Award Winning – West Bay Discovery Centre

On Thursday night a few of us headed down to Sandy Park (home of Exeter Chiefs) for the South West Tourism Awards. We were up for the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Business Award category and we were amazed when we won GOLD!!  It is a really impressive achievement considering we were up against other top businesses and visitor attractions from the South West’s six counties and Bath and Bristol. 

The judges were really impressed at everything we have done to both manage the centre sustainably and spread awareness of the issues. In particular they loved our ‘Turning the Tide’ plastics exhibition and associated events last year as well as all our efforts to reduce plastics in the shop. The judge said “This is an attractive small museum with a very positive feel about it. Only opened in 2018 it is a place for every age; it is also accessible to all with free admission and the thoughtful placing of low screens and panels for those with special needs. There are bright and informative displays, both historical based particularly on Bridport and surrounding area and of course the sea. I for one learned about ‘nurdles’ for the first time! It has a strong environmental and sustainable ethos which is manifested in the policies and practices. The use of volunteers with only one paid employee appears to be very successful.”

The award is beautiful and far too big to fit in our award display case – so it is currently in the stormy seas area of the centre. Make sure to admire it when you next come in! Thank you so much to our amazing volunteers for everything they do for the Centre. We are entirely reliant on our volunteers, and thanks them our little visitor centre punches well above it’s weight and goes from strength to strength. 

We are featured in this South West tourism awards video, it was an amazing evening and a chance to meet and celebrate the achievements of the top tourism businesses in the South West.