Five-star Devon hotel, Bovey Castle, has received the Gold award for ‘Large Hotel of the Year’ in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.
This year’s awards ceremony was attended by over 300 delegates in the Great Hall at the University of Exeter.
The hotel, which is part of the Eden Hotel Collection, claimed the top prize partly due to its £1.2m kitchen refurbishment, its significant investment in employee development, a commitment to local produce and an “unforgettable” guest experience.
Bovey Castle was chosen out of other regional finalists in Gloucestershire and Dorset.
The award comes after Bovey also claimed Gold in the Large Hotel category at the Devon Tourism Awards.
The ceremony capped a 12-month selection and judging process, with cafes, pubs, karting centres, schools and distilleries up for a total of 89 awards alongside attractions, camping and glamping sites, holiday parks, B&Bs and cottages.
Dean Gunston, general manager of Bovey Castle, said: “We are extremely proud of this award as there has been a monumental effort from people throughout our team to raise the bar in terms of the visitor experience and further establish Bovey as a special place to visit.
“It was fantastic to see so many great businesses and venues in the region being recognised for the brilliant work they do in creating such a strong tourism offer in the South West.”
He added: “To secure the national award would be an amazing achievement both for ourselves and the wider region, and would set us up nicely for an exciting year ahead.”
As well as its 3AA Rosette, Great Western Grill restaurant and 1AA Rosette Smith’s Brasserie, Bovey Castle has 60 bedrooms throughout the historic manor, as well as 22 self-catering country lodges and on-site activities from archery and golf to 4×4 driving experiences and deer park tours.