THE best of Dorset tourism was celebrated at an awards night on Thursday (February 1).

The 11th Dorset Tourism Awards were held at Weymouth Pavilion, with hundreds of firms gathering to recognise the work of those making the county a special place to visit.

Legendary journalist Dr Kate Adie, recently announced as the new president of the Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England, was among the speakers as 65 winners were announced.

Among those to receive gongs were the 2024 Winner of Winners award to the Dorset Museum, in Dorchester; a special Unsung Hero award to the Tank Museum’s Rosanna Dean; and a further special Future of Hospitality award to Marsham Court Hotel.

Dr Kate Adie addressed the awards. Pictures: Nick Williams

Amanda Park, of sponsors Visit Dorset, said: “As proud sponsors of the Dorset Tourism Awards, we are delighted to have the opportunity to come together and celebrate the amazing variety and quality of our fantastic tourism industry, which contributes so much to our Dorset economy. Congratulations to all the finalists.”

Councillor Millie Earl, BCP Council portfolio holder for connected communities, said: “It’s great to see that so many exceptional tourism businesses from the BCP area were represented at last night’s Dorset Tourism Awards, and I add my congratulations to all the winners.”

Awards organiser Robin Barker, of Services for Tourism, added: “I want to add my congratulations to businesses that have literally wowed our independent judges.

“To deliver excellence in these times is a huge testament to their commitment and dedication.”

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.

The Dorset Tourism Business Awards took place at Weymouth Pavilion. Picture: Nick Williams

The full list of winners at the 2023/24 Dorset Tourism Awards was:

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Bournemouth University Business School
Gold: Dorset Museum, Dorchester
Silver: National Trust – Corfe, Purbeck Estate, Swanage
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: Treetop Adventure Plus – Moors Valley Go Ape, Ringwood
Silver: Durdle Door Cruise – Weymouth Bay RIB Charter, Weymouth
Bronze: Sea Train Adventure – City Cruises, Poole
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

English Cottage Vacation in Shaftesbury picked up a gold award. Pictures: Nick Williams

PUB OF THE YEAR sponsored by Black Cow Vodka
Gold: The Acorn Inn, Dorchester
Silver: The Old Thatch Pub, Kitchen & Country Store, Wimborne
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: Upton Park Visitor Welcome Centre, Poole

WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Touch Stay
Gold: Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe
Silver: The Italian Villa at Compton Acres, Poole
Bronze: Dorset Museum Weddings, Dorchester; Kings Arms Hotel, Christchurch

WINNER OF WINNERS sponsored by Dorset LEP
Dorset Museum, Dorchester

Dorset Museum was crowned the winner of winners. Pictures: Nick Williams