PKF Francis Clark's latest annual tourism business figures show that 2017 was a bumper year with overall occupancy trading at 55%, the highest annual figures recorded by the firm. This is in contrast to the early part of this decade where the figures hovered around 50%. Average occupancies were also up on 2016 levels at 1.5%.

Month on month there were also some interesting variations with the usual peak during the summer months, but a spike in occupancies in November and December which are now closer to 40% on average, as opposed to below the 30% mark, previously experienced in the...

From major coastal engineering works and sand movements through to charismatic wildlife and hidden heritage, a wide range of coastal topics is being covered at 2018’s Teign Estuary and Coastal Partnership’s Annual Forum.

This free public event is being held at Pavilions Teignmouth on Monday 26 February at 7pm. Guests will be able to sample some local ‘Taste of the Teign’ produce which has been kindly sponsored by Associated British Ports.

The Partnership, led by Teignbridge District Council, co-ordinates the management of the Teign Estuary and the open coast between Dawlish...

Rob Baxter says his Exeter Chiefs side are facing a pivotal month ahead as they look to strength their position at the summit of the Aviva Premiership. The reigning champions head into tomorrow’s Round 14 battle against visiting Worcester Warriors at Sandy Park (2pm), looking to build on their five-point advantage over next-best Saracens at the top of the table. Having used the past fortnight in the Anglo-Welsh Cup to not only recharge a number of his frontline stars, Baxter has also seen others first-team stars come to the fore as Devon’s finest progressed into the last four of the...

A prize-winning young Devon body painter will be creating a human work of art in Exeter this weekend (February 10th and 11th) during this year’s One Billion Rising events, which are part of an international campaign against exploitation and violence against women.

18-year-old Milena Watts will paint a heart on her model, Dan, as part of a design representing healthy relationships.

She has come on board to support Exeter’s charity SAFE (Stop Abuse For Everyone) who are organising the One Billion Rising events in the city over the weekend. This year their focus is on...

More money will be spent on Devon’s roads as well as adult social care, health and children’s services, according to the county council’s proposed new budget.

The budget for 2018/19 will be discussed by the Cabinet on Friday and will then have to be ratified by the full council meeting next week (February 15).

The draft budget published before Christmas calls for an extra £13 million to be spent on adult care and health. That’s a rise of over 6 per cent and will take the total care budget to £227.8 million.

And on Tuesday the Government announced an extra £2.2...

Exeter City Futures has launched a crowdfunding movement called #EveryonesExeter. The crowdfunding movement can be used by anyone with project ideas that address city challenges around congestion and energy. #EveryonesExeter enables individuals and communities to share their ideas, build support and pledge and pitch for funding. Exeter City Futures is are looking for projects that help make Exeter a more sustainable city, and a better place to live for future generations. The #EveryonesExeter crowdfunding movement is available on Spacehive, a funding platform that enables individuals and...

Devon residents produced less rubbish for disposal per household than in any other county according to government figures.

Defra figures for 2016/17 show that Devon's households typically produced just 4.94kg of ‘black bin or bag’ residual waste each week – down from 5.94kg in 2012, a 20 per cent decrease. Devon has also cemented its place as one of the top recycling counties in the country, with a recycling rate of 55.7 per cent. This means Devon is now third in the county recycling league table behind Oxfordshire and Surrey. This is the highest position since 2011. Much of this...

Managing Director of the Devon based global entertainment agency Scarlett Entertainment, Rebecca Marks, is named on the list of ‘100 most influential Women 2018’ in Greater Exeter by Grow Exeter business magazine.

Around 500 people were nominated for the award and it comes as no surprise that Rebecca Marks made it in to the final 100 given Scarlett Entertainment’s outstanding growth in the past few years.

Rebecca Marks founded Scarlett Entertainment along with her brother Benjamin Marks in 2009 and since then the entertainment booking agency has grown to become the industry...