Alix from myisleofwight.com shares details of the Isle of Wight businesses who were a hit with visitors in the last year. Ed
Island businesses are definitely a hit with visitors according to the results of the myisleofwight.com Awards run over the past year. The myisleofwight.com Awards were the first visitor voted awards run on the Island and show the real engagement the public have with some of our great Island establishments.
The awards were over 24 categories and saw a total of 4422 votes being cast.
Stand out winners were Ventnor Fringe winning in two categories – first in the Best Event to be Immersed in Culture as well as joint winner of the Best Event to Lie Back & Soak up the Sounds with Bestival. The Royal Hotel also proved a firm favourite winning both Best Epicurean Spot to Blow the Budget and The Ultimate Classic Hotel Experience.
See, Do, Eat and Stay
The awards were spilt into four categories to mirror the myisleofwight.com website – See, Do, Eat and Stay.
See saw Ventnor Botanic Gardens win the Best Place to Explore Gardens, Osborne House the Best Place to go Back in Time, Isle of Wight Zoo the Best Place to make a Furry Friend and timeless Blackgang Chine take the award for Best Place for Something for the Family.
Do – covering things to do, shop and events to attend – saw Island Gems Fossil Hunts win Best Land-Based Activity Provider, while the winner of the Best Water-Based Activity Provider went to UKSA. Quay Arts was the Best Place to get Crafty, Live Like This the Best Shops to Pick up that Special Something, and Walk the Wight got the Best Event to Burn off the Calories.
Ventnor Fringe scooped two awards winning the Best Event to be Immersed in Culture as well as joint winner of the Best Event to Lie Back & Soak up the Sounds with Bestival.
Showing a real appreciation for the Island’s love affair with local produce Minghella Ice Cream scooped the Favourite Local Produce to Gorge On award with the Garlic Farm hot on its heels winning the Best Place to Fill your Boots (Full of Local Produce).
The Eat category continues delivering the goods with Best Afternoon/Cream Tea going to award winning Dimbola Lodge, Best Oldy-Worldy Pub with Island Ale to The Buddle, The Best Homemade Burger to The Taverners and the Best Refreshment Stop whilst out Walking/Pedalling going to Freshwater Bay’s Dandelion Café.
Top of the Stay category was The Royal Hotel winning two awards – both the Best Epicurean Spot to Blow the Budget and The Ultimate Classic Hotel Experience. Newcomers Tom’s Eco Lodges snuck the win in the Best Place to go Glamping while Ninham Country Holidays got the vote for the Best Rustic Camping Experience.
Most Comfy Bed & Hearty Breakfast went to Ocean View House and self catering was sewn up by Tapnell Farm for the Best Place for a Shin Dig (self catering) and the idyllic Longstone Cottage taking the Cosiest Cottage Hideaway award.
Winners will be presented with their awards at a special awards evening to be hosted at Ventnor Arts Club in September.
Background of myisleofwight.com
myisleofwight.com, the Island’s independent visitor guide and online magazine, has been keeping visitors and locals alike informed on all that is great about the Island since 2011.
Set up by Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries to engage with new visitors in a format and voice that research showed they wanted, this is a real locals guide to the Island. The site focuses on the Island’s best events, eateries, places to visit or stay – through features, documentaries, blogs, photography and film – all written and created by Islanders.
Red Funnel Head of Marketing Tom Pell-Stevens said,
“We’re delighted that so many people got involved and wanted to have there say in our inaugural myisleofwight Awards. This feedback gives us a real steer on what people visiting the Island are enjoying and want to see more of.”
myisleofwight.com Editor Alix Robinson said,
“The awards are a real testament to how much people have engaged with not just our site but the Island experience as a whole. We have about 15000 page views per month and a fantastic following on Facebook and Twitter, and are delighted that everyone got involved with the awards to tell us who is really getting it right from the visitors perspective. Don’t worry if you missed out having your say in last years awards – the 2013 awards are now open so make sure you get involved this year.”
See more at myisleofwight.com
