The Lost Gardens of Heligan was crowned Winner of Winners at last night’s Cornwall Tourism Awards.
Now in their 13th year, the annual awards shine the spotlight on the stars of the local tourism industry and with 21 categories “applaud brilliance in all aspects of the visitor experience”.
In addition to being crowned Winner of Winners, the Lost Gardens also took Gold in the Garden & Country House of the Year category.
Among other tourism businesses leading the celebrations was The Headland Hotel in Newquay which, as well as playing host to the awards ceremony, scooped a number of trophies, including Gold for Holiday Resort of the Year.
John and Carolyn Armstrong, who have owned the hotel since 1979, were also presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award for their role in developing Cornwall’s status as a quality destination over the last 35 years.
Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, which organised the awards, praised the winning businesses. He said: “To have so many amazing businesses and individuals who work tirelessly to drive Cornwall’s tourism product forward is one of Cornwall’s greatest assets.
“With so many new names on the winners roll, these Awards highlight that Cornwall’s immense passion for quality is industry wide rather than the reserve of a few. Let’s hope Cornwall continues this success and comes home triumphant from the British Travel Awards later this month where it is in the running for Best UK Holiday Destination.”
Other notable winners included Bosinver Farm Cottages in St Austell, which emerged as a double Gold champion for self-catering and sustainable tourism, and The Pandora Inn in Mylor, which held onto the Pub of the Year title.
The revamped Telegraph Museum Porthcurno which, in its first year since reopening, stole the spotlight in the Art, Museum and Industrial Attraction category, while the restaurant line-up meanwhile was dominated by Nathan Outlaw, who won Gold and Bronze for Restaurant Nathan Outlaw and Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen respectively.
Proud Cornishman and England rugby union legend, Phil Vickery, joined the celebrations and as the guest speaker entertained with tales of his sporting triumphs, while BBC Radio Cornwall’s Daphne Skinnard who compered.
The winners of the Cornwall Tourism Awards will now represent Cornwall in the South West Tourism Awards and, if successful, go through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015.
Full list of winners
HOLIDAY PARK & VILLAGE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Stephens Scown Solicitors
- GOLD Trevornick Holiday Park, Cubert
- SILVER Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, Padstow
- BRONZE Perran Sands Holiday Park, Perranporth
- BRONZE Trevella Park, Crantock
CAMPING & CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions
- GOLD Trethem Mill Touring Park, St Just in Roseland
- SILVER Padstow Touring Park, Padstow
- BRONZE Polmanter Touring Park, St Ives
HOLIDAY RESORT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by e-Strategy
- GOLD The Headland, Newquay
- SILVER Mawgan Porth Holiday Park, Mawgan Porth
- BRONZE Gwel an Mor Resort, Portreath
- COMMENDED The Valley, Carnon Downs
WILDLIFE & MARINE ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Jo Downs Glass Design
- GOLD Newquay Sea Safaris & Fishing, Newquay
- SILVER Newquay Zoo, Newquay
- BRONZE Paradise Park, Hayle
- COMMENDED Wingz Bird & Animal Sanctuary, Par
TOURIST INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by First Great Western
- GOLD Launceston Tourism Information Centre
- SILVER Bodmin Visitor Information Centre
THEME PARK & ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Seymac Distribution
- GOLD Eden Project, Bodelva
- COMMENDED Cornwall’s Crealy Great Adventure Park, Wadebridge
BED & BREAKFAST AND GUEST ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Nicholson’s
- GOLD Lower Barns B&B, St Ewe
- SILVER Highcliffe Contemporary Bed & Breakfast, Falmouth
- BRONZE The Gurnard’s Head, Treen,
- COMMENDED Downs Barn Farm, St Buryan
CAFÉ & TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Niddocks
- GOLD Boscastle Farmshop & Café, Boscastle
- SILVER Rick Stein’s Café, Padstow
- SILVER The Waymarker, Constantine
- COMMENDED The Park Café at Mawgan Porth, Mawgan Porth
ACCESS & INCLUSIVITY AWARD
Sponsored by Purple Cloud Consultancy
- GOLD Kernock Cottages, Saltash
SELF CATERING HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Pavey Group
- GOLD Bosinver Farm Cottages, St Austell
- SILVER Treworgey Cottages, Duloe
- BRONZE Cosawes Barton, Ponsanooth
- COMMENDED Farmer James Farm Holidays, St Kew
- COMMENDED Kernock Cottages, Saltash
- COMMENDED Peninnis Farm Luxury Camping, St Mary’s
- COMMENDED Restormel Manor, Lostwithiel
GARDEN & COUNTRY HOUSE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Sue Bradbury PR
- GOLD The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan
- SILVER St Michael’s Mount, Marazion
- BRONZE Eden Project, Bodelva
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Sponsored by Source for Business
- GOLD Farmer James of Farmer James Farm Holidays, St Kew
ART, MUSEUM & INDUSTRIAL ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Nixon
- GOLD Telegraph Museum Porthcurno, Porthcurno
- SILVER St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre, St Austell
- BRONZE Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Francis Clark
- GOLD Hell Bay Hotel, Bryher
- SILVER Talland Bay Hotel, nr Looe
- BRONZE The Idle Rocks Hotel, St Mawes
WILDLIFE FRIENDLY BUSINESS AWARD, in partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Sponsored by Kelly’s of Cornwall
- GOLD Feadon Farm Wildlife Centre at Gwel an Mor, Portreath
- SILVER The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan
- BRONZE Perran Sands Holiday Park, Perranporth
- COMMENDED Encounter Cornwall, Golant
- COMMENDED Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, Padstow
- COMMENDED Trenython Manor Hotel & Spa Resort, Par
PUB OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Scott Burridge Commercial
- GOLD The Pandora Inn, Mylor
- SILVER The Ship Inn, Wadebridge
- BRONZE Rashleigh Arms, Charlestown
- BRONZE The Kings Head, Ruan Lanihorne
TOURISM ACTIVITY, SPORT & EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Brewer and Bunney
- GOLD Miracle Theatre, Cornwall
- GOLD Mobius Adventure Cornwall, Cubert
- BRONZE Minack Theatre, Porthcurno
- BRONZE Padstow Seafood School, Padstow
- COMMENDED Koru Kayaking, St Agnes
- COMMENDED Scilly Seal Snorkelling, St Martins
- COMMENDED Ticket to Ride Surf School, Perranporth
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hotel Perfect
- GOLD The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth
- SILVER The Headland Hotel, Newquay
- BRONZE St Michael’s Hotel & Spa, Falmouth
DOG FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION AWARD
Sponsored by James Wellbeloved
- GOLD Helsbury Park, Launceston
- SILVER Kernock Cottages, Saltash
- BRONZE The Valley, Carnon Downs
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Sponsored by Canara Organic Farm
- GOLD Bosinver Farm Cottages, St Austell
- SILVER The Emerald, Carnon Downs
- BRONZE Dolbeare Park, Landrake
- COMMENDED The Headland Hotel, Newquay
- COMMENDED Kernock Cottages, Saltash
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by St Austell Brewery
- GOLD Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Rock
- SILVER Langmans Restaurant, Callington
- BRONZE Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac
- COMMENDED Ruin Cafe, Tresco
WINNER OF WINNERS
Sponsored by Springboard
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TOURISM
- John & Carolyn Armstrong, owners of The Headland Hotel, Newquay
