Gold for Rydon Farm B&B in Tourism Awards

Philip and Sally Glanvill are celebrating today having won Gold in the prestigious South West Tourism Excellence Awards held on Thursday 4th February.

The event took place in the stunning location of the Nave of Exeter Cathedral and was hosted by ITV news presenters Kylie Pentelow and Ian Axton with an inspiring opening address by travel journalist and Chair of the Family Holiday Association Alison Rice.

The awards broke the previous record for entries with 490 submissions being considered, each going through a rigorous 3-stage judging process of marking, visits and panel meetings.

Robin Barker of Services for Tourism, who manages the awards programme, said “This year’s awards have set new standards in both numbers and quality standards. It never ceases to amaze me how our top businesses continue to reinvent themselves to stay at the top in one of the world’s most fast-moving and competitive industries.”

Rydon Farm is located in the village of Woodbury, just seven miles from Exeter and already holds the title of Number One Bed and Breakfast in Exeter on Trip Advisor. The 16th Century Devon longhouse has been occupied by the Glanvill family for several generations and has been run as a B&B and dairy farm by owners Philip and Sally for 28 years. Rydon Farm’s recent success follows a Gold Award at the Devon Tourism Awards in November 2015.

Their mystery shopper congratulated Philip and Sally for their achievement and said “For visitors to be able to come to Devon and experience a real working farm, have such a great welcome, stay in such comfortable surroundings, eat such lovely local, beautifully presented and cooked food is just what Devon needs.”

Sally said: “We are delighted to have been recognised with this prestigious award. We pride ourselves on the quality of our food and service. We enjoy welcoming visitors to Devon and offer a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere for both business and leisure guests.”

Sally is a long time member of both Devon Farms and Farm Stay UK, co-operatives of friendly, farming families who enjoy sharing the countryside with guests and have been offering bed and breakfast and self catering properties for over 25 years.

Judges loved the fact that Rydon Farm is still a working dairy farm. They praised Sally for her achievement and commented “How absolutely wonderful for visitors from both the UK and abroad to arrive in the “country lane”, enter the arched gate into the charming flower garden (using old water trough and barrows full of bright colourful flowers) and then come face to face with live cows just next to the garden gazing over the garden wall literally just outside the front door. To see them mooching about waiting to be milked and be able to touch one if you wished was almost surreal.”