Two of north Wiltshire’s most popular restaurants have done the county proud in a strong showing at a competitive south west tourism awards ceremony.

Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa in Colerne and The Manor House Hotel and Golf Club in Castle Combe both picked up Gold awards at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2013-14 on January 30, as part of an impressive haul for the county.

Lucknam Park won a gold award for large hotel of the year, with The Manor House scooping a close silver.

The Manor House’s Bybrook Restaurant also won top prize in the Taste of South West category, sharing gold with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage deli in Plymouth.

The awards were held in Plymouth, with nearly 350 entries considered and 213 visited by a crack team of mystery shoppers. Many of the  winners will now go on to represent the region at the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in May.

Chair of Judges Alistair Handyside said: “This year we have had the most entries ever and the most challenging judging, the list of finalists really does look like a who’s who of the best in the South West.

“Once again the entrants have surpassed themselves in showing that investment, innovation and creativity remain at the heart of the visitor economy in the region.”

Elsewhere in Wiltshire Warminster’s Longleat Estate won gold for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, beating Cornwall’s Eden Project, and the Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival was named Tourism Event of the Year.

Full details of all the winners can be found at at www.southwesttourismawards.org.uk