MMM's top site recognised at tourism 'Oscars'

WINNER of MMM Magazine’s Park of the Year Poston Mill has collected another major award in the British tourism industry’s annual ‘oscars’.

The scenic Herefordshire site beat off stiff competition from  touring and holiday home sites nationwide to take the Caravan Holiday Park of the Year Gold Award in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2008.

Poston Mill’s location at the heart of Herefordshire’s Golden Valley has made it a popular rural retreat for both motorhomers and caravanners. Set in 33 acres of glorious countryside, the site is the perfect base for exploring the valley’s many footpaths and cycleways and also for excursions further afield to visitor attractions like Symonds Yat and the Black Mountains.

Site owners Ray and Sarah Jones collected their award from British Holiday Homes and Parks Association director general Ros Pritchard OBE at a glitzy awards ceremony held at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall.

(See Poston Mill's entry in our Campsite Finder listing by clicking here).

And another spectacular campsite was recognised at the climax of the evening with the presentation of the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award, which this year went to Somerset farmer and festival promoter Michael Eavis – perhaps better known as the founder of the Glastonbury Festival. During the festival weekend, Mr Eavis’ hosts 200,000 campers at the 900-acre Worthy Farm at Pilton, Somerset, temporarily making it Europe’s largest campsite.

Voted for by consumers in each of nine regions via the Enjoy England website, the 2008 awards are sponsored by the Caravan Club, which was represented on the judging panel which whittled down hundreds of regional entries into the final shortlist.

Other award winners included some of Britain’s best hotels, restaurants most innovative new tourist attractions – many of which have their roots in the sustainable tourism movement and have strong environmental credentials.

The winners:

Tourism website of the Year: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Taste of England Award: Fifteen Cornwall

Business Tourism Award: Emirates Stadium

Sustainable Tourism Award: Strattons Hotel, Norfolk/Cottage Lodge, Hants

Best Day Out Award: Whitby, North Yorkshire

Outstanding Customer Service: David Pollard, Falmouth Pride Ambassadors

Travel Journalist of the Year: Nigel Richardson, Daily Telegraph

Tourist Information Centre of the Year: 08 Place, Liverpool

Best Tourism Experience: Sunderland International Airshow

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year: Roald Dahl Museum, Bucks

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year: Imperial War Museum Duxford/Victoria & Albert Museum, London

B&B Accommodation of the Year: The Salty Monk Restaurant with Rooms, Devon

Caravan Holiday Park of the Year: Poston Mill Park, Herefordshire

Small Hotel of the Year: The Devonshire Arms, North Yorks

Self Catering Holiday of the Year: The Mill Granary Cottages. Co Durham

Large Hotel of the Year: Chewton Glen, Hants

Outstanding Contribution to British Tourism: Michael Eavis, Worthy Farm, Somerset.

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