A slew of Isle of Wight businesses are shortlisted for recognition in the south-east’s largest celebration of tourism, the Beautiful South Awards.
Recognising some of the best tourism businesses on the Isle of Wight alongside Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent, the Beautiful South Awards are highly regarded in the industry , with winners in selected categories automatically entered into the national Visit England Awards.
To be named in the shortlist means that businesses will walk away with either Bronze, Silver or Gold.
Aiming for Gold for the second year in a row, Visit Isle of Wight is leading the charge with the Isle of Wight Walking Festival shortlisted in the Best Event/Festival of the Year.
Celebrating 25 years in 2024, the already award-winning Isle of Wight Walking Festival’s two events in Spring and Autumn have seen continued growth in attracting visitors from across the Solent, bringing an economic impact of over £1million to the visitor economy.
Making an appearance in two categories, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary at Sandown is shortlisted for Gold, Silver or Bronze in the Cafe/Tearoom of the Year award and Large Visitor Attraction of the Year.
Tom’s Eco Lodge at Tapnell Farm is shortlisted for Glamping Business of the Year in the Beautiful South Awards, a category it has always performed strongly in.
The hotly contested Restaurant of the Year category sees the historic Royal Hotel at Ventnor shortlisted.
The Old Mill Holiday Park at St Helens has been highly commended in the Holiday Park of the Year category.
Will Myles, MD at Visit Isle of Wight, said that Island businesses have plenty to celebrate:
‘We’re over the moon that the Isle of Wight Walking Festival is shortlisted once again in the Beautiful South Awards, it is recognition of the dedication that goes into the organisation of the two events, and that of the volunteer walk leaders who are passionate about sharing their favourite parts of the Island.
‘I’d like to congratulate the Island businesses who have been shortlisted or commended in the Beautiful South Awards, it is a testimony to their hard work – that recognition really does make a difference to people looking for somewhere to visit, which is why we always encourage Isle of Wight businesses to enter for awards!’
It’s not long to wait for the results, as winners will be revealed at a glittering ceremony hosted by Heart Radio’s Toby Anstis at the Grand Hotel Brighton on 10 December.
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD
Finalists
- Brighton Centre, Brighton
- Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
- Stubcroft Farm Campsite, Chichester
- The Historic Dockyard, Chatham
- WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, Arundel
Commended
- Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles
- Winchester Science Centre by Wonderseekers, Winchester
ACTIVE & LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Seven Sisters White Cliffs Tour, Brighton & Beyond Tours, Brighton
- Whisky Blending Experience, Copper Rivet Distillery, Chatham
- Wilder Holiday Club, Kent Wildlife Trust, Maidstone & Sevenoaks
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Voltshare
Finalists
- Binstead Inn, Alton
- Hever Castle, Kent
- Saddlers B&B, Chichester
- The Old Rectory, Hastings
BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- To be announced at the Awards event
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Whitchurch Silk Mill Riverside Café, Whitchurch
- Wildheart Animal Sanctuary Café, Sandown
Commended
- MadHatters Tea Room & Gift Shop, Hayling Island
CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Anytime Booking
Finalists
- Badgells Wood at Birling Estate, Meopham
- Lytton Lawn Touring Park, Lymington
- Stubcroft Farm Campsite, Chichester
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Rogue’s Cottage, Deal
- Seabreeze Cottage, Deal
- Shorefield Country Park, Lymington
- Wallops Wood Cottages, Droxford
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD, sponsored by VisitKent
Finalists
- Ascot Racecourse, Ascot
- Kent Wildlife Trust, Maidstone
- Lemon and Jinja, Romsey
- Stubcroft Farm Campsite, Chichester
Commended
FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY AWARD, sponsored by NFU Mutual New Forest, Isle of Wight & Bournemouth
Finalists
- To be announced at the Awards event
GLAMPING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Glamping at Wallops Wood, Hambledon
- Romney Marsh Shepherds Huts, Ashford
- Tom’s Eco Lodge at Tapnell Farm, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Tozers
Finalists
- Seal Bay Resort, Selsey
- Shorefield Country Park, Lymington
Commended
- Old Mill Holiday Park, St Helens, Isle of Wight
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AWARD, sponsored by VisitBrighton
Finalists
- To be announced at the Awards Event
Commended
- Looking Glass Lodge, Hastings
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Booking.com
Finalists
- Careys Manor Hotel & SensSpa, Brockenhurst
- Cave Hotel and Golf Resort, Faversham
- Oakley Hall Hotel, Basingstoke
- The Roseate, Reading
Commended
- Moxy & Residence Inn, Slough
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Blenheim Palace, Woodstock
- The Bodleian Libraries, Oxford
- The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Sandown
- Wellington Country Park, Riseley
Commended
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD
Finalists
- No 9 Restaurant, Ramsgate
- Pendragon Project Team Adventures, Lancing
- Sea Scrub Sauna, Margate
Commended
- Oxford Magic Walking Tours, Oxford
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Stopham Vineyard
Finalists
- Firepit, Faversham
- Glasshouse Restaurant, Basingstoke
- The Reading Room, Reading
- The Royal Hotel, Ventnor
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Quality in Tourism
Finalists
- Greyfriars Hideaway, Oxford
- Looking Glass Lodge, Hastings
- The Chestnuts, Shilton
- The Pump House at Wiston Estate, Brighton
- Wallops Wood Cottages, Droxford
Commended
- Coppertree at Shorefield Country Park, Lymington
- Stable Oak Cottages, Maidstone
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Mews
Finalists
- Frasers, Ashford
- New Park Manor Hotel, Brockenhurst
- The Montagu Arms Hotel, Beaulieu
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Amberley Museum, Amberley
- Army Flying Museum, Stockbridge
- Balfour Winery, Staplehurst
- Chiddingstone Castle, Edenbridge
- Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch
SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Agilysys
Finalists
- Emerge Spa Day at eforea Spa – Hilton Southampton Utilita Bowl, Southampton
- Wellbeing Spa Day at SenSpa, Brockenhurst
TOURISM EVENT / FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Basingstoke Festival 2024 – Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council, Basingstoke
- Peace Doves 2023 – Chichester Cathedral, Chichester
- Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Christmas 2023 – Light Up Trails, Romsey
- Autumn Show & Horse Trials 2023 – South of England Agricultural Society, Ardingly
- Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2024 – Visit Isle of Wight, Newport
Commended
- Colours of Christmas at Petworth House 2023 – Petworth House National Trust, Petworth
- Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market 2023, Winchester
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Finalists
- To be announced at the Awards Event
WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR
Finalists
- Cave Hotel and Golf Resort, Faversham
- Frasers, Ashford
- Oakley Hall Hotel, Basingstoke