Hat-trick of awards for Cofton Holidays following success at the Visit Devon Tourism Awards and FSB Awards 2022

South Devon’s multi award-winning holiday park, Cofton Holidays, is celebrating a hat-trick of awards following Gold success at both the Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2021/22 and the South West FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards.

Just one week after scooping the Family Business of the Year title at the South West FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards, the Dawlish holiday park won two Gold awards at the Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2021/22 in the Holiday Park of the Year and Dog-Friendly Business of the Year categories.

Now in its 12th year, the Visit Devon Tourism Awards announced 67 finalists as Gold, Silver, Bronze or Unsung Hero winners with a further nine being commended. In the Dog-Friendly Business of the Year category, Cofton Holidays was up against The Cadeleigh Arms, Tiverton, and Bolberry Farm Cottages, Salcombe, but it was Cofton’s commitment to delivering a first-class dog-friendly experience that gave them the edge.

Cofton Holidays faced stiff competition from Hoburne Devon Bay, Paignton, and Lady’s Mile Holiday Park, Dawlish, in the Holiday Park of the Year category. This is the second time Cofton Holidays has been awarded Gold in this category after winning the accolade in the 2018/19 awards. In the same year, Cofton went on to win Gold in the Holiday Park and Village of the Year category at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

Once again, Cofton has been selected as one of the finalists in the Holiday Park of the Year category at this year’s South West Tourism Excellence Awards which covers the Isles of Scilly, Wiltshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

Amelia’s Pantry, Cofton’s on site café and restaurant known for its local produce and seasonal dishes, was also commended at this year’s awards.

Sally Everton, Director of Visit Devon, said: “The Devon Tourism Awards showers positivity on what has been the most challenging two years for so many tourism businesses across Devon. With some definite light now at the end of what has been a very gloomy tunnel, the awards give a massive boost to the tourism industry who are able to celebrate something as special as these prestigious awards.”

At the South West FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards, Cofton Holidays was just one of two Devon companies to achieve an award.

Lee Nathan, FSB Regional Chairman for the South West, commented: “We were delighted to discover that we had a record amount of entries this year with so many small businesses telling us of their triumph against all the odds. I know that the judges found even getting down to the shortlist was a major headache, let alone trying to pick a category winner.

“What this all says, I think, is what we all probably knew. The South West is an absolute hotbed of entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity and small business expertise.”

Helen Scott, Director of Cofton Holidays, is delighted with the success Cofton has experienced within the first quarter of 2022.

“We are all over the moon to win Gold in not one, but two categories at the Visit Devon Tourism Awards. This news came shortly after the South West FSB Celebrating Small Business award win, so to say that we are all on cloud nine is an understatement!

“The award is testament to the amount of time and effort the whole team have put into Cofton Holidays within the last couple of years, leading us through the toughest time the business has ever experienced. We took the opportunity throughout lockdown to invest in our facilities, accommodation, and rewilding project to ensure our customers enjoyed a five-star holiday upon their return to our glorious corner of Devon.

“We’re delighted that our efforts have been recognised by two prestigious award bodies and we now have our fingers crossed for another award win at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards on 7th April 2022.”

Cofton Holidays has been a family-run holiday park for 47 years. Its award-winning facilities include a heated indoor pool with a splash pad area and hydrotherapy loungers, a gym, restaurant, pub, steam room, sauna, fitness studio, soft play area, playground, outdoor pools and much more. Guests also have access to five coarse fishing lakes, miles of cycle paths and nature trails that take visitors through woodland to the golden sands of Dawlish Warren beach and nature reserve.

For more information on Cofton Holidays, visit www.coftonholidays.co.uk or call 01626 890111.