Dining and attractions to impress

FINE DINING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY THE PAIGNTON PIER CHIPPY COMPANY

DON’T miss out on your chance to help us celebrate the very best of South Devon’s tourism industry at the most prestigious awards night of the year.

Tickets are on sale for the event, at which the pick of the facilities and services of the area’s multi-million-pound tourism industry will be celebrated.

November 29 is the date for the glittering final awards night for the 2018 Herald Express South Devon Tourism and Hospitality Awards, presented with our partners Wollen Michelmore.

You can join us on the night. For ticket details visit hetourismawards.co.uk

Our Associate Editor Jim Parker and BBC Spotlight’s Victoria Graham will host the awards, which are presented in conjunction with our partners Wollen Michelmore, at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay on November 29.

Guest speaker on the night will be Hilary Bradt MBE, the founder and director of Bradt Travel Guides, the award-winning publisher which has been championing unusual destinations since 1974. The company also has a series of Slow travel guides.

Hilary was awarded a MBE for services to tourism and charity and lives in Seaton.

This week we turn the spotlight on two more of the categories to be decided at the

awards ceremony.

Great Western Restaurant at Bovey Castle: A 3 AA Rosette restaurant located at the five red star Bovey Castle, and is overseen by Executive Head Chef Mark Budd. They use local food producers with ingredients sourced from the moorland and coastline to create seasonally changing menus. Their roots are firmly planted in classical cookery, recalling the glamour of the restaurant’s art deco origins and echoes of a bygone era.

Orestone Manor Hotel: An independent family run country house hotel. This magnificent Georgian manor house is set in the pretty South Devon coastal village of Maidencombe, with spectacular sea views over Lyme Bay and beyond. The award winning restaurant has a warm and inviting ambience with views over the terrace and countryside beyond.

The Elephant Restaurant: A bright, informal seaside restaurant which overlooks the beautiful Torquay harbour. Great care is taken to source ingredients locally and sustainably. Most of the vegetables used are from their dedicated farm in Brixham where they also rear sheep, pigs, hens and turkeys.

The Seahorse: Specialises in seafood and is situated on the banks of the River Dart in Dartmouth with access to some of the best fish and shellfish in the world landed locally. Believing that seafood of this quality requires skilful but simple preparation to enjoy it as it's best is at the heart of what they do. Much of the seafood served at the restaurant is roasted over an open charcoal fire with just a few herbs and their own olive oil.

BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY BISHOP FLEMING

Pennywell Farm: A family run all-weather attraction, offering a full day out. The activities are all animal or farm themed and bring the visitor right into the experience rather than being a spectator. Goat milking, egg collecting, ferret racing, bottle feeding are all included in the daily activity schedule.

Splashdown Quaywest Waterpark: The UK's largest outdoor waterpark and a major seasonal employer. Offering the best customer experience possible and welcomes approximately 1000-2000 visitors daily throughout the summer season. The waterpark, which is in its 30th year this year, is still a major draw for visitors both locally and all over the UK.

Torre Abbey Museum: Established in 1196, Torre Abbey is a museum of history and art housed in an Ancient Scheduled Monument within beautiful and award winning gardens. Based in Torquay on the stunning English Riviera, this family friendly Torbay Council owned museum and gardens is a centre for creativity and culture - with a seasonal programme of exhibitions, events and activities across visual arts, history and live performance.