Businesses and attractions in the Bridport area have scooped number of prizes at the Dorset Tourism Awards.

The tenth annual Dorset Tourism Awards were hosted at The Tank Museum in Bovington at the end of January, with broadcaster and journalist Jordan Clark handing out the prizes.

It was the first time the awards had been presented in person since the coronavirus pandemic.

Coppet Hill Partners, a regenerative farming family business just outside Bridport, won Gold in the New Tourism Business category.

Coppet Hill was founded in 2021 from the dairy and award-winning bacon business, Denhay Farms Ltd. The new partnership has taken a new more environmental approach to managing the land and have opened up the farm to nature friendly camping and secluded glamping.

Just three miles from the Jurassic Coast, and surrounded by some of Dorset's most spectacular hills, their 600-acre family farm is now a peaceful haven for walkers, campers and wildlife lovers.  

The on-site shop and tearoom feature local suppliers such as Firepot, Baboo Gelato and Palmers Brewery.   

Summer sees their sunflower walks open to the public and they run seasonal events such as nest box building, Open Farm Sunday and weekly events for guests such as moth club and owl prowl.

Partner George Streatfeild said: "We are really excited to have won this award in our first full year. 

"It gives us all immense pleasure welcoming visitors from all over the country to this wonderful county and showing them our barn owls and other stunning wildlife in our quiet camping spots."

Other Gold awards went to Golden Acre Jurassic Coastal Lodges, in Bridport, for Dog Friendly Business of the Year; and to Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, in Beaminster, for Glamping Business of the Year. The latter also won Silver in Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism.

A total of 53 trophies were presented, including a Winner of Winners award to Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, a special Outstanding Contribution award to Sara Uzzell, and a further special Future of Hospitality award to Bagwell Farm Touring Park.

Deborah Heather, director of headline sponsors Quality in Tourism, said: Amazing finalists, an incredible venue, we are thrilled and delighted to be headline sponsor of the Dorset Tourism Awards, simply, our honour." 

Awards organiser Nell Barrington added: "It was wonderful to celebrate with such prestigious businesses in such an incredible setting. Congratulations to everyone of them not only for their award this evening but for everything they do, all day every day." 

Robin Barker of Services for Tourism, commented: "It is so heart-warming to see these fabulous hospitality businesses celebrating together again after an extraordinary two years.  

"To win in such circumstances is a very special achievement and I congratulate each and every one of them."

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.

Full details and a full list of winners is available at https://www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk/