B&B strikes gold at tourism awards

Kester House was awarded B&B of the year at the annual Beautiful South Awards, while Crowhurst Holiday Park was awarded the Silver Award in the Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year category.

The awards were announced in front of 300 guests at a gala dinner and presentation ceremony at The Felbridge Hotel in West Sussex on November 27.

Now running for more than 20 years, the Beautiful South Awards celebrate the very best the South East has to offer.

The awards ceremony was co-hosted by TSE Chairman, Ken Robinson CBE and travel journalist and broadcaster Alison Rice.

The proprietors of Kester House, Derek and Monique Wright said they were ‘delighted’ with their win and ‘proud’ to support local tourism.

They said: “We were delighted to win Gold this year at these prestigious awards, after a Silver last year, when only 18 months in business, this is brilliant.

“We are so happy to win and to put Sedlescombe on the map.”

They added: “We just love what we do and make guests feel at home and relaxed when they stay.

“We are proud to be supporting local tourism and 1066 Country is so full of great castles, gardens and interesting attractions that creating enjoyable days out for our guests is easy.”

George Bailey, chair of 1066 Country Marketing, said: “It is great to see such excellence rewarded.

“The 2013 Beautiful South Awards represent the culmination of hard work and dedication by the best tourism professionals, in our best tourism businesses, that have been recognised for providing such outstanding customer experiences.”

Winners go on to represent the South East on the national stage at the Visit England Awards for Excellence in 2014.