The South East's leading tourism businesses have been chosen for the finals of the Beautiful South Tourism Awards.
This year saw over 120 entries from the cream of the tourism industry in the South East, with 61 businesses selected as finalists. All will be in suspense until the ceremony when they will learn whether they have won Gold, Silver or Bronze. The winners will be announced at The Grand Hotel in Brighton on Thursday 4th of December.
Winners in matching categories will be invited to represent the South East in the National VisitEngland Awards in 2015.
Peter Colling, Managing Director of Tourism South East, said “Every year the Beautiful South Awards are a reminder of the amazing wealth of fantastic tourism businesses and experiences South East of England has to offer. And this year the overall standard of entries was higher than ever making it extremely tough for the judges. Some very fine businesses narrowly missed the cut and the finalists truly are the best of the best.”
Shepherd Neame Chief Executive, Jonathan Neame said: “We have a diverse estate of 347 pubs and hotels across London and the South East, along with an award-winning Visitor Centre, so we are aware of the important role tourism plays not only in our business but for the South East economy as a whole. We are delighted to support the industry and recognise outstanding commitment to quality, innovation and service, by sponsoring this year's Beautiful South Awards.”
For more information about the awards and awards night please contact awards@beautifulsouthawards.co.uk or visit www.beautifulsouthawards.co.uk.
Ends
More information about Tourism South East can be found at: www.tourismsoutheast.com or telephone 023 8062 5400.
Note to Editors:
Tourism South East is a leading membership-based tourism organisation and provider of tourism services operating across South East England, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey and beyond.
Beautiful South Tourism Awards Finalists and Highly Commended 2014 in Association with Headline Sponsors Shepherd Neame, www.shepherdneame.co.uk
(In alphabetic order)
Access for All Tourism Award
Sponsored by Tourism for All
FINALISTS
Holiday Inn Winchester, Hampshire
Oxford Bus Company, Oxfordshire
Radisson Blu Edwardian Guildford, Surrey
The Lightbox, Woking, Surrey
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Jurys Inn Brighton, East Sussex
Bed and Breakfast, Guest Accommodation of the Year
Sponsored by Lloyds Bank Cardnet
FINALISTS
Broadway Barn Properties, Ripley, Surrey
Colliers Farm Bed and Breakfast, Fernhurst, West Sussex
Molland Manor House B&B, Canterbury, Kent
Swan House, Hastings, East Sussex
HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Woolpack Inn, Chilham, Kent
The Old Vine, Winchester, Hampshire
The Swiss Cottage, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Business Tourism Award
Sponsored by Shopper Anonymous
FINALISTS
Barnett Hill, Guildford, Surrey
Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa, Brockenhurst, New Forest
Holiday Inn Winchester, Hampshire
Marwell Hotel, Winchester, Hampshire
Flavour of the South East Award
Sponsored by Whitstable Bay
FINALISTS
Lainston House, an Exclusive Hotel, Winchester Hampshire
The Montagu Arms Hotel, New Forest, Hampshire
The Pointer, Brill, Buckinghamshire
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Radisson Blu Edwardian Guildford, Surrey
The Mark Cross Inn, Crowborough, East Sussex
Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year
Sponsored by Hoseasons
FINALISTS
Crowhurst Park, Battle, East Sussex
Shorefield Holidays Ltd, Milford on Sea, Hampshire
Two Hoots Campsite, Alresford, Hampshire
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, Isle of Wight
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mill Rythe Holiday Village
Large Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by Quality in Tourism
FINALISTS
Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa, East Grinstead, West Sussex
Chewton Glen Hotel, New Milton, New Forest
Lainston House, an Exclusive Hotel, Winchester, Hampshire
Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa, Wilmington, Kent
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Crowne Plaza Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Jurys Inn Brighton, East Sussex
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Take One Media
FINALISTS
Marwell Wildlife, Winchester Hampshire
Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Osborne House, Isle of Wight
Turner Contemporary, Margate, Kent
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Outstanding Customer Service Award
Sponsored by Welcome to Excellence
FINALISTS
Amanda Bryett - Windsor Tourist Guides , Berkshire
Julie Hannah - Crowhurst Park, Battle, East Sussex
Clair Ratcliffe-Speakman - Coworth Park, Ascot, Berkshire
Marina Shellard - Colliers Farm Bed and Breakfast, Fernhurst, West Sussex
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mrs Julie Burchell - Mapledurham Trust, Reading, Berkshire
Carol Palmer - Crowne Plaza Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Mrs Anna White - Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa, Brockenhurst, New Forest
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism
Will be announced on the night
Self Catering Holiday Provider of the Year
FINALISTS
Corner Cottage, Nettlecombe Farm Holidays, Isle of Wight
Forest Holidays, Blackwood Cabins, Winchester, Hampshire
Tom's Eco Lodge, Isle of Wight
Two Hoots Campsite, Alresford, Hampshire
HIGHLY COMMENDED
South Winchester Lodges, Winchester, Hampshire
Small Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by e-Strategy
FINALISTS
Best Western Plus Wroxton House Hotel, Banbury, Oxfordshire
G! Boutique Hotel, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Langshott Manor Hotel, Horley, Surrey
The Montagu Arms Hotel , Beaulieu, New Forest
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
FINALISTS
Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum, Swanwick, Hampshire
Owl & Monkey Haven, Isle of Wight
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, Arundel, West Sussex
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Dickens Birthplace Museum, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Sustainable Tourism Award
Sponsored by Green Tourism
FINALISTS
Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking, Surrey
Holiday Inn Winchester, Hampshire
Jurys Inn Brighton, East Sussex
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Two Hoots Campsite, Alresford, Hampshire
Tourism Event of the Year
FINALISTS
Hampshire Food Festival, Hampshire
Rise of the Dinosaurs Marwell Wildlife, Winchester, Hampshire
Wallingford Food Festival, Oxfordshire
West Dean Chilli Fiesta, Nr Chichester, West Sussex
HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Wind Tunnel Project, Farnborough, Hampshire
New Forest and Hampshire County Show, New Foreset
Tourism Experience of the Year
FINALISTS
Go Ape Moors Valley, Ringwood, Hampshire
Livingstone Lodge Overnight Safari Experience – Port Lympne Reserve, Nr Ashford, Kent
Oxford Official Guided Walking Tours, Oxfordshire
Ride The Hill, Nutfield, Surrey
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Explore Medway open top bus
Tourism Pub of the Year
Sponsored by OBC The Accountants
FINALISTS
The Farm @ Friday Street, Eastbourne, East Sussex
The Old Drum, Petersfield, Hampshire
The Old Vine, Winchester, Hampshire
The Pointer, Brill, Buckinghamshire
HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Baskerville, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire
The Woolpack Inn, Chilham, Kent
Visitor Information Provider of the Year
Sponsored by Tourist Network
FINALISTS
Gravesend Visitor Information Centre – Towncentric, Kent
Guildford Tourist Information Centre, Surrey
Portsmouth Visitor Information Service, Hampshire
Rye Tourist Information Centre, East Sussex
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Shanklin Tourist Information Centre, Isle of Wight