2024/25 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS
FINALISTS & COMMENDED (in alphabetical order)
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth University Business School
Finalists
- Brownsea Island – National Trust, Poole
- Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
- Studland Bay, National Trust, Studland
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Goadsby
Finalists
- Channel View Guesthouse, Weymouth
- The Gresham Guest House, Weymouth
BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by sponsored by Saffery
Finalists
- Lighthouse, Poole
- Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
- Merley House Events, Wimborne
Commended
- Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Clipper
Finalists
- Compton Acres Café Tearooms, Poole
- Garden Gate Tea Room, Wareham
- The Upwey Wishing Well Tearoom and Water Gardens, Weymouth
CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Holidaymaker App
Finalists
- Back of Beyond Touring, Camping & Glamping Park, St Leonards
- Coppet Hill Partners, Bridport
- Monkton Wyld Holiday Park, Bridport
- South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster
CASUAL DINING AWARD, sponsored by Dorset Food & Drink
Finalists
- Poco Pizza, Lyme Regis
- Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Polygon Pets
Finalists
- Back of Beyond Touring, Camping & Glamping Park, St Leonards
- Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington
Commended
- Lulworth Castle & Park, Wareham
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD, sponsored by Voltshare
Finalists
- Careys Secret Garden, Wareham
- West Dorset Leisure Holidays Highlands End, Bridport
Commended
- Sandford Holiday Park Parkdean Resorts, Poole
EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Les Enfants Terribles
Finalists
- Osprey Cruises - Birds of Poole Harbour, Wareham
- Alpaca Trekking Experience – Longthorns Farm, Wareham
- Hidden Dorset Half Day - Sea Kayak Dorset, Portland
- Yoga Retreat, Mellulah Yoga Retreats, Evershot
GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Anytime Booking
Finalists
- Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, Beaminster
- Longthorns Farm, Wareham
- Loose Reins Dorset, Blandford Forum
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tozers
Finalists
- To be announced at the Awards event
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AWARD, sponsored by Dorset LEP
Finalists
- To be announced at the Awards event
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Booking.com
Finalists
- Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch
- Moonfleet Manor Hotel, Weymouth
Commended
- Holiday Inn, Bournemouth
- RNLI College, Poole
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Resort Dorset
Finalists
- Brownsea Island – National Trust, Poole
- Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester
- Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole
- Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Ashley Heath
Commended
- Nothe Fort (operated by Weymouth Civic Society), Weymouth
- Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO DORSET TOURISM, sponsored by NFU Mutual Bournemouth
- To be announced at the Awards event
PUB OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Black Cow Vodka
- The Acorn Inn, Dorchester
- The Langton Arms, Blandford Forum
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Winederful
Finalists
- Al Molo, Dorchester
- St Tropez Lounge, Poole
- The Jetty, Christchurch
- Upper Deck Restaurant, Christchurch
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Quality in Tourism
Finalists
- Greenwood Grange, Dorchester
- Manor Farm Barns Dorset, Melbury Abbas
- 2 Coastguards Cottage, Wareham
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Hospitality Assured
Finalists
- To be announced at the Awards event
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by AGI
Finalists
- Careys Secret Garden, Wareham
- Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe
- Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne
- Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington
Commended
- West Bay Discovery Centre, Bridport
TOURISM EVENT / FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Tomorrows Travel
Finalists
- Arts by the Sea 2023, Bournemouth
- Bournemouth Writing Festival 2024, Bournemouth
- Inside Out Dorset 2023, Dorchester
- Swanage Regatta & Carnival 2024, Swanage
Commended
UNSUNG HERO AWARD, sponsored by VisitDorset
Finalists
- Jenny Ashley, Monkton Wyld Holiday Park, Bridport
- Charlie Brazier, Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole
WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by The Little House Dorset
Finalists
- Abbots Court, Blandford Forum
- Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe
