Dorset tourism businesses were celebrating in numbers on Wednesday night as nominees and sponsors of the 12th Dorset Tourism Awards gathered at Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth.

The event was the conclusion of five months of independent judging as hospitality businesses of all kinds were recognised for their excellence in customer service, sustainability, digital communications and accessibility.

Guests enjoyed a presentation from Portland-based Olympic stars Etienne Stott and Laura Baldwin, who shared their tips on the importance of winning and environmental protection.

61 winner trophies were presented – including a Winner of Winners award to Careys Secret Garden and a special Outstanding Contribution award to Prof Peter Jones for his work in skills development and accessibility.

Amanda Park of Visit Dorset said: “Visit Dorset are proud sponsors of the Dorset Tourism Awards.

“As always, we were delighted to have the opportunity last night to celebrate the sheer variety and quality of businesses across the whole of Dorset’s fantastic tourism industry, which contributes so much to our Dorset economy.

“Congratulations to all the finalists!”

Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism added: “It’s such a great reward for the hardworking teams in tourism and hospitality to receive this recognition, and it’s so deserved.

“Congratulations to all the winners.”

Many of the Gold winners will also be nominated to represent Dorset in the national VisitEngland awards later in the year.

See below for a full list of this year’s winners…

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ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth University Business School

• Gold – Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
• Silver – Brownsea Island – National Trust, Poole
• Bronze – Studland Bay, National Trust, Studland

B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Goadsby

• Gold – The Gresham Guest House, Weymouth
• Silver – Channel View Guesthouse, Weymouth

BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Saffery

• Gold – Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
• Silver – Lighthouse, Poole
• Bronze – Merley House Events, Wimborne
• Commended – Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester

CAFE/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Clipper

• Gold – Compton Acres Café Tearooms, Poole
• Silver – The Upwey Wishing Well Tearoom and Water Gardens, Weymouth
• Bronze – Garden Gate Tea Room, Wareham

CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Holidaymaker App

• Gold – Monkton Wyld Holiday Park, Bridport
• Silver – Back of Beyond Touring, Camping & Glamping Park, St Leonards
  and Coppet Hill Partners, Bridport
• Bronze – South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster

CASUAL DINING AWARD sponsored by Dorset Food & Drink

• Gold – Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington
• Silver – Poco Pizza, Lyme Regis

DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Polygon Pets

• Gold – Back of Beyond Touring, Camping & Glamping Park, St Leonards
• Silver – Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington
• Commended – Lulworth Castle & Park, Wareham

ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Voltshare

• Gold – Careys Secret Garden, Wareham
• Silver – West Dorset Leisure Holidays Highlands End, Bridport
• Commended – Sandford Holiday Park Parkdean Resorts, Poole

EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Les Enfants Terribles

• Gold – Osprey Cruises – Birds of Poole Harbour, Wareham
• Silver – Hidden Dorset Half Day – Sea Kayak Dorset, Portland
• Bronze – Alpaca Trekking Experience – Longthorns Farm, Wareham
  and Yoga Retreats, Mellulah Yoga Retreats, Evershot

GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Anytime Booking

• Gold – Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster
• Silver – Loose Reins Dorset, Blandford Forum
  and Longthorns Farm, Wareham

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tozers

• Gold – Durdle Door Holiday Park, Wareham

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Dorset LEP

• Gold – Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester

LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Booking.com

• Gold – Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch
• Silver – Moonfleet Manor Hotel, Weymouth
• Commended – Holiday Inn, Bournemouth
  and RNLI College, Poole

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Resort Dorset

• Gold – Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester
• Silver – Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole
  and Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Ashley Heath
• Bronze – Brownsea Island – National Trust, Poole
• Commended – Nothe Fort (operated by Weymouth Civic Society), Weymouth
  and Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO DORSET TOURISM sponsored by NFU Mutual, Bournemouth

• Professor Peter Jones

PUB OF THE YEAR sponsored by Black Cow Vodka

• Gold – The Acorn Inn, Dorchester
• Silver – The Langton Arms, Blandford Forum

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR sponsored by Winederful

• Gold – The Jetty, Christchurch
• Silver – St Tropez Lounge, Poole
  and Upper Deck Restaurant, Christchurch
• Bronze – Al Molo, Dorchester

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Quality in Tourism

• Gold – Greenwood Grange, Dorchester
• Silver – Manor Farm Barns Dorset, Melbury Abbas
• Bronze – No. 2 Coastguards Cottage, Wareham

SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Hospitality Assured

• Gold – Summer Lodge Hotel, Evershot

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by AGI

• Gold – Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington
• Silver – Careys Secret Garden, Wareham
  and Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne
• Bronze – Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe
• Commended – West Bay Discovery Centre, Bridport

TOURISM EVENT / FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tomorrows Travel

• Gold – Arts by the Sea 2023, Bournemouth
  and Bournemouth Writing Festival 2024, Bournemouth
• Silver – Inside Out Dorset 2023, Dorchester
• Bronze – Swanage Regatta & Carnival 2024, Swanage
• Commended – Rang Barse: Colours over Corfe Castle 2024, Wareham

UNSUNG HERO AWARD sponsored by VisitDorset

• Gold – Jenny Ashley, Monkton Wyld Holiday Park, Bridport
• Silver – Charlie Brazier, Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole

WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by The Little House Dorset

• Gold – Abbots Court, Blandford Forum
• Silver – Lulworth Castle & Park, Wareham
• Bronze – Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe
• Commended – Merley House Events, Wimborne

WINNER OF WINNERS sponsored by Dorset LEP

• Careys Secret Garden, Wareham