Tourism businesses across Teignbridge are celebrating after coming away with just over a quarter of the 79 trophies handed out at the 2025 Devon Tourism Awards on Thursday (November 27).

The winners were announced at a ceremony held at Sandy Park in Exeter with Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in 24 different categories. Many of the Gold Award winners will be nominated to represent Devon in the Visit England Awards next year.

Teignbridge businesses were awarded five Gold Awards with the River Dart Country Park near Ashburton coming away with a Gold in the Regenerative Tourism Award and another for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year. The park was also awarded a Bronze for Camping and Caravanning Park of the year.

In the hotels category, Bovey Castle won Gold for Large Hotel of the Year, along with a Bronze Award in the Wedding Venue of the Year category.

The Small Hotel of the Year Gold was won by Gidleigh Park in Chudleigh with Chagford’s Mill End Hotel winning Silver.

Teignbridge’s self-catering provision was also represented with Pilchard Cottage in Dawlish winning Gold in the New Tourism Business category. ‘We were utterly delighted to hear we had won Gold,’ commented Pilchard Cottage owner Letti Mortimore.

Cofton Holidays continued its recent award-winning form with a Silver in the Regenerative Tourism Award and two Bronze prizes for Holiday Park of the Year and Dog Friendly Business of the Year. The 16th Devon Tourism Awards topped off a successful month for the holiday park after Cofton won the Holiday Park of the Year Award for a second year running at the 2025 Dog Friendly Awards held at the Kennel Club in London on November 20.

Chagford’s Mill End Hotel also won in the Dog Friendly Business of the Year with a silver.

Other Silver Awards were won by Teignmouth-based Exeter Gin School for its Gin Making class in the Active Learning and Experience of the Year category and Holne Park House for Business Events Venue of the Year.

In the Dog Friendly Business of the Year category, Chagford’s Mill End Hotel won the silver award.

Bronze Awards went to: the Chagford Inn for Pub of the Year; Shaldon Wildlife Park for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year; the Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre at Haytor for the Information Service of the Year award; and Ilsington House Hotel and Spa for its Haytor Experience in the Spa and Wellness Experience of the Year. Ilsington was also commended for the Small Hotel of the Year Award.

Ashburton Food Festival 2024 was commended in the Tourism Event / Festival of the Year Award.

‘Tonight was one of the highlights of the year for me and my team,’ said Devon Tourism Awards organiser Robin Barker from Services for Tourism. ‘Witnessing the delight of the winners, whether Bronze, Silver or Gold, and the impact success has on their mood and motivation is impossible to describe,’ he added. ‘In an era when business is tough for many, it is great to be bringing something positive to all concerned.’

Mark Worden, director of the awards’ headline sponsors MiHi Digital also congratulated the finalists for showcasing the very best of Devon in a challenging marketplace. ‘Every year, the standard rises, and this year’s finalists show exactly why millions of people choose Devon.’