Red Funnel’s annual Isle of Wight Awards were handed out at Northwood House in Cowes last night (Thursday) celebrating businesses that make the Island a unique and incredible destination for tourists and Islanders. Almost 60,000 votes were cast by members of the Island community, selecting their top 3 businesses for 20 different awards across 4 categories – accommodation, food and drink, things to do and ‘other’. Overall, 60 gold, silver and bronze awards were issued, shining a spotlight on well-established tourism businesses as well as on a record-breaking 21 newcomers, who all picked up their first accolade in 2023. 349 businesses from all over the Isle of Wight were nominated this year, underscoring the tremendous variety of places to eat, stay and spend a great day out on the Island. Walk the Wight, Grace’s Bakery, Sentry Mead, and Fins Beach Café are 3 brand new gold winners for 2023, taking home awards in the Best Event, Best Local Produce, Best B&B and Best Café categories respectively. Repeat winners include The Blacksmiths winning Best Pub, Corries Cabin taking home the prize for Best Fish & Chips and Monkey Haven, retaining their title for Best Small Attraction. Best Place for Dogs went to Luccombe Manor Hotel, whilst sister hotel Luccombe Hall secured Gold for Best Hotel Experience. Best Restaurant on the Isle of Wight was clinched by The Yarbridge Inn, headed up by the Fox family. Taking home the Gold award for Best Self-Catering from a trio of three Awards newcomers, Beth and Sarah Medley, Owners of Beachlands Collective said:
“We are incredibly honoured to have won a gold award this year and wish to thank Red Funnel and everybody who voted for making this possible. We have loved hosting people from locals to tourists over the last year and can’t wait to continue offering a great experience.”
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, presenting the awards last night, said:
“I want to say a huge congratulations to all of the award winners and applaud their success and well-deserved prize. I also want to thank everyone and every business that was nominated for making the Island a destination that continues to deliver outstanding memories and experiences. Finally, I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote. It was a pleasure to meet so many business owners and I’m already looking forward to the 2024 awards”.
The full list of this year’s winners can be found below:
| Accommodation | Food & Drink | Things To Do | Other |
| Best B&B / Guest House Gold – Sentry Mead Silver – The Chequers Inn Bronze – St Leonards Guest House | Best Burger Gold – The Cow Silver – The Blacksmiths Bronze – Harbour Kitchen | Best Activity Provider Gold – Island Gems Fossil Trips Silver – Tackt-Isle Adventures Bronze – Haven Falconry Bird of Prey Centre | Best Green Business Gold – Tapnell Farm Silver – Monkey Haven Bronze – Roake Studio |
| Best Campsite Gold – The Orchards Holiday Park Silver – Waverley Park Holiday Centre Bronze – Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park | Best Café or Tearoom Gold – Fins Beach Cafe Silver – Blueberrys Café Bronze – Dimbola Tea Room & Coffee House | Best Island Event Gold – Walk the Wight Silver – The Isle of Wight Festival Bronze – The Isle of Wight Walking Festival | Best Newcomer Gold – Definitely Cheesecakes Silver – Hayden’s Chip Shop Bronze – Isle Love Sweets |
| Best Holiday Park Gold – Waverley Park Holiday Centre Silver – The Orchards Holiday Park Bronze – Nodes Point Holiday Park | Best Fish & Chips Gold – Corries Cabin Silver – The Waterfront Bar & Restaurant Bronze – Hayden’s Chip Shop | Best Large Attraction Gold – Tapnell Farm Silver – The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Bronze – Wildheart Animal Sanctuary | Best Place for Dogs Gold – Luccombe Manor Hotel Silver – Off the Rails Bronze – Snacks & Ladders Board Game Café |
| Best Hotel Experience Gold – Luccombe Hall Hotel Silver – The Royal Bronze – The Seaview Hotel | Best Local Produce Gold – Grace’s Bakery Silver – The Isle of Wight Distillery Bronze – Briddlesford Farm | Best Small Attraction Gold – Monkey Haven Silver – The Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum Bronze – The Isle of Wight Ghost Experience | |
| Best Place to go Glamping Gold – Tom’s Eco Lodge Silver – Glamping the Wight Way Bronze – The Garlic Farm Yurts | Best Pub Gold – The Blacksmiths Silver – The Old Fort, Seaview Bronze – The Caulkheads | Best Shop/ Retail Gold – The Garlic Farm Shop Silver – Jurassic Jim Bronze – Isle Love Sweets | |
| Best Self-Catering Gold – Beachlands Collective Silver – Haviland Cottage Bronze – Beryl Farm Cottages | Best Restaurant Gold – The Yarbridge Inn Silver – Smoking Lobster Bronze – True Food Kitchen |
Well done to you all…. we love graces bakery and isle love sweets yummy
Well done to everyone involved
60,000 voted?, population is 130,000 take away under 18s , over 80s and people like me (thousands) who were not aware or interested. Many votes must of come from tourists or did many vote many times for different categories or fake it ?. I’m sure most islanders would prefer ferry prices reduced than awards for businesses?.
People obviously voted multiple times. Probably the owners of these businesses.
Load of cobblers, backhanders for publicity to get more grockles to infest the island.
Best fish and chips to corries comes with very high prices too.
Pan fish and chips are the best all round
with much more reasonable affordable prices and quality ,long may they continue and should be recognised
How can The Yarbridge Inn be classed as a restaurant? I’ve nothing against the place, but it’s an INN (PUB) that serves tasty food, certainly not a restaurant. It follows that every island pub that sells food should now be classed as a restaurant. The silver and bronze winners are certainly restaurants – not pubs.
Well done to ALL of the hard working and dedicated staff at The BLACKSMITHS!!! We are regulars and LOVE you all. THE place to go for a memorable occasion. Love S&P