THERE were celebrations last week at the Arundell Arms Hotel in Lifton, after its unprecedented success at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

The hotel won silver in the best business hotel category and bronze for best tourism activity.

Adam Fox-Edwards, hotel managing director, said: 'These are excellent awards to win as we are competing with the best in the region.

'It reflects well on the consistently hard work and welcome to our guests that all our team provide throughout the year.

'We are well known for our country sports and fine food but the business meetings we host and how we look after our business guests are every bit as important. 

'These awards show the diversity of our business and how it appeals to all of our markets.'

The South West Tourism Excellence Awards are the 'official' tourism awards for the region, linking closely with the awards in Cornwall, Devon and Bristol as well as forming the regional heat of the national VisitEngland awards.

Following its success at the Visit Devon awards in November, the Arundell Arms was entered into the regional competition that covers all of the South West from Gloucester to Penzance. 

It was one of only two hotels in the whole of the South West to be in more than one category.