Gold for Coastal Vibes at the Dorset Tourism Awards 2026
Sophie and Laura
A night out with Dorset’s tourism crowd
On Thursday 22 October, I joined the county’s tourism and hospitality businesses at Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth, for the 2026 Dorset Tourism Awards.
I went along with Laura from Resort Dorset, who sponsor the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year award, and the team from Coastal Vibes Cruises.
BBC Radio Solent’s Steve Harris hosted again, with Tomorrows Travel as headline sponsor. The dress code asked guests to be sustainably stylish, so plenty of favourite outfits got a second outing.
The Dorset Tourism Awards are organised by Services for Tourism. They recognise businesses with Gold, Silver, Bronze and Commended awards across more than 20 categories, from pubs and campsites to museums and festivals.
Ben and Richard from Coastal Vibes collecting GOLD
Gold for Coastal Vibes Cruises
The highlight of my night came when Coastal Vibes Cruises won Gold for New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Visit Dorset.
Coastal Vibes runs cruises from Weymouth Harbour on a 250-seat passenger boat. Days bring sightseeing trips along the Jurassic Coast. Evenings bring themed cruises with music, food and entertainment. The boat also takes private charters for weddings, birthdays and corporate events.
The category was strong. Ringstead Bay Camping took Silver, with Lyme RIB Rides and Southside Funfair sharing Bronze. Three of the four are Weymouth businesses, which says a lot about the town’s tourism scene right now.
This one felt personal. Coastal Vibes was a community sponsor of the Dorset Seafood Festival this year. We own the festival as well as running its PR, so we worked with the team closely, and it was wonderful to do so.
Congratulations to the whole Coastal Vibes crew. It was a joy to be at the table when your name was read out.
Guests at the table
Other winners from the night
Birds of Poole Harbour took the top prize, Winner of Winners. They also won Gold for Regenerative Tourism and for their Poole Harbour Osprey Cruises in Active & Learning Experience of the Year.
Our hosts had a good night too. Marsham Court Hotel won Gold for Accessible and Inclusive Tourism and for Innovative Employer, plus Silver for Business Events Venue of the Year.
Some of the other Gold winners:
| Award | Gold winner |
|---|---|
| Hotel of the Year | Summer Lodge Hotel, Evershot |
| Large Visitor Attraction of the Year | Nothe Fort, Weymouth |
| Small Visitor Attraction of the Year | Dorset Adventure Park, Purbeck |
| Pub of the Year | Brace of Pheasants, Dorchester |
| Restaurant & Casual Dining of the Year | St Tropez Restaurant and Club, Poole |
| Café/Tearoom of the Year | The Upwey Wishing Well Tea Room and Water Gardens, Weymouth |
| Tourism Event/Festival of the Year | Inside Out Dorset 2025 |
| International Tourism Award | Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester |
| Wedding Venue of the Year | Abbots Court, Blandford Forum |
David Bailey received the Outstanding Contribution to Dorset Tourism award. Callum Atkins of St Tropez Lounge and Club won the Unsung Hero award.
You can see every winner on the Dorset Tourism Awards website.
Why awards are worth the effort
An award gives you a story to tell. It’s third-party proof that your business delivers, and it gives local and trade press a reason to write about you.
There’s a bigger prize too. In past years, many Gold winners at the Dorset Tourism Awards have gone forward to represent the county at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. Marsham Court did exactly that in 2025, winning Silver nationally.
If you’re thinking about entering next year, start gathering evidence now: guest feedback, photos, figures and press coverage. Strong entries show results, not just ambition.
Congratulations to every winner and finalist. Dorset’s tourism sector is in good hands.
