The winners of the inaugural 2019 BH Star Awards were announced at a glamour-filled, glitzy gala awards’ ceremony held at The Lighthouse, Poole on 14thMarch 2019.
A fabulous, fun-filled celebration of tourism, business and retail at its finest, the new BH Star Awards were extremely competitive, drawing entrants from throughout the BH post code area across 25 categories.
Finalists were treated to a spectacular display of entertainment by The Benedicts whilst creative catering was provided by Dorset-based Molecular Magic. A vibrant and creative approach was used to launch and publicise these new prestigious awards, something which appealed to entrants and supporters alike.
The award categories included dining experience, hotel and self catering accommodation, new business, innovation, activities, retailer experience, green initiatives and more.
Ward Goodman’s Wimborne accountants were sponsoring the Community Award, a very competitive category with a diverse list of finalist including Bournemouth Rocks 2018, Bourne Free, Bournemouth University, Dorset Foodie Family, Ellis Jones Solicitors, Frankenfest 2018, Highcliffe Action Team, Hays Travel Southbourne, Poole Bay Rotary Club, Poole Hill Brewery, Shelley Theatre and Wave Project Dorset.
The awards were also supported by other sponsors and partners including: A-One Insurance Group, County Foods, Country Fare, Mploy, Goadsby,, Meridian Lifts, Meridian Air Conditioning, Oceana Hotel Group, Sandown Mercedes, Nativ, Ist Waste Management, Daily Echo, Wave 105, BoHo Beach House, BC Nutrition, ELIS, Templar Wines, Conker Spirit, Amica and Expect Best.

Jackie Phillipson, co-founder of ROUTEpr and Events, organiser and curator of the Star Awards, said: “The value of winning, kudos and related publicity mean that winners have something to shout about as they return to congratulate their teams. The judges were impressed by business growth and development, but we must say well done to all entrants, semi-finalists and especially, tonight’s winners.
“Entrants, sponsors and partners have excelled themselves with their commitment to doing a fantastic and professional job. High calibre entrants show Dorset has what it takes to sparkle with stellar performance.”
“The evening is also the standout event for making regional tourism connections amongst those who tireless hard work and dedication go into creating this award-winning destination.”
The 2019 BH Star Awards winners are:
Legend Award (sponsored by ROUTEpr & Events)
Ian Goode, Goode Experience
Education & Mentoring (sponsored by Shorefield)
WINNER/GOLD Capital School of English
SILVER BU Dept of Tourism & Hospitality
BRONZE Trainer Lash
Getting About (sponsored by Daily Echo)
WINNER/GOLD Dorset Cruises
SILVER PRC Streamline Taxis
BRONZE Morebus
BRONZE South Coast Caravan Hire
Shopping Experience (2 Gold Winners) (sponsored by BoHo Beach House)
WINNER/GOLD SHOPPING DESTINATION The Furlong Shopping Centre
WINNER/GOLD SHOPPING EXPERIENCE Dacombes of Wimborne
SILVER Webster Family Butchers
SILVER Gullivers Farm & Shop
BRONZE The Christchurch Confectioner & Gin Shop
BRONZE Westbourne Bookshop
Environment & Sustainability (sponsored by 1stWaste Management)
WINNER/GOLD Terroir Tapas
SILVER The Urban Guild
SILVER Sturts Community Trust
BRONZE Poole Hill Brewery
BRONZE South Lytchett Manor Caravan & Camping Park
Learning Experience (sponsored by Shorefield)
WINNER/GOLD Webster Family Butchers
SILVER Food For Thought Cookery School
BRONZE Capital School of English
BRONZE Bodega
Community Award (sponsored by Ward Goodman)
WINNER/GOLD Wave Project
SILVER Bourne Free
BRONZE HAT (Highcliffe Action Team)
BRONZE Hays Travel Southbourne
BRONZE Frankenfest 2018
BRONZE Bournemouth Rocks 2018
Investing in People (sponsored by Shorefield)
WINNER/GOLD The Green House Hotel and Arbor Restaurant
SILVER Brewhouse and Kitchen
SILVER SAMEE
BRONZE Hilton Bournemouth
BRONZE Village Hotel Bournemouth
Self Catering Accommodation (sponsored by ROUTEpr & Events)
WINNER/GOLD Burnbake Forest Lodges
SILVER South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park
BRONZE Wanderlust Retreats
Boutique Hotel (sponsored by Goadsby)
WINNER/GOLD The Urban Beach Hotel
