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Devon brings home two Golds and a Bronze at VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012

Visit Devon congratulates the winners of this year's VisitEngland Awards for Excellence with businesses in Devon bringing home two Gold awards and one Bronze. Announced yesterday evening (22 May) at a ceremony held in Leicester, the three Devon businesses to receive the most prestigious awards in the English tourism industry were Wheatland Farm and Compton Pool Farm, both winning Gold in the categories of Sustainable Tourism and Self Catering Holiday of the Year respectively and Bovey Castle Country House Hotel which won Bronze in the Best Large Hotel Category.

Wheatland Farm, based in Winkleigh, East Devon, has a fantastic track record in sustainable tourism and the Wheatland eco lodges and cottage have won several previous awards with this year's VisitEngland Sustainable Tourism Gold recognised as a fantastic testament to owners Ian Ripper and Maggie Watson's dedication to conservation and the environment. www.wheatlandfarm.co.uk

Another VisitEngland Gold winner is Compton Pool Farm run by Ann and John Stocks, a haven for families of all shapes and sizes who can stay in a range of unique cottages based in 14 acres of the glorious South Devon countryside. The farm setting offers the perfect environment for a child friendly holiday or family break in Devon and the on-site facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool, all weather tennis court, games barn, children's play area and lake fishing. www.comptonpool.co.uk

Bovey Castle Country House Hotel winner of Bronze in the Best Large Hotel category makes this the fourth year running that a Devon hotel has been successful in this category. Situated on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, Bovey boasts a championship golf course, a luxurious holistic spa and 79 rooms, including 14 lodges. Visit: www.boveycastle.com.

Laura Holt, Chair of the Devon Tourism Partnership which represents Visit Devon said that the Gold and Bronze awards are a fantastic achievement both for the businesses involved and for the tourism industry in Devon: "The awards are well deserved as all three Devon businesses are leaders in their field and we congratulate them for their high standards of service and customer care that they provide. This illustrates how Devon can compete with the absolute best that the UK tourism industry has to offer and we are also very proud that they are flying the flag for Devon."

VisitEngland's Chief Executive, James Berresford, commented: "The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence represent the highest accolade in English tourism. They champion the very best quality, and continue to help to raise standards across the industry, establishing England's place as a world-class destination and a thoroughly fantastic place to visit. This year's awards were the biggest ever, with a record number of almost 400 entrants from across the country. All our finalists are to be warmly congratulated for their success - particularly our Gold Award winners, whose passion and commitment to excellence is outstanding." www.visitengland.org .

For more information about the Devon Tourism Partnership, contact: Carolyn Custerson - Vice Chair of the Devon Tourism Partnership. M/:: 07968 261845; E/: carolyn.custerson@englishriviera.co.uk

For further press information please contact:

Jane Adkins T/: 01935 813114

M/: 07960 698089

E/: jane@aheadforpr.co.uk

Gail Livingstone T/: 01823 252415

M/:07767 055595

E/: gail@aheadforpr.co.uk

*The Area Tourism Partnerships are: Visit Plymouth, North Devon+, Exeter and the Heart of Devon, Visit South Devon, Dartmoor Partnership and the English Riviera Tourism Company.

May 2012 (Visit Devon 082)