eviivo Awards 2019
Hidden Gems & Star Amongst Stars Award
2019 Star Amongst Stars
Old Church Farm
Bristol, Gloucestershire
About the Property
Old Church Farm can trace its noble history back to Medieval times when it was owned by King Harold of Wessex prior to the Norman Conquest in 1066. More recently it was owned and run by Rolls Royce PLC as a private hotel and now is now in private hands and open to the public for the first time in its history.
Seven en suite rooms with Hypnos beds ensure a comfortable stay in the South Gloucestershire countryside. Following an AA inspection in August 2018 Old Church Farm was awarded the Gold Award with 5 Stars – the highest accolade in Great Britain.
The Judges Said
“This recently-opened property is housed in a building with a substantial history, which dates back to pre-Norman England, and has been owned by a number of monarchs in its time.
The food at this property has won AA awards, in part because of the excellent produce from their garden, and in part because of the high standard across the daily-changing menu.
The judges especially liked how the current owners have transformed this property into a real hidden gem, and were impressed by the whole new start they’ve created.”
2019 Regional Hidden Gem Winners
About the Award
The Hidden Gems and Star Amongst Stars Award are for brilliant businesses that leave all their guests demanding an encore (after all Diamonds are Forever…).
We asked all entrants to tell us their story, about why they should be a winner and what makes them the kind of place that once people find them, they never want to leave
These nine properties were announced on the night, with one overall winner crowned Star Amongst Stars.
The Winners
The Grotto – North East
Nella Vista Lodge – North West
Old Downton Lodge – The Midlands
No. 27 Birghton – South East
Old Church Farm – South West
The Old Deanery – Yorkshire
Fields Lodge B&B – Wales
All Seasons B&B – Northern Ireland
The Spey – Scotland
Shortlisted Properties
North West
Waddington Arms – Clitheroe, Lancashire
Shakespeare Inn – Kendal, Cumbria
Bella Vista Lodge – Blackpool, Lancashire
The Lakehouse – Slaidburn, Lancashire
Paramount Aparthotel – Lytham St. Annes
North East
Percy Arms – Chatton, Northumberland
The Grotto – South Shields, Tyne and Wear
Dowfold House B&B – Crook, Co. Durham
Burnhopeside Hall – Durham, Co. Durham
Chestnut Tree House – Longhouton, N’land
Yorkshire
The Old Deanery – Rippon, N. Yorks
Brickfields Farm – Kirkbymoorside, N. Yorks
Acorn Lodge – Harrogate, N. Yorks
The Queens Head – Finghall, N. Yorks
Wally’s Wagon – Grn. Hammerton, N. Yorks
The Midlands
The Rectory – Louth, Lincolnshire
The Old Crown – Birmingham, W. Midlands
Old Downton Lodge – Ludlow, Shropshire
Beldon House – Brigg, Lincolnshire
Oaks Lane Farm B&B – Ashover, Derbyshire
South West
Highcliffe House – Lynton, Devon
Old Embassy House – Fowey, Cornwall
The Somerset House – Weymouth, Dorset
Old Church Farm – Bristol, Gloucestershire
The Courtyard – Salisbury, Wiltshire
South East
The Bell Inn – Diss, Norfolk
Manor Farm – Knodishall, Suffolk
No.27 Brighton – Brighton, East Sussex
Hamiltons Boutique – Southend, Essex
Staunton Hotel – London, Greater London
Scotland
The Spey – Grantown on Spey, Highlands
The House on the Shore – Arbigland, Dumf.
Creeside Escape – Barrhill, Ayrshire
Castle Walk B&B – Stirling, Stirlingshire
EscapeToEdinburgh@AbercrombyPlace – Mid.
Wales
Holland Hotel – Llanfachraeth, Gwynedd
Greylands GH, Llandrindod Wells, Powys
Glan y Gro – Bala, Gwynedd
Fields Lodge – Milford Haven, Pembs
Llwyn Helyg – Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire
Northern Ireland
All Seasons B&B – Portrush, Co. Antrim
Shelleven Guest House – Bangor, Co. Down
Station B&B – Derry, Londonderry
Ivanhoe Hotel – Belfast, Co. Down
Village Cottage – Bushmills, Co. Antrim
The Hidden Gems and Star Amongst Stars Award are for brilliant businesses that leave all their guests demanding an encore (after all Diamonds are Forever…). We will be selecting an initial shortlist of nine regional winning properties – the UK’s Hidden Gems. These nine properties will be announced on the night, and then one overall winner will be named Star Amongst Stars! Our decision will be based on a combination of indicators (performance online, guest reviews, etc.) and information from the property about what makes them unique. We ask properties to tell us their story, about why they should be a winner and what makes them the kind of place that once people find them, they never want to leave.
Multi-Property Wizard Award judging criteria
- We will use data about the property’s performance online and review scores to decide.
- Judges will look at what makes the property unique and special.
- We would like to know how the property came to be guest accommodation and how did the hosts get into the wonderful world of hosting.
Meet the expert helping judge this category
Mark Palmer
Travel and Property Editor at the Daily Mail