Devon’s oldest visitor attraction at Kents Cavern is celebrating after being crowned Winner of Winners at the prestigious 2022/23 Devon Tourism Awards at Home Park, Plymouth on 2nd February 2023.

Kents Cavern, listed by UNESCO as an archaeological site of international significance within the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, picked up Gold for Large Visitor Attraction, Gold for the Cave Cinema in Tourism Event and Silver for Resilience & Innovation.

The prehistoric caves have been welcoming visitors since 1880 and this year Torquay’s independent heritage attraction celebrates 120 years run by the same family. Nick Powe is the fifth-generation custodian at Britain’s most important cave site.

Nick Powe said:

“Picking up the Winner of Winners awards at last night’s prestigious tourism event was a special moment. The Kents Cavern experience is all about making an underground space, admittedly a rather special one, come to life. The amazing team clearly does this very well. The team has worked hard, through challenging times and this accolade is a great reward. It is highly motivating. A great way to begin our anniversary year, 120 years of taking people into a space that has entertained humankind for thousands of years.”

James Hull, Kents Cavern’s general manager said:

“It is truly a great honour and privilege to receive these awards.  In common with all the finalists, the team at Kents Cavern are passionate about delivering amazing experiences and creating memories. Keeping our offer fresh and exciting requires creativity and commitment. These four awards demonstrate we are operating at the top of our game. The pop-up underground film festival, our Christmas events programme, and our connections to the UNESCO Global Geopark, are just some of the many offers we deliver, not only for visitors but for local residents all year round.”

Carolyn Custerson, Chief Executive of the English Riviera BID Company and Director of VisitDevon said:

“These awards are about celebrating and promoting excellence across Devon, demonstrating best practice in the hospitality sector, and Kents Cavern has a massive role in this, ensuring the county remains one of the nation’s top destinations. The future success of Devon and the English Riviera as an all-year-round resort is dependent on attractions and other hospitality businesses operating at the highest standards and these awards shine a light on those who are doing just that.  Congratulations to the team at Kents Cavern, very well deserved.”