The best of South Devon’s tourism and hospitality industry were celebrated at this year’s English Riviera and South Devon Tourism and Hospitality Awards 2017 held at Torquay’s Riviera International Conference Centre on Thursday 2nd November and Whitehill Country Park was delighted to come away from this prestigious event with not just one but two awards!

Our family run park was awarded GOLD in the ‘Dog Friendly Business of the Year’ category and SILVER in ‘Holiday Park of the Year’.

Whitehill Country Park Director Tim Jeavons said the award is for the whole team “We weren’t expecting to win the Gold; the competition was quite stiff. Probably what did it was the personal touches we provide for our guests when they arrive, like the Dog Treats, Dog Welcome Packs and Holiday Name Tags. Our Dog-friendly accommodation has proved extremely popular and will be expanded for 2018. The whole team work so hard to provide the best possible holiday experience for all our guests and to receive these two awards is a testament to their hard work.”

Herald Express editor Jim Parker opened the evening saying: “Our vibrant, impressive, inspirational and brilliant tourism and hospitality sector goes from strength to strength. Of course, there are challenges and competition out there, but you have always and will still continue to meet them head on and make our sector the success that it is, to make South Devon what it is – the loveliest place in the entire country.”

He said the awards were about recognising and saluting success. “The bar has been raised yet again this year on the number and quality of entries.”

Other Winner’s included:

Bistro of the Year: Meat59, Gourmet Burger Restaurant, Torquay

Event of the Year: Torbay Airshow, Held in June, Paignton

Visitor Attraction of the Year: Torre Abbey, Torquay

Café/Tearoom of the Year: The Guardhouse Café, Berry Head, Brixham

Tourism Experience of the Year: Ashburton Cookery School

Special Recognition was also given to English Riviera Tourism Board Member and Hotel Director Laurence Murrell and a Lifetime Achievement Award to Kent’s Cavern owner Nick Powell. Many congratulations to all the winners and finalists at this year’s event. Throughout the evening funds were also raised for local animal Charity Animals in Distress.

 View all our recent awards