Cornwall businesses won 26 awards in total at the 2023 South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

The annual event was the culmination of 12 months of entry, judging and feedback as nearly 300 winners, supporters and tourism leaders celebrated at Eden Project for the first time in 10 years.

In total 482 entries were submitted from across the region including Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

All forms of hospitality business were amongst the winners, with cafes, pubs, watersports schools and falconries all celebrating alongside attractions, camping and glamping sites, holiday parks, B&Bs, cottages and hotels.

The categories were split into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Commendation sections, with Cornwall winning 21 awards in the Gold, Silver and Bronze sections as well as getting five commendations.

The full list of finalists and commendations can be seen on the South West Tourism Excellence Awards website here.

What awards did Cornwall businesses win? 

B&B and Guesthouse of the Year

Better Environment Award

  • Gold -  Seascape Escape at The Old Coach House, Windsworth
  • Silver - Higher Pendeen Camping

Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year

  • Bronze -   Polmanter Touring Park

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

  • Bronze -  Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park

Experience of the Year

  • Silver -  Experience Cornwall Tours
  • Commendation -  Big Green Surf School

Glamping Business of the Year

  • Gold - Lydcott Glamping
  • Bronze - Pengelly Retreat

Holiday Park of the Year

  • Gold -  Hendra Holiday Park
  • Bronze - Martha’s Orchard

Large Hotel of the Year

  • Bronze - Budock Vean Hotel

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Pub of the Year

  • Commendation - The Boathouse

Restaurant of the Year

Self-catering Accommodation of the Year

  • Silver -  Treworgey Cottages
  • Bronze - Three Mile Beach
  • Commendation - My Cottages in St Ives

Small Hotel of the Year

  • Commendation - The Idle Rocks

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

  • Gold - PK Porthcurno
  • Silver - Hangloose Adventure Eden

Spa and Wellbeing Experience of the Year

  • Silver - Mullion Cove Spa
  • Bronze - The Spa at Gwel An Mor

Tourism Event/Festival of the Year

  • Commendation - Porthleven Food Festival

Unsung Hero Award

  • One of three winners - Rebecca Hedges, Bodmin Jail

Visitor Information Service of the Year

  • Gold - Visit Newquay Tourist Information Centre

In response to their award for Restaurant of the Year, the Idle Rocks Restaurant wrote: "This is another brilliant accolade for the hotel and award-winning restaurant led by Head Chef, Dorian Janmaat as it steps into spring.

"Located in the chic and contemporary coastal retreat that is The Idle Rocks, the stylish, relaxed Restaurant offers refined and eye-catching dishes that feature some fine Cornish ingredients.

"Seasonal menus exhibit a wealth of flavours and textures along with superb views of the St Mawes Harbour.

"The award is a true testament to the culinary team at the hotel and their efforts in constantly going above and beyond to ensure that every guest leaves with an unforgettable experience, and a desire to return through the doors of The Idle Rocks."

What did event organisers say about the awards?

Steve Hayfield, Customer Experience and Delivery Director at headline sponsor South West Water, said: “We are proud to be continuing our relationship with the South West Tourism Awards, recognising that a thriving tourism industry is essential to the economic wellbeing of our beautiful region. Once again we are delighted to celebrate the many outstanding businesses across our region.

“We know our water environment is vital to both locals and visitors alike, and over the last year our region has faced a significant challenge around water resources, which our customers and communities have helped us to tackle head on.

“Our Save Every Drop campaign is focused on how customers, businesses and visitors to the region can help to bring our precious water supplies back on track and we thank everyone in our region for the crucial role they have played in helping us do that. We hope to keep working together as we strive to ensure resilient water supplies, and continue to support the needs of the region in the future.”

Robin Barker, Director of Services for Tourism Ltd, who manage the Awards, added: “What a delight to be in the company of the region’s best, and at one of our most iconic venues.  The conversations and celebrations were a real joy – I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!”