Rise and Shine

Your morning slice of hospitality news in the South West

Dorset

Tourism Awards earn prestigious ‘Outstanding’ Trust Mark accreditation

Services for Tourism has earned ‘Outstanding’ Trust Mark accreditation for their management of the Dorset, Bristol, Bath and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall Tourism Awards.

Daish’s Holidays announces two key head office promotions

Daish’s Holidays, an independent family-owned UK coach holiday group, has announced two significant promotions within its Bournemouth head office team, recognising the talent and dedication of long-serving team members.

EBIKE Cafe & Bar celebrates raising £1,177 for MV Freedom and welcomes back Weldmar Hospice Care as their 2026 Charity Partner

EBIKE Cafe & Bar on Weymouth Harbourside is proud to announce that customers raised £1,177 for its 2025 Charity Partner, MV Freedom, through a combination of fundraising events and the sale of their popular Freedom Flat White.

Taste of the West winners shine at glittering regional celebration

Two hundred guests gathered at Exeter’s Westpoint Arena on Tuesday 3rd February as the Taste of the West Awards recognised the South West’s finest food, drink, and hospitality businesses in an evening of celebration and achievement.

The Apple Tree Farm Shop in Yeovil wins Best Farm Shop at GCA national awards

The Apple Tree Farm Shop at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil has been named Best Food Hall / Best Farm Shop in the Local Garden Centre Category at the Garden Centre Association’s 60th annual conference.

Hall & Woodhouse creates new opportunities for hospitality entrepreneurs

Hall & Woodhouse invested more than £2.5 million into its Business Partner (tenanted) pubs in 2025, including a quarter of a million pounds on a major renovation of the historic Dolphin Hotel in Bovey Tracey, Devon.

Pub business rates comment – CEO of St Austell Brewery, Kevin Georgel

Kevin Georgel, Chief Executive, St Austell Brewery: “We welcome today’s intervention by the government which will mitigate the impact of business rates increases that were scheduled for April.”

New report from VisitBritain/VisitEngland shows tourism worth £147 billion to UK economy

Tourism’s importance to the British economy is highlighted in major new research from national tourism agency VisitBritain/VisitEngland.

Somerset young campaigner joins Emma Thompson in school food film

Rylee, 15, a campaigner and Young Food Ambassador from Somerset, has helped create a powerful animated campaign film narrated by Dame Emma Thompson and three other young people from across the UK

Save the date! Gather – Wednesday 10th June 2026!

This summer, something special happened: The inaugural ‘Gather’, a powerful collaboration between Food Drink Devon and the University of Exeter brought a high-energy event to transform the regional food and drink landscape.

Leading UK vineyards pledge shared commitment to bolstering the West Country wine scene in 2026

A collective of leading southwest vineyards joined forces, pledging even greater collaboration to further bolster the region’s impressive reputation for wine production and tourism.

Triple triumph: The Ilchester Arms celebrates remarkable year of recognition

The Ilchester Arms in Symondsbury is celebrating a remarkable year of recognition!

Five-Star fixer: Fred Sirieix’s call to South West hospitality.

Fred Sirieix is launching a brand-new four-part Channel 4 mission, Fred’s Hotel Fixers, and he’s asking any struggling hospitality businesses in the South West to step forward.

Dorset’s best tourism businesses celebrate

Dorset tourism businesses were celebrating as 68 trophies were presented at the 13th Dorset Tourism Awards in Weymouth Pavilion.

Celebrating 33 years of excellence: The Trencherman’s Guide crowns 28 new restaurants in the South West

The stars of South West hospitality aligned in Cornwall for the high-profile launch of the 33rd edition of the Trencherman’s Guide.

Primrose Farm Shop & Café announces grand opening celebration on 11th October

Primrose Farm Shop & Café, the newly opened hub at Lymburghs Farm near Marnhull, will officially celebrate its launch with a Grand Opening event on Saturday 11th October 2025.