Wells businesses and attractions are among the 55 finalists for this year's Bristol Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards. 

The Cross at Croscombe is up for B&B and Guesthouse of the Year, while Wells Cathedral features in three categories. The recently renamed The Loft café at Wells Cathedral has been shortlisted in the Café/Tearoom of the Year category, Wells Cathedral is one of just two finalists in the Dog Friendly Business of the Year, and Festival of the Moon is in line for Tourism Event/Festival of the Year.

The finalists will all have to wait until December 1 for the Awards Ceremony at the Winter Gardens in Weston Super Mare, to discover whether they have won Gold, Silver or Bronze awards. A further four will receive Commended status.

Kathryn Davis, Director of Tourism, Visit West, said "On behalf of the Visit West team, I am delighted to congratulate all finalists in these highly competitive awards. Last year, Bristol, Bath and Somerset winners went all the way to winning gold, silver and bronze at the national awards, so who knows where this first step will take you." 

Deborah Heather, Chief Executive Officer, Quality in Tourism, said "The amazing entries from Bristol, Bath and Somerset were just stunning once again. It makes us very proud at Quality in Tourism to be Headline Sponsor and we look forward to celebrating with you all."

Giles Adams, Chair of Visit Somerset, added "This is a huge testament to the performance and resilience of the finalists during such difficult times. Maintaining the external appearance and delivery of our venues and facilities to our valued Somerset visitors is so important and we fully appreciate the immense amount of hard work behind the scenes that the finalists embrace." 

Awards Director, Nell Barrington, said "The judging panel was so impressed with the quality of entrants this year. Despite all the hurdles they have had to overcome they have triumphed and will receive the recognition they deserve. I look forward to celebrating with them all in December." 

The Finalists

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by Visit South Somerset

Finalists

·      Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Wraxall, @Noahs_Ark_Zoo

·      The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath, @RomanBathsBath

·      WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, @WWTSlimbridge

Commended

·      Ocean Adventurers, Cheddar

AGE FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Age UK Somerset

·      To be announced at the Awards event

B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR sponsored by NFU Mutual Wrington

Finalists

·      Bossington Hall, Nr Porlock, @BossingtonHall

·      Brooks Guesthouse, Bath, @Brooksguesthous

·      Old Church Farm, Rudgeway, @OldChurchFarm1

·      The Cross at Croscombe, Wells, @CrossCroscombe

CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Sunflower Social Media

Finalists

·      The Bridge Bakery and Canteen, Langport

·      The Loft – Wells Cathedral Café, Wells, @WellsCathedral1

·      The Purplespoon Café, Bridgwater, @purplespoonage

CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR sponsored by Tozers

Finalists

·      Burton Springs Holidays, Burton, @BurtonSprings

·      Long Hazel Park, Sparkford, @longhazelpark

·      Mendip Basecamp, Churchill

DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Hoseasons

Finalists

·      The Plough Inn, Holford

·      Wells Cathedral, Wells, @WellsCathedral1

ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD sponsored by South West Water

Finalists

·      Long Hazel Park, Sparkford, @longhazelpark

·      Wytch Wood Camping, Crewkerne

Commended

·      UK Active Outdoors Ltd, Keynsham

EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR (ACTIVE OR LEARNING)

Finalists

·      UK Active Outdoors Ltd, SUP for Beginners, Keynsham

·      West of England Falconry, Hawk Walk & Owl Encounter, Nr Bath

Finalists

·      Old Rectory House Somerset, Kilve

·      Orchard Escapes Exmoor, Nr Minehead

·      Torre Cider Co Ltd, Watchet, @TorreCider

HOTEL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Vickery Holman

Finalists

·      Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa, Warminster, @bishopstrow

·      No. 15 by GuestHouse, Bath

·      The Castle at Taunton, @castletaunton

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Visit Somerset

Finalists

·      Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Wraxall, @Noahs_Ark_Zoo

·      The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath, @RomanBathsBath

·      WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, @WWTSlimbridge

Commended

·      Ocean Adventurers, Cheddar

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD sponsored by Visit West

Finalists

·      Orchard Escapes Exmoor, Nr Minehead

·      Queen of Cups Restaurant and Freehouse, Glastonbury

·      Space Adventurers, Taunton

·      The Barn@Podshavers, Bishops Lydeard, @Pod_Shavers

PUB & CASUAL DINING AWARD sponsored by Thatchers

Finalists

·      Corkage, Bath, @corkagebath

·      Kitchen at Quantock Lakes, Nether Stowey, @QuantockLakes

·      Queen of Cups Restaurant and Freehouse, Glastonbury

·      The Queen's Arms, Nr Sherborne, @QueensArmsPub

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR sponsored by VisitExmoor

Finalists

·      The Barn@Podshavers, Bishops Lydeard, @Pod_Shavers

·      The Clockspire Restaurant, Milborne Port, @theclockspire

·      The Restaurant at No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Touch Stay

Finalists

·      Green & Orange – The Stables, Nr Taunton

·      The Middlewick, Glastonbury, @TheMiddlewick

·      Old Rectory House Somerset, Kilve

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Finalists

·      Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein, Bath, @Frankensteinbth

·      Space Adventurers, Taunton

·      West of England Falconry, Nr Bath

SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Mews

Finalists

·      Reconnect Retreat at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, Colerne, @LucknamPark

·      Spa Experience at The Spa at The Middlewick, Glastonbury, @TheMiddlewick

·      You Time Package at The Spa at No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath

Commended

·      Festival Rehab Package at The Spa at No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath

TOURISM EVENT / FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR sponsored by What's On Somerset

Finalists

·      Festival of the Moon - Wells Cathedral, Wells, @WellsCathedral1

·      Medieval Fayre - Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, @GlastonburyAbbe

·      Summer Open Day - Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, @GlastonburyAbbe

Finalists

·      Porlock Visitor Centre, @PorlockVC

·      South Somerset Visitor Information Centre, Nr Yeovil, @VisitSSomerset

WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Mews

Finalists

·      Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, Colerne, @LucknamPark

·      The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath, @BathVenues

WINNER OF WINNERS sponsored by Weston College

·      To be announced at the Awards event