- Lulworth Castle & Park, Wareham
Commended
- Merley House Events, Wimborne
WINNER OF WINNERS sponsored by Dorset LEP
- To be announced at the Awards Event
2023/24 DORSET TOURISM AWARDS
WINNERS & COMMENDED (in alphabetical order)
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth University Business School
Gold
- Dorset Museum, Dorchester
Silver
Bronze
- Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
- The Tank Museum, Bovington
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Goadsby
Gold
- Alexander Lodge, Bournemouth
Silver
- Barton Cottage Bed and Breakfast, Dorchester
BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by NFU Mutual Bournemouth
Gold
- Lighthouse, Poole
Silver
- Dorset Museum, Dorchester
- The Tank Museum, Bovington
Bronze
- Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Dorset Tea
Gold
- Upwey Wishing Well Tearooms, Weymouth
Silver
- Compton Acres Café Tearooms, Poole
Bronze
- Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth
- The Story Pig, Sherborne
CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Anytime Booking
Gold
- Wareham Forest Tourist Park, Wareham
Silver
- Norden Farm Campsite, Wareham
- South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster
Bronze
- Coppet Hill Camping and Glamping, Bridport
Commended
- Burnbake Forest Lodges and Campsite, Corfe Castle
CASUAL DINING AWARD sponsored by Dorset Food & Drink
Gold
- MezeBag – Baraca Restaurant, Bournemouth
Silver
- Lolas Restaurant, Bournemouth
Bronze
- Poco Pizza, Lyme Regis
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Saffery
Gold
- Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport
Silver
- Pause Cat Café, Bournemouth
Bronze
- Warmwell Holiday Park, Weymouth
EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Sunflower Social Media
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Commended
- Mellulah Therapy & Yoga Retreat, Evershot
FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY AWARD sponsored by NFU Mutual, Bournemouth
Gold
- Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tozers
Gold
- Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport
Silver
- Durdle Door Holiday Park, Wareham
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Guestline
Gold
- Holiday Inn, Bournemouth
Silver
- Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch
Bronze
- The Nici, Bournemouth
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Baboo Gelato
Gold
- Dorset Museum, Dorchester
Silver
- The Tank Museum, Bovington
Bronze
- Lighthouse, Poole
Commended
- The Oceanarium, Bournemouth Aquarium, Bournemouth
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD sponsored by Visit Dorset
Gold
- English Cottage Vacation, Shaftesbury
Silver
- The Queen’s Arms, Sherborne
Bronze
- Rudge Farm Cottages, Bridport
Commended
- Weymouth Land Train, Weymouth
PUB OF THE YEAR sponsored by Black Cow Vodka
Gold
- The Acorn Inn, Dorchester
Silver
Bronze
- The Queen’s Arms, Sherborne
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Hall & Woodhouse
Gold
- St Tropez Lounge, Poole
Silver
- Restaurant Les Enfants Terribles, Weymouth
Bronze
- The Jetty Restaurant, Christchurch
- Upper Deck Restaurant in Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch
Commended
- The Oyster & Fish House, Lyme Regis
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Booking.com
Gold
- Bournemouth Beach Lodges, Bournemouth
Silver
- Rudge Farm Cottages, Bridport
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Quality in Tourism
Gold
- Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorchester
Silver
- Kings Arms Hotel, Christchurch
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Resort Dorset
Gold
- Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Silver
- Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne
- Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth
Bronze
- Shire Hall Museum, Dorchester
Commended
- Compton Acres, Poole
- Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, Bournemouth
TOURISM EVENT / FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Les Enfants Terribles
Gold
- Arts by the Sea Festival 2022, Bournemouth
Silver
- Tankfest 2023, Bovington
Bronze
- Swanage Regatta and Carnival 2023, Swanage
Commended
- Shire Hall Christmas Market 2022, Dorchester
UNSUNG HERO AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Tourism
Gold
- Rosanna Dean, The Tank Museum, Bovington
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Holidaymaker App
Gold
- Swanage Information Centre, Swanage
Silver
WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Touch Stay
Gold
- Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe
Silver
Bronze
- Dorset Museum Weddings, Dorchester
- Kings Arms Hotel, Christchurch
WINNER OF WINNERS sponsored by Dorset LEP
- Dorset Museum, Dorchester