Harry Murray and Graham Grose win outstanding contribution awards
Harry Murray and Graham Grose, two of the UK's most enduring hoteliers, have been presented with Outstanding Contribution to Tourism awards at the South West Tourism Awards of Excellence.
They received their accolades at a celebratory dinner for nearly 500 guests at the Ashton Gate Stadium, the home of Bristol Rugby and Bristol City FC.
Murray (pictured), chairman of Lucknam Park near Bath, and Grose, owner of Thurlestone hotel, Thurlestone, Devon, were honoured for their service to and lobbying on behalf of the tourism industry in the south west of England. Robin Barker, chief executive of marketing body Services for Tourism, also received the same award.
On accepting the award, Murray, the 1986 Hotelier of the Year, said: "I am honoured, delighted and proud to accept this award on behalf of all the people I have worked with throughout my career."
A total of 135 different awards were presented throughout the evening. The hotel and restaurant winners were:
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Gold
â- The Manor House Hotel & Golf club, Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Silver
â- Bovey Castle, North Bovey, Devon
â- Hell Bay Hotel, Isles of Scilly
â- The Bristol, Bristol
SMALL HOTEL/BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Gold
â- Glazebrook House Hotel, South Brent, Devon
â- Kentisbury Grange, Kentisbury, Devon
Silver
â- Lewtrenchard Manor, near Okehampton, Devon
â- Trevose Harbour House, Saint Ives, Cornwall
Bronze
â- Dunkery Beacon Country House, Wootton Courtenay, Somerset
â- The Kings Arms, Christchurch, Dorset
RESTAURANT/BISTRO OF THE YEAR
Gold
â- The Coach House by Michael Caines, Kentisbury, Devon
Silver
â- The Coleridge Restaurant, Wootton Courtenay, Somerset
â- The Dining Room restaurant, Rock, Cornwall
Bronze
â- Eastbury Hotel, Sherbourne, Dorset
â- Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Devon
â- The Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth, Dorset
â- The Scarlet Restaurant , Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
The Caterer interview: Martin Couchman >>
The Caterer Interview - Harry Murray >>
Videos from The Caterer archives
