HOTELS, restaurants and tourism centres were among the Somerset businesses who managed to scoop awards at the tourism awards for Bristol, Bath and Somerset.

An audience of 288 guests witnessed 66 trophies presented to tourism businesses at the first ever Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards ceremony held at DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House in Bristol.

Laura Rawlings from BBC Radio Bristol announced winners from each of the 20 different categories to excited cheers.

To get to this stage each entrant had gone through a rigorous three-stage judging process, taking into account websites, reviews, social media, visits by industry ‘mystery visitors’ and finally a judging panel.

The winners were invited on stage to be presented with individually crafted awards made by Will Shakspeare, from Shakspeare Glass in Langport.

Somerset-based organiser Nell Barrington, said: “This is the first time we have run these awards in the county and we wanted the winners to receive something really special and unique.

"These pieces are just beautiful but being made of glass it was quite a challenge for me to ensure that we managed to present them all without incident.”

Robert Sinclair, chief executive officer of Bristol Airport, the Headline Sponsor said: “The outstanding quality of award winners in all categories demonstrates the strength of the tourism offer in Bristol, Bath and Somerset.

"Bristol Airport welcomes thousands of visitors every day, and we take inspiration from the region’s best attractions as we aim to provide proper West Country hospitality to our passengers.”

Successful businesses in the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Awards will now be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2017 with eligible finalists also considered for the national Visit England Awards later in 2017.

Here's a full list of the winners:


Access and Inclusivity Award – sponsored by Purple Cloud,www.purpleclouconsultancy.co.uk

  • Gold: At-Bristol Science Centre, Bristol – www.at-bristol.org.uk
  • Silver: Three Abbey Green, Bath – www.threeabbeygreen.com
  • Bronze: National Trust – Brean Down, Brean – www.nationaltrust.org/uk/brean-down

Bed and Breakfast of the Year – sponsored by Visit Somerset, www.visitsomerset.co.uk

  • Gold: SummerHouse, Bristol - www.summerhouse-bb.co.uk
  • Silver: Huntstile Organic Farm, nr Bridgwater - www.huntstileorganicfarm.co.uk
  • Silver: Keepers Cottage, Glastonbury - www.keeperssomerset.com
  • Bronze: The Lighthouse, Frome - www.lighthouse-uk.com
  • Highly Commended – The Old Cider House, Nether Stowey - www.theoldciderhouse.co.uk

Café/Tearoom of the Year – sponsored by Source Trade Show,www.thesourcetradeshow.co.uk

  • Gold: Cox and Baloney Tearooms & Bar, Bristol - www.coxandbaloneytearooms.com
  • Silver: The Holy Cow, Chilcompton – www.theholycowchilcompton.co.uk
  • Bronze: Hartley Farm Shop & Kitchen, Bradford on Avon – www.hartley-farm.co.uk
  • Highly Commended – Dr Fox’s Tearooms, Weston Super Mare - www.drfoxtearooms.co.uk

Camping and Caravanning of the Year - sponsored by Hoseasons,www.hoseasons.co.uk

  • Gold: Waterrow Touring Park, nr Wiveliscombe – www.waterrowpark.co.uk
  • Silver: Petruth Paddocks Ltd, Cheddar – www.petruthpaddocks.co.uk
  • Bronze: Brook Lodge Farm Camping & Caravan Park, Bristol – www.brooklodgefarm.com

Dog Friendly Business of the Year – sponsored by Visit Somerset, www.visitsomerset.co.uk

  • Gold: The Old Cider House, Nether Stowey – www.theoldciderhouse.co.uk
  • Silver: Salad Days, Dunster – www.dunsterbeachhut.com

Glamping Business of the Year – sponsored by Aztec Media, www.aztec4design.com

  • Gold: Dimpsey Glamping, Chard – www.dimpsey.co.uk
  • Silver: Wall Eden Farm Holidays and Adventure Activities, Highbridge - www.walledenfarm.co.uk
  • Bronze: Secret Valley, nr Bridgwater – www.secret-valley.co.uk
  • Highly Commended – Somerset Yurts, Taunton - www.somersetyurts.co.uk

Holiday Park of the Year – sponsored by Hoseasons, www.hoseasons.co.uk

  • Gold: Holiday Resort Unity/Brean Leisure Park, Brean Sands – www.hru.co.uk
  • Silver: Darwin Cheddar Woods Ltd, Cheddar – www.cheddarwoods.co.uk

Hotel of the Year – sponsored by Clockwork, www.clock-work.co.uk

  • Gold: Aztec Hotel & Spa, Bristol – www.aztechotelbristol.com
  • Gold: The Bristol, Bristol – www.doylecollection.com/bristol
  • Silver: The Bath Priory Hotel & Spa, Bath – www.thebathpriory.co.uk
  • Highly Commended: Cricket St Thomas Hotel, Chard – www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk, Double Tree by Hilton, Cadbury House, Congresbury – www.cadburyhotelbristol.co.uk, The Abbey Hotel, Bath – www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk, The Castle at Taunton, Taunton – www.the-castle-hotel.com

International Visitor Experience Award – sponsored by A Head for PR,www.aheadforpr.co.uk

  • Gold: The Roman Baths & Pump Rooms, Bath – www.romanbaths.co.uk
  • Silver: Where the Wall, Bristol – www.wherethewall.com

Large Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Take One Media,www.takeonemedia.co.uk

