THREE hotels in West Devon are celebrating after scooping prestigious tourism awards.

The Arundell Arms in Lifton, Percy?s Country Hotel and Restaurant at Coombeshead, and Angler?s Paradise at Halwill all received honours in South West Tourism?s Excellence in England Awards 2002.

The Arundell Arms has been awarded the Chairman?s Award for Excellence, recognising more than 40 years of consistently high quality in food, accommodation and service.

Owner Anne Voss-Bark was delighted with the award.

?This is a real honour,? she said. ?I?m thrilled, as are the rest of the staff who have worked so hard to look after visitors over the years.?

Her hotel has 27 guest rooms and specialises in accommodating fishing and shooting parties.

?We have two fully qualified fly-fishing instructors who teach people to fish,? she explained. ?We run fishing classes throughout the summer.?

Competition was fierce this year with hundreds of other entries from across the South West.

But a judge who visited the hotel about six weeks ago was obviously impressed by the hospitality he received, and Mrs Voss-Bark will now attend a presentation ceremony in Exeter on November 25, where she will collect the coveted award.

As a South West winner she will go on to represent the region at the English Tourism Council?s national finals in London next April.

It is the second time this year the hotel has been honoured. A few months ago it received an award for the quality of its food from the Good Food Guide.

?It?s certainly been a splendid year for us,? said Mrs Voss-Bark. ?I?ve been running the hotel for forty years now and it?s very gratifying to receive recognition like this. It makes it all worthwhile.?

For the second year running Percy?s Country Hotel and Restaurant at Coombeshead was awarded ?Best Small Hotel? delighting owners Tony and Tina Bricknell Webb, who have won a multitude of accolades since opening in 1996.

Tina said last year?s award was a surprise, so to win it again was fantastic:

?We are thrilled to bits and it is recognition for our efforts in continuously trying to improve what we do here,? she said.

Percy?s has simultaneously received a Gold Ribbon from the RAC and been made Stylish and Chic Hotel of the Year in the 2003 Which Hotel Guide.

Tina added that the timing of these awards could not have been better as Percy?s had recently set up the South West?s first Chef?s Academy due to the chronic skills shortage in this country.

?The academy is designed to change the perception that the catering industry has whilst making the training side a lot more stimulating and enjoyable,? she said.

?These awards are crucial in showing youngsters everywhere that this region is in reality a hotbed of opportunities.?

Winner of the ?Best Self Catering Business? for the last two years, Angler?s Paradise at Halwill was this year given a Special Award by the Chairman in recognition of 17 years of success.

Owners Zyg and Rose Gregorek, whose business has grown from one lake and five villas to 20 lakes and 34 villas with associated facilities including a heated swimming pool and two themed bars, said they were very proud to receive this award.

?My wife and I work very very hard behind the scenes and it is nice to get this recognition,? he said.

?Although the main season is April to October, we keep people visiting this area throughout the year with special events and breaks for New Year, Christmas and Valentine?s Day.?

The Gregoreks also raise around thousands of pounds each year for local charities.