Isle of Wight businesses were celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the tourism sector at the Tourism South East Beautiful South Awards, held on December 10 at the Grand Hotel in Brighton.
The annual event recognizes excellence across the region, with several Isle of Wight enterprises earning prestigious accolades.
Tom’s Eco Lodge at Tapnell Farm took home the gold award in the Glamping Business of the Year category. Chloe Baker from Tapnell Farm expressed her gratitude to the team.
“Thank you so much to the team for making this happen. We can’t believe we won gold, we’re so happy, and we look forward to another good year and to entering this again.”
As category winners, Tom’s Eco Lodge will represent the region at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2025.
The Isle of Wight Walking Festival, organized by Visit Isle of Wight, earned a silver award in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year category.
Amy Summers, sustainable travel, trade, and exhibitions manager at Visit Isle of Wight, celebrated the honor, noting that the festival’s success is a testament to the dedication of its volunteers.
She also highlighted the award as a fitting recognition during the festival’s 25th anniversary year.
The Royal Hotel in Ventnor also claimed silver in the Restaurant of the Year category. New owner Mohamed Bathich commended the exceptional efforts of both the kitchen and front-of-house teams.
He remarked, “We are absolutely delighted to have won for a third year in a row. This achievement is a true testament to the dedication and talent of our Royal kitchen team, led by head chef Jacob Gough, and our exceptional front-of-house staff.”
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary was honored in two categories: silver in the Café/Tearoom of the Year category and bronze in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category.
Chief Executive Lawrence Bates expressed pride in competing with esteemed attractions like Blenheim Palace, which secured the gold award in the Large Visitor Attraction category.
“It was a pleasure to be a part of our very first Beautiful South Awards this year,” he told Isle of Wight County Press.
“This is a huge achievement for our sanctuary, and so incredible to be competing with the likes of Blenheim Palace, who won gold in the large attraction category.”
Making its debut at the awards, Old Mill Holiday Park in St. Helens received a commendation in the Holiday Park of the Year category.
A spokesperson for the park attributed the recognition to the team’s commitment to creating memorable guest experiences and maintaining the park’s unique charm.
Will Myles, managing director at Visit Isle of Wight, extended his congratulations to all the winners, “The Island delivers high-quality experiences time and again and this recognition is richly deserved.”
