Manor house wins top tourist award (From Oxford Mail)

Manor house wins top tourist award

4:39pm Thursday 13th November 2008 in News By Matt Wilkinson

A family-run B&B is vying with Blenheim Palace as one of the top tourist hotspots in South East England.

Caswell House bed and breakfast, at Brize Norton, in west Oxfordshire, won first prize in the Self Catering Holiday of the Year category in the annual Tourism ExSEllence Awards run by Tourism South East.

The owners said they were “thrilled to win” after the judges were impressed by the high-quality accommodation and secret garden.

Caswell House stands alongside Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, which is also celebrating after winning the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award and being named runner-up in the Best Tourism Experience category, where it was pipped to the post by sailing centre Sailnet UK, at Brighton Marina.

Both will now go on to compete in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence next year, representing the South East.

Caswell House, a 15th-century manor house, has been home to the Matthews family for the past 26 years.

The self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation is situated in the grounds of the family’s farm.

Judges praised the conversions of old farm buildings, the bed and breakfast accommodation and the secret garden for children.

Amanda Matthews masterminded the development of the holiday accommodation three years ago.

Her daughter Kate, who helps to run the business, said: “We were absolutely thrilled to win. It’s a very exciting time for us and it’s fantastic we will be in the national awards.

“As a family we have put huge effort into building up this business and it’s great for us to receive this accolade and gain the recognition it brings.

“We would like to thank the district council’s tourism team for all their help and support since we started.”

Cogges Manor Farm Museum, in Witney, was highly commended in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category despite its well-documented troubles.

The Oxfordshire County Council-owned museum’s future still hangs in the balance. The authority has said it can no longer afford to keep the working farm open, because it is losing up to £250,000 a year.

A decision on whether an independent trust will take over the running of the site is expected soon.

Hilary Biles, West Oxfordshire District Council’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism, said: “Tourism plays an important role in the district and the council is committed to encouraging and supporting this industry.

“We’re fortunate to have a diverse range of attractions and accommodation on our doorstep and it’s wonderful these three venues have been recognised in this way.

“We wish them all the best in the national awards next year.”