Businesses and attractions in the Dorchester area have scooped number of prizes at the Dorset Tourism Awards.

The tenth annual Dorset Tourism Awards were hosted at The Tank Museum in Bovington at the end of January, with broadcaster and journalist Jordan Clark handing out the prizes.

It was the first time the awards had been presented in person since the coronavirus pandemic.

Dorset Museum in Dorchester came away from the ceremony as one of the most successful candidates– taking home Gold in Accessible and Inclusive Tourism, Silver in Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, and Bronze in Business Events Venue of the Year, while the museum's Taste Cafe also won Silver in Tearoom of the Year.

Hollands Farmhouse in Dorchester took home two awards – Silver in Glamping Business of the Year and Bronze in Self Catering Accommodation of the Year, while The King's Arms Hotel received Bronze in the Hotel of the Year category. 

Dorchester-based Activate Performing Arts won Gold for its Inside Out Dorset Festival in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year category.

A total of 53 trophies were presented, including a Winner of Winners award to Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, a special Outstanding Contribution award to Sara Uzzell, and a further special Future of Hospitality award to Bagwell Farm Touring Park.

Deborah Heather, director of headline sponsors Quality in Tourism, said: Amazing finalists, an incredible venue, we are thrilled and delighted to be headline sponsor of the Dorset Tourism Awards, simply, our honour." 

Awards organiser Nell Barrington added: "It was wonderful to celebrate with such prestigious businesses in such an incredible setting. Congratulations to everyone of them not only for their award this evening but for everything they do, all day every day." 

Robin Barker of Services for Tourism, commented: "It is so heart-warming to see these fabulous hospitality businesses celebrating together again after an extraordinary two years.  

"To win in such circumstances is a very special achievement and I congratulate each and every one of them."

Successful businesses in the Dorset Awards will now be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in March and possibly into the national VisitEngland awards later in the year.

Full details and a full list of winners is available at https://www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk/