A DISABLED businessman from Albaston is ‘absolutely delighted’ after he wowed the judges to win a coveted hospitality industry ‘Oscar’.

Jonathan Pellow, a tetraplegic who broke his neck in 1996, received the Catey Accessibility Award last week in London for his disabled-friendly cottages on Todsworthy Farm.

The cottages provide a natural environment where guests of all physical abilities can feel at home and totally relaxed. The entire site is accessible, with guests encouraged to meet the animals and even large electric wheelchairs are able to access the whole farm, which was an important aspect for Jonathan when designing Todsworthy Farm Holidays.

‘I am absolutely delighted to receive this award — it’s well deserved because we strive to help people with disabilities and I know from first hand experience that there is a lot of accommodation out there that say they are for people with disabilities but not having sat in a wheelchair themselves they don’t really know what we need — and it’s not a holiday when you have to struggle.

‘The judges said that our establishment outclassed any other establishment that they had ever seen before and no-one this year came close,’ added Jonathan, a former farmer, who runs the business with his wife Sarah.

‘We want as many people as possible to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Todsworthy Farm and the beautiful Tamar Valley and to provide the ideal location and well equipped accommodation for those with and without special needs.’

David Croft, disability campaigner and author of Food for Thought, nominated Todsworthy Farm for the award and said: ‘I was delighted that Todsworthy Farm won a Catey having nominated them for the Catey Accessibility Award, especially as the farm is run in part by a fellow tetraplegic.’

The judges recognised that not all hospitality operations would or could go to such lengths to satisfy guests with accessibility needs but that it was ‘impossible to overlook such a shining example of what was possible’.

Judge Helen Dolphin said: ‘When I read this entry, I thought, “this is somewhere I’d want to stay”.

‘The accommodation is well-thought out and the addition of a working farm adds an extra element to a break.’

Judge David Battersby said: ‘A well-written entry that conveys the personal passion and commitment of the entrant — a farmer with disabilities dedicated to meeting the needs of others with a wide range of disabilities.’