Cofton Holidays takes home a trio of wins at prestigious South West awards

Cofton Holidays, an eco-friendly tourist destination managed by a local Devon family, has earned some well-deserved acclaim with three prestigious awards, honouring their years of dedication to enhancing the visitor experience on-site.

Amidst fierce competition from various businesses across the South West, Cofton Holidays proudly clinched Bronze for Holiday Park Of The Year at the South West England Tourism Excellence Awards held on 14th March, marking a significant achievement for the team.

Adding to their accolades, the Cofton team scooped the Gold Taste of the West Award for Amelia’s restaurant, praised for their commitment to sourcing the freshest and finest local ingredients for the delicious Devon dishes on their new Field to Fork menu.

Topping off their hat trick, the team received the Sustainability Award as the South West regional winner of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024, catapulting them into the UK finals set to take place in Blackpool on May 9th, 2024.

Committed to sustainable practices, Cofton Holidays has actively protected the environment and supported local suppliers. Since 2022 they have invested £1/4 million on environmentally-conscious projects, including rewilding initiatives and the installation of 28 electric car charging points, including a brand new 75kW rapid charging station - surpassing any other tourism business in the southwest.

In a bid to promote eco-friendly transportation, Cofton Holidays has invested £17,000 in 16 electric bikes available for guest hire, encouraging visits to neighbouring local businesses and access to the Exe Cycle Trail while minimising environmental impact. Additionally, the introduction of 11 electric vehicles for housekeeping and maintenance teams underscores their dedication to sustainable operations.

Building upon their commitment to sustainability, Cofton Holidays recently invested £1/2 million in a biomass hub and district water system, significantly reducing the site's CO2 emissions by at least 750 tonnes annually. The introduction of a state-of-the-art solar panel array helps the business reduce fuel usage and save £36,000 a year. The formation of the 'Cofton Green Team' in 2023 further solidifies their dedication to energy conservation and the inception of innovative sustainability initiatives.

Nestled across 80 acres of green countryside, Cofton Holidays continues to expand its rewilding project, revitalising vast areas of land to their natural state. Enhanced biodiversity on-site is evident through the establishment of nature corridors, additional hedgerows and wildflower zones and tussocky grassland cut biennially attracting a myriad of pollinators, birds, and bats. Bee-friendly lavender plants and a silver birch tree, registered under the Queen’s Green Canopy scheme, are planted outside reception to encourage pollinators.

Helen Scott, Director said: “We are delighted to have been recognised at both the South West England Tourism Excellence Awards and the Federation of Small Business Awards. We always strive to keep improving our guest experience, and the hard work that goes into it behind the scenes. These awards recognise the huge steps we have taken so far to create the best holiday park in the South West, and the plans we have to keep evolving and expanding on what we do here at Cofton Holidays.”

For nearly 50 years the Jeffery Family have owned Cofton Holidays. Locals can visit for the day for a relaxing session at the steam room and sauna, unwind with a swim in the heated pool or dine at Amelia’s Cafe & Restaurant.

"For those looking for a bit more adventure, there’s a high ropes course, pump track, pond dipping and woodland walks.

"The eco-friendly site also offers lodges, cottages, caravans and camping so guests can make a weekend of it or have a midweek staycation and get a dose of the countryside all through the Winter.

"The site celebrates the Devon countryside, offering guests a stay amongst nature, a short hop to the famous South West Coast Path and Devon’s peaceful beaches."