  • Gold: The Roman Baths & Pump Rooms, Bath – www.romanbaths.co.uk
  • Silver: National Trust – Tyntesfield, Wraxall – www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield
  • Bronze: Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park, Keynsham – www.avonvalley.co.uk
  • Highly Commended - Puxton Park, Weston Super Mare, www.puxton.co.uk

Restaurant/Bistro of the Year – sponsored by Destination Bristol, www.visitbristol.co.uk

  • Gold: The Coleridge Restaurant, Nr Dunster – www.coleridgerestaurant.co.uk
  • Silver: Clavelshay Barn Restaurant, Nr North Petherton – www.clavelshaybarn.co.uk
  • Bronze: The Beach Hotel, Minehead  - www.thebeachhotel.org
  • Highly Commended: Aqua, Bath – www.aqua.com, Princes Street Social, Bristol – www.princestreetsocial.com, The Scallop Shell, Bath - www.thescallopshell.co.uk

Self Catering Award – sponsored by Quality in Tourism, www.qualityintourism.com

  • Gold: The Cottage Beyond, Wellington – www.thecottagebeyond.co.uk
  • Silver: SACO, Bristol – www.sacoapartments.com
  • Bronze: Middlewick Holiday Cottages, Glastonbury – www.themiddlewick.co.uk
  • Highly Commended – Wall Eden Farm Holidays and Adventure Activities, Highbridge - www.walledenfarm.co.uk

Small Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Ignyte, www.ignyte-uk.co.uk

  • Gold: Hestercombe Gardens Trust, Taunton – www.hestercombe.com
  • Silver: Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust, Bristol – www.cliftonbridge.org.uk
  • Bronze: Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust, Clevedon – www.clevedonpier.com
  • Bronze: The Jane Austen Centre, Bath – www.janeausten.co.uk

Small Hotel/Boutique Accommodation of the Year – sponsored by Shopper Anonymous, www.shopperanonymous.co.uk

  • Gold: Dunkery Beacon Country House, Nr Dunster – www.dunkerybeaconaccommodation.co.uk
  • Silver: Brooks Guesthouse Bath & Bristol – www.brooksguesthouse.com
  • Bronze: The Luttrell Arms Hotel, Dunster – www.luttrellarms.co.uk
  • Highly Commended – The Bower Inn, Bridgwater - www.thebowerinn.co.uk

Sustainable Tourism Award – sponsored by Triodos Bank, www.triodos.co.uk

  • Gold: Mill on the Brue Outdoor Activity Centre, Bruton – www.millonthebrue.co.uk
  • Silver: Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Wraxall – www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk
  • Bronze: Folly Farm, Bristol - www.follyfarm.org
  • Highly Commended – Holiday Resort Unity/Brean Leisure Park, Brean Sands – www.hru.co.uk

Tourism Event and Festival of the Year – sponsored by GWR, www.gwr.com

  • Gold: Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, Bridgwater – www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk
  • Gold: Shaun in the City Sculpture Trail, Bristol – www.grandappeal.org.uk

Tourism Experience of the Year – sponsored by Warners,www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk

  • Gold: The Lodge, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol – www.thelodgebristolzoo.org.uk
  • Silver: Where The Wall, Bristol – www.wherethewall.com
  • Silver: SUP Bristol, Bristol – www.supbristol.com
  • Bronze: BBC Tours Bristol, Bristol – www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours
  • Bronze: Crazy Climb Bristol, Bristol – www.crazyclimbbristol.co.uk
  • Bronze: Lady Lena, Bath – www.ladylena.co.uk

Tourist Information Service of the Year – sponsored by Bath Tourism Plus, www.visitbath.co.uk

  • Gold: Taunton Visitor Centre, Taunton – www.visitsomerset.co.uk/taunton
  • Silver: Cartgate Tourist Information Centre, Stoke sub Hamdon – www.discoversouthsomerset.gov.uk
  • Bronze: Bristol Tourist Information Centre, Bristol – www.visitbristol.co.uk

Tourism Pub of the Year – sponsored by Albion Brewery, www.albionbrewing.co.uk

  • Gold: The White Hart Somerton, Somerton – www.whitehartsomerton.com
  • Silver: The Cross Keys Inn, nr Somerton – www.crosskeysinn.info
  • Silver: The Luttrell Arms Hotel, Dunster – www.luttrellarms.co.uk

Unsung Hero Award for Customer Service – sponsored by South West Water Business Services, www.swwbusiness.co.uk

  • Gold: Sue Milverton, Clavelshay Barn Restaurant
  • Silver: Deborah Matthews, Love Weston
  • Bronze:  Magda Audziejczyk-Kittel, SummerHouse
  • Bronze: Patricia Alonso Rivilla, Hilton Garden Inn Bristol

Venue and Business Tourism Award – sponsored by Christie & Co, www.christie.com

  • Gold: The Bristol, Bristol – www.doylecollection.com/bristol
  • Silver: Brunel’s ss Great Britain, Bristol – www.ssgreatbritain.org
  • Bronze: At-Bristol Science Centre, Bristol – www.at-bristol.org.uk
  • Highly Commended, Best Western Plus Swan Hotel - www.swanhotelwells.co.uk

Winner of Winners – sponsored by Bristol Airport, www.bristolairport.co.uk

  • Dunkery Beacon Country House, nr Dunster - www.dunkerybeaconaccommodation.co.uk