TWO businesses and a charity from West Devon and East Cornwall celebrated last week after receiving top prizes in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

Pentillie Castle in East Cornwall, the Arundell Arms in Lifton, and Cotehele, the National Trust's Tudor mansion, garden and estate near St Dominick, were all prize winners.

With military drummers bringing the audience to attention, the awards, in association with Source for Business, were announced at Plymouth's Holiday Inn, where 66 different awards were presented following a rigorous judging process.

Breaking the previous record for entries, nearly 350 entries were considered for the awards, with all entrants undergoing a rigorous shortlisting process and 213 going on to be visited by a team of 35 mystery shoppers.

Pentillie, built in 1698, was awarded gold in the Bed and Breakfast and Guest Accommodation of the Year category. The category recognises B&Bs, farmhouses, inns, restaurants with rooms and guesthouses 'offering a high standard of accommodation'.

Cotehele was presented with a bronze award in the category of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year.

Cotehele shared the bronze prize with Trebah Garden near Falmouth, in recognition of the fact that the popular visitor attraction was of 'an excellent standard throughout'.

Last autumn, Cotehele won Gold for the best Historic and Heritage Property and Country House in Cornwall at the 'Cornwall Tourism Awards' — and was fast-tracked into the Large Visitor Attraction in the South West category last week.

The Arundell Arms in Lifton was awarded three prizes during the ceremony.

It received a gold in the Venue and Business Tourism award, a silver in the Tourism Activity, Sport and Experience of the Year, and a bronze in the Sustainable Tourism Award.

Pentillie's managing director Sammie Coryton said: 'Huge thanks to all the Pentillie team who have continued to work hard and maintain the high standard of accommodation we have here at the castle.

'Being recognised for our efforts by the South West's tourism leaders is important to us and their enthusiasm is shared by all the people who love Pentillie, including those who stay here again and again.'

Charmian Saunders, Cotehele's visitor services and volunteer manager, said: 'We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award and I was honoured to accept it on behalf of all the team at Cotehele, both staff and volunteers, in recognition of their hard work.

'It is an honour to be recognised among such high quality peers and to share this award with Trebah Garden.'

Adam Fox-Edwards, the Arundell Arms Hotel managing director, said: 'I am absolutely delighted that we won these awards.

To win an award in each category we have been shortlisted in really does reflect well on the whole team at the hotel and recognises what they do throughout the year. What a wonderful way to start 2014.'

Chair of Judges Alistair Handyside said: 'It's that time of year when the tourism industry gets together to present the top businesses in our region with their well-deserved awards.

'This year we have had the most entries ever and the most challenging judging. The list of finalists really does look like a who's who of the best in the South West.

'Once again the entrants have surpassed themselves in showing that investment, innovation and creativity remain at the heart of the visitor economy in the region.'