The first West Dorset Gold Awards celebrated the best of the best across the region.

Organised by Marketing West and held in Bridport Town Hall, the awards ceremony brought together previous winners of business awards in Lyme Regis, Bridport, Dorchester, Poundbury, Weymouth and Portland over the past year.

Anonymous judges chose the regional winners using a points-based system, with certificates handed out by sponsors at the lunchtime event on Wednesday.

More than 70 guests enjoyed a buffet lunch and were welcomed by Nigel Reeve of Marketing West and the Mayor of Bridport, Cllr Dave Bolwell, before the awards were presented.

The Overall Business of the Year was the West Dorset Magazine, which also took home the prize for New Business of the Year.

Other winners were as follows:

• Outstanding Tourism Business - Nothe Fort, Weymouth
• Independent Business of the Year - Dodgsons of Dorchester
• Retail Business of the Year - Smith and Smith, Bridport
• Restaurant of the Year - Les Enfants Terrible, Weymouth
• Best Place to Work - Purple Office, Poundbury
• Outstanding Community Support - Lyme Regis Community Support
• Green/Eco Business of the Year - West Bay Discovery Centre
• Family Business of the Year - Heavers of Bridport
• Cafe, Pub & Casual Dining - Mercato Italiano, Bridport
• Outstanding Customer Service Razzamataz Theatre School, Weymouth
• Health & Fitness Business of the Year - The Highbrow Skin & Laser Clinic, Dorchester
• Best Use of Digital Innovation - Shire Hall Museum, Dorchester
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Cameron Small of Honey Asset Management, Dorchester
• B2B Business of the Year - Honey Asset Management, Dorchester
• Arts & Crafts Business of the Year - Aperture Photographic (Doug Chalk), Bridport

The team from The West Dorset Magazine, which won New Business of the Year and Overall Business of the Year

Outstanding Tourism Business - Nothe Fort, Weymouth

Independent Business of the Year - Dodgsons of Dorchester

Retail Business of the Year - Smith and Smith, Bridport

Restaurant of the Year - Les Enfants Terrible, Weymouth

Best Place to Work - Purple Office, Poundbury

Outstanding Community Support - Lyme Regis Community Support

Green/Eco Business of the Year - West Bay Discovery Centre

Family Business of the Year - Heavers of Bridport

Cafe, Pub, Casual Dining - Mercato Italiano

Outstanding Customer Service - Razzamataz Theatre School, Weymouth

Health & Fitness Business of the Year - The Highbrow Skin and Laser Clinic, Dorchester

Digital Innovation of the Year - Shire Hall Museum, Dorchester

Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Cameron Small of Honey Asset Management, also winners of B2B Business of the Year

Arts and Crafts Business of the Year - Aperture Photographic (Doug Chalk)