BUDE has been voted the ‘Best UK Seaside Town’ picking up Gold in the British Travel Awards, writes Christine Williams.

Between July and September this year 334,522 consumers cast their votes to determine the winners of the prestigious British Travel Awards.

When the 2018 winners were announced by TV presenter Miles Jupp at a presentation ceremony in London last Wednesday, November 28, it was revealed that for the third time Bude had come first in the category Best UK Seaside Town with Bournemouth second and St Ives third.

Mark Hibbard, tourism officer and a director of Bude Area Tourist Board, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted with this gold award. All the vision and local investment that is going into the Bude area — creating new places to eat, places to stay and exciting things to do for visitors to Bude, is clearly appealing to day visitors and holiday visitors alike.

“The fact that this award is based on real votes by real people makes it even more special. Bude Area Tourist Board operates the Bude Tourist Information Centre and VisitBude website. We’re proud to represent many tourism businesses, working together to provide a thriving and continually improving visitor destination — we look forward to welcoming even more visitors in 2019!”

Last weekend the trophy, having been brought down from London by someone from the Lost Gardens of Heligan, had not yet reached Bude but it will soon be on display in a glass cabinet at the TIC with trophies won in previous years. Meanwhile, with the new 2019 Bude holiday guides ready for distribution, Mark said: “This award will boost interest in Bude as a destination so we are planning to distribute 30,000 guides instead of the usual 20,000.”

Bude was not the only Cornish winner as a Gold award went to The Lost Gardens of Heligan and a Bronze to the Eden Project in ‘Best UK Leisure/Heritage Attraction’ and a Silver went to Cornwall as ‘Best UK Holiday County/Region’.

Mayor of Bude and Stratton, Bob Willingham, said: “It comes as no surprise to hear that Bude has won the best UK seaside town award again, because everybody that lives here knows how special Bude is.

“But it is great to be recognised by the British Travel Awards so that people that are not as lucky as us living here, have a chance to share some of the beauty and community that we have all year round.”