In a unique online awards day held over five sessions and at a time when tourism and hospitality businesses have been suffering, the Dorset Tourism Awards took place yesterday (Thursday).

The event gave away 61 awards in 22 categories, a culmination of an 11-month programme that started in March 2020.

Numerous awards were rightly given to businesses across west Dorset. Here are the winners:

West Bay Discovery Centre

The team received a silver accessible and inclusive tourism award - with West Bay Play Area gaining bronze in the same category. It also received a commended award in small visitor attraction of the year.

John West, a trustee at the centre, said: "We are delighted to have gained this prestigious award, we make every effort to cater for the needs of all our visitors.

"The centre is designed to be visitor friendly for those with mobility problems and we have an accessibility guide and a large print guide will be introduced in the coming season to help visitors with sight impairments fully enjoy what the centre has to offer.

"We are always working to improve further what we do and an audio guide is in development. This award recognises the progress we have already made in this area.

"We were also delighted that the West Bay Play Area won an award. The play area is a fantastic facility for all ages and we are within a few minutes walking distance of each other."

John added: "For the discovery centre, like other tourist and visitor attractions, 2020 was a challenging year and our success in opening the centre for four months and winning this award is a massive achievement by our manager and volunteers."

Bridport Tourist Information Centre

The service was awarded bronze in the ethical, responsible and sustainable tourism category, along with Sculpture by the Lakes in Dorchester, and was awarded gold for visitor information service of the year.

Terri Foxwell, manager of Bridport TIC, said: "I would like to thank Dorset Tourism and all the sponsors.

"After the difficult year we have all had, it is delightful to win and be recognised. The Bridport TIC has really risen to the challenge and as a manager I am so proud."

Jurassic Coast Guides

Martin, of Jurassic Coast Guides, was thrilled to be awarded gold for experience of the year, as well as for international visitor experience of the year.

He said: "After such a hard year it's great to be recognised to such a level within the tourism industry.

"This time last year I didn't even know if I was going to be able to continue my business. These awards have given me the boost to continue my hard work for the coming year and I look forward to playing my part in getting tourism back on track in Dorset.

"I'd like to thank my customers for their continued support and their trust in me to keep them safe throughout this pandemic. Their support and kind words have been key to keeping me motivated during these difficult and uncertain times."

Bull Hotel

The bull hotel picked up silver in the hotel of the year category, along with The Grange at Oborne in Sherborne.

The Half Moon, Melplash

After what has been an incredibly challenging year for the hospitality industry, it is wonderful to have some good news of The Half Moon receiving gold for pub of the year to start 2021.

Jamie Pimbley, landlord at The Half Moon, said: "2020 has been a trying year but it has given us a chance to strengthen our ties within our local community as they have shown us incredible support. Without their support, and a generous local donor who has asked to remain anonymous, we would have had a very different year.

"The lockdown in March gave us time to design a website, which was able to process our customers' orders to give the best service you could wish for.

"This award means so very much to us and our team, and has made the struggles of the last year all worthwhile."

Claire Pimbley, landlady at The Half Moon, said: "Having only just celebrated our first 'pub' birthday days before we had to close for the first lockdown last March, we were very concerned for our future at The Half Moon.

"2020 gave us time to spend time with our three sons and support them as they began their home-schooling adventure.

"Our second year has seen us transform our business to a pub at home format and we are so proud of our team who have worked so hard to enable this.

"To have been shortlisted for pub of the year was amazing, to win the gold award is just beyond what we could have hoped for. We will proudly be displaying our award in the pub to show off to our regulars when the restrictions lift and they can be welcomed back into the pub."

White Star Running

The organisers of Run Jurassic - the inaugural weekend of the official Jurassic Coast Running Festival - got gold in tourism event/festival of the year.

Race director Andy Palmer said: "We are incredibly proud and excited to receive this award. We worked very hard on this trail running event, as we do all our races, to ensure that our runners had a safe and enjoyable experience.

"Just as important to us is to ensure that we work with our local partners to help promote the natural landscape in Dorset and to preserve and support it.

"We extend our continued thanks to the Jurassic Coast Trust for choosing to work with us on this event and to make it the official Jurassic Coast Running Festival."

Dorset Forest Garden Glamping

The Beaminster business received silver in the glamping business of the year.

Unsung hero award

Kelly Court of Tangerine Café and Gallery in Beaminster, received the unsung hero award, along with Heather Brown of Dorset Foodie Feed.

Tunnel Tree Tops

The Tunnel Trees Tops got a commended in the new tourism business award.

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