Swan House Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Hastings old town has scooped another prestigious tourism award.

For the third time it has picked up Gold in the Beautiful South Awards an awards scheme open to tourism businesses across not just 1066 country but the whole of the south east.

It’s the third time Swan House has won the award Brendan McDonagh, co-owner with Lionel Copley, says his team are bursting with pride: “All the Swan House team are over the moon to receive Tourism South East’s ‘Beautiful South’ Gold Award. We won this in 2009, again in 2014 and now this year. It’s such a huge achievement for us.”

The award was presented by the country’s best known travel journalist Simon Calder, and hosted by headline sponsor the Grand Brighton. The awards saw 80 prestigious gold, silver and bronze trophies handed out along with 18 ‘highly commended’ being awarded.

The awards are run by Tourism South East to recognise and celebrate excellence in the industry. Apart from the prestige and profile for winners, they also inspire other businesses to reinvest and raise standards in quality, innovation and customer service.
Other 1066 Country businesses walking away with top awards were Swallowtail Hill, Beckley who picked up a silver in the Glamping Business and Alternative Accommodation of the Year category and last in the Café/Tearoom of the Year category  Bedgebury Pinetum Café won Gold.

Stewart Drew, Chair of the 1066 Country Marketing Partnership said: “It was fabulous to see our members being rewarded. They were up against stiff competition from across the South East, an area stretching from Bournemouth up to Oxfordshire and across to Kent.

“The breadth and quality of our accommodation has really shone through in recent years, when you add this to an exciting calendar of year round events, brilliant heritage and cultural attractions, and stunning countryside, 1066 Country is fast becoming a stand out, must-visit destination.”

Nominees from the Beautiful South Awards where there is an equivalent national category will also have the opportunity to go through to the Visit England Awards in June 2020.