SILVER The Grove Hotel
BRONZE The Lord Bute
BRONZE Tiien Boutique Hotel
Attraction of the Year Award (sponsored by Wave 105)
WINNER/GOLD Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park
SILVER Adventure Wonderland
SILVER New Forest Water Park
BRONZE Poole Hill Brewery
BRONZE Marvo Mysteries Escape Room
Large Hotel (sponsored by County Foods)
WINNER/GOLD Hilton Hotel Bournemouth
2ND/SILVER Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa
2ND/SILVER The Cumberland Hotel
3RD/BRONZE The Marsham Court Hotel
Business Tourism & Venue (sponsored by Mploy)
WINNER/GOLD Hotel Miramar
SILVER Dorset Cruises
SILVER Oceana Hotel Group
SILVER Marsham Court Hotel
BRONZE Parley Manor Weddings
BRONZE Hilton Bournemouth
Spa, Pampering & Wellbeing (sponsored by BC Nutrition)
WINNER/GOLD Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa
SILVER Village Hotel Club Bournemouth
SILVER Oceana Day Spa
BRONZE Soda Beauty & Blow Dry Bar
Cafe, Tea Room (sponsored by 15 Mile Foodie)
WINNER/GOLD Number 9 On The Green
SILVER The Paddle
SILVER Pause Cat Cafe
BRONZE Upton Central Coffee Shop
BRONZE Binnies Cafe
BRONZE Frieda’s Tearoom
BRONZE Little Pickle Deli Café
Pub of the Year (sponsored by ELIS)
WINNER/GOLD Bodega
SILVER Jenkins & Sons
SILVER Church St. Gin House
BRONZE The Silent Woman
BRONZE Renoufs Westbourne
BRONZE 1812 Lounge Bar and Restaurant
Innovation & Future Proofing (sponsored by Oceana Hotel Group)
WINNER/GOLD Conker Spirit – RNLI Navy Strength Gin
SILVER Drop the Anchor Brewery
SILVER Food For Thought Cookery School
SILVER Capital School of English
BRONZE TerroirTapas, The Larder House
BRONZE Soapbox Spirits Ltd, Pothecary Gin
Customer Service (sponsored by ROUTEpr & Events)
WINNER/GOLD Tiien Thai
SILVER Webster Family Butchers
SILVER PRC Streamline Taxis
BRONZE Country Fare
BRONZE Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa
Chef of the Year (sponsored by Sandown Mercedes)
WINNER/GOLD Luke Jefford,The Tickled Pig
SILVER Matt Budden, Hilton, Schpoons & Forx
SILVER Maciek Kijewski, Molecular Magic Creative Catering
SILVER Jeremy Fenton, The Lord Bute Hotel
BRONZE Christian Orner, Salt Co
BRONZE Steve Hall, The Noisy Lobster
BRONZE Jordon Hale, The Goods Yard
BRONZE Antonio Balmon, Lolas
Mix Master (Public Vote) (sponsored by Meridian Lifts)
WINNER/GOLD Julezz Towers, TGI Fridays
SILVER Stuart Reeves, Chaplins
SILVER Jess Smits, Be At One
BRONZE Ashley Barnett, Church St Gin House
BRONZE Alex West, Ojo Rojo
BRONZE Daniel Alves, Lolas
New Business (sponsored by A-One Insurance Group)
WINNER/GOLD Drgnfly
SILVER South Coast Caravan Hire
SILVER Food For Thought Cookery School
SILVER Zim Braai
BRONZE Terrior Tapas
BRONZE Luvwed Group
BRONZE Christian Orner, SALT Co
Night Time Award (sponsored by Templar Wines)
WINNER/GOLD Coastal Comedy
SILVER Halo
SILVER Mai Tai Cocktail Bar
BRONZE Be At One
BRONZE Carls Comedy Club
BRONZE Canvas
Dining Experience (sponsored by Country Fare)
WINNER/GOLD Molecular Magic Creative Catering
SILVER The Tickled Pig
SILVER Ojo Rojo
SILVER Tiien Thai
BRONZE Lolas
BRONZE The Jetty
BRONZE The Larderhouse
BRONZE Renoufs
Tourism Event/Festival (sponsored by Shorefield)
WINNER/GOLD Bourne Free
SILVER Bournemouth 7s Festival
SILVER Christmas In The Coastal Villages
BRONZE Sandfest
BRONZE Dorset Cruises
Rising Star (Public Vote) (sponsored by Meridian Air Conditioning)
WINNER/GOLD Bill Webb, Poole Hill Brewery
SILVER Ty Temel
BRONZE George Barry, Dudsbury Golf Club, Hotel and Spa
BRONZE Mark Palmer, Luvwed Group
BRONZE Hamit Kircal, Myshake Bar
Leading Star, Unsung Hero (sponsored by Nativ)
WINNER/GOLD Andy Lennox, Zim Braai
SILVER Fiona McArthur, SOSBA
SILVER Wendy Parrott, Youth Cancer Trust
BRONZE Jane Hart, Oakemedians
BRONZE Malcolm Angel, Gullivers
BRONZE Keith Hemmings, Morebus
Robert Braithwaite Apprentice Award 2020
The organisers announced a new award: The Robert Braithwaite CBE,DL Apprentice Award which has been created in his memory for the founder of Sunseeker International. Robert was a firm believer in the power of apprenticeships and anyone who worked with him will understand the significance of this award in his memory.
Photo Credit: Sam Sheldon/ROUTEpr