th Dorset Tourism Awards.

For many nominees, guests and VIPs it was the first chance to meet face-to-face after two years of online events.

In total, 53 Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies were presented.

They included a Winner of Winners award to Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, a special Outstanding Contribution award to Sara Uzzell and a further special Future of Hospitality award to Bagwell Farm Touring Park.

The awards were presented by broadcaster and journalist Jordan Clark.

Jason Barber and Rachael Goring of Black Cow Vodka and The Tank Museum’s very own ‘TikTok-er’ – Paul Famojuro – also spoke at the event.

Deborah Heather, Director of headline sponsors Quality in Tourism, said: “Amazing finalists and an incredible venue.

“We are thrilled and delighted to be headline sponsor of the Dorset Tourism Awards. Simply our honour.”

Awards organiser Robin Barker, of Services for Tourism, added: “It was wonderful to celebrate with such prestigious businesses in such an incredible setting.

“Congratulations to every one of them not only for their award this evening but for everything they do, all day every day.”

Successful businesses in the Dorset Awards will now be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in March and possibly into the national VisitEngland awards later in the year.

• All pictures by Nick Williams Photography.

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2022/23 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS

WINNERS & COMMENDED (in alphabetical order)

Sponsored by Quality in Tourism

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth University Business School

Gold: Dorset Museum, Dorchester.
Silver: Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.
Bronze: Birchcroft – Hideaway, Bournemouth

B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Goadsby

Gold: The Brunswick Bed and Breakfast.
Silver: Kelston Guest House, Weymouth

BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by NFU Mutual, Bournemouth

Gold: Lighthouse, Poole.
Silver: Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.
Bronze: Dorset Museum, Dorchester.

CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Clipper

Gold: Picnic Park Deli, Bournemouth.
Silver: Taste Café at Dorset Museum, Dorchester.
Bronze: Seasons Kitchen & Coffee Barn, Ringwood.

CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Holidaymaker App

Gold: Monkton Wyld Holiday Park, Charmouth.
Silver: Longthorns Farm, Wareham.
Bronze: Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth.

DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Hoseasons

Gold: Golden Acre Jurassic Coastal Lodges, Bridport.
Silver: Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.

EATING OUT AWARD sponsored by Black Cow Vodka

Gold: Renoufs Cheese and Wine Bar (Wimborne).
Silver: The Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth.
Bronze: Restaurant Les Enfants Terribles, Weymouth.

ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth Water

Gold: The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne.
Silver: Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster.
Bronze: Green House Hotel, Bournemouth.
Commended: Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Bournemouth.

EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Quality in Tourism

Gold: Get Lost Powerboat Training, Poole.
Silver: Alpaca Walking Experience, Longthorns Farm, Wareham.
Bronze: Shore Campers – Campervan Hire, Bournemouth.
Commended: The Saltwater Sauna, Sandbanks.

FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY AWARD sponsored by NFU Mutual, Bournemouth

Gold: Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth.

GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Anytime Booking

Gold: Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster.
Silver: Hollands Farmhouse, Dorchester.

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tozers

Gold: Durdle Door Holiday Park, Lulworth.
Silver: Hoburne Park, Christchurch.

HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Mews

Gold: The PIG-on the Beach, Studland.
Silver: Captain’s Club Hotel, Christchurch.
Bronze: The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne and The King’s Arms, Dorchester
Commended: Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth, and RNLI College, Poole.

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Booking.com

Gold: Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole.
Silver: Dorset Museum, Dorchester.
Bronze: Lighthouse, Poole.

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD sponsored by Visit Dorset

Gold: Coppet Hill Partners, Bridport
Silver: The Bide, Milton Abbas

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO DORSET TOURISM sponsored by Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Tourism

Sara Uzzell

RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by Saffery Champness

Gold: Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth.
Silver: Lighthouse, Poole.

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Touch Stay

Gold: Burnbake Forest Lodges & Campsite, Corfe Castle.
Silver: Lulworth Holidays – Woodside Lodge, Lulworth.
Bronze: Hollands Farmhouse, Dorchester, and The Bide, Milton Abbas

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Baboo Gelato

Gold: Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne.
Silver: Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park, Verwood.
Bronze: Nothe Fort, Weymouth.

TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Lyme Bay Winery

Gold: Inside Out Dorset 2021 – Activate Performing Arts, Dorchester.
Silver: Sherborne Abbey Festival 2022, Sherborne.
Commended: Christmas 2021 – We are Weymouth (BID).

UNSUNG HERO AWARD sponsored by Moors Valley Country Park & Forest

Gold: Mary Pidgley, Birchcroft – Hideaway, Bournemouth.

WINNER OF WINNERS sponsored by Dorset LEP

Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole.

• Pictures courtesy of Nick Williams Photography.