Bridport and the surrounding area has come out on top in the Dorset Tourism Awards with businesses and organisations bringing home more than 10 awards.

The winners were announced in a day-long awards ceremony, with three further awards to be announced in May, when winners will gather at Sculpture by the Lakes.

The Station Kitchen in West Bay received gold in the Casual Dining and Restaurant Award, with gold also going to Monkton Wyld Holiday Park in Charmouth for Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year and The Acorn Inn in Evershot for Pub of the Year.

West Dorset Leisure Holidays (WDLH) received two awards. Its Highlands End Holiday Park received gold for Holiday Park of the Year, in which its Golden Cap Holiday Park in Chideock was awarded silver.

A spokesman for WDLH said: "We're over the moon to announce that we officially have the top two holiday parks in Dorset for 2021/2022.

"Highlands End has won gold for the second time, after winning in 2019 and getting silver in 2018, and Golden Cap has won silver, a fantastic achievement for our first year of entering this park in the Dorset Tourism Awards.

"There are so many fantastic holiday parks out there who are very worthy of recognition, so to have won two of the top awards in Dorset is truly fantastic. It really reflects the hard work that our teams put in.

"After a difficult couple of years in the tourism industry it was fantastic to receive such good news, even via a virtual ceremony. Dorset truly does have a lot to offer and there are some fantastic winners and finalists in the other award categories too."

Dorset Forest Garden Glamping in Beaminster also received two awards - gold for Glamping Business of the Year and silver in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award.

West Bay Discovery Centre gained gold in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award and bronze in Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.

John West, discovery centre trustee, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this achievement. Having won the new business award only two years ago and since then having to face the challenges of Covid, just to have reached the finals this time was amazing and a great accolade for all the team at the centre.

"We are only a small centre, with a part-time manager and a fantastic group of volunteers, so it is a great honour to be amongst some of Dorset's best-known attractions.

"Care for the environment and promoting sustainability has always been central to what we do, so winning gold in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism category means a lot to us. Being so close to the sea we daily see the impacts of human life on the natural environment."

He added: "Once again West Dorset has been prominent in the finals, clearly demonstrating what an amazing tourism sector we have."

Also, in and around Bridport, Tangerine Café and Gallery in Beaminster received silver in Café/Tearoom of the Year, Frog by the Sea won bronze in Self-catering Accommodation of the Year and Bridport Museum was commended in Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.

Awards organiser Robin Barker, of Services to Tourism, said: "I have been truly wowed by the capacity of Dorset Tourism businesses both to innovate and to give back. I take my hat off to you all."

For a full list of finalists, visit dorsettourismawards.org.uk

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