A WEST Cornwall tourist destination has been honoured as the best of the best.
Geevor Tin Mine scooped three accolades at the Cornwall Tourism Awards in Newquay last week.
It bagged silver in the Historic Property and Country House category, gold for being the best Art, Museum and Maritime Attraction, while it was also named the Winner of Winners – the most prestigious that can be bestowed.
"They symbolise the essence of being a tourism operation ... fighting for customers, struggling to raise investment funding, striving each year to improve, innovate and be better than the year before," said Malcolm Bell, head of VisitCornwall, who announced the prize.
Nick Thomas, curator at the attraction's museum, said the award is testament to all the hard work of staff, volunteers and everyone who supports it in the community.
"I was extremely excited – I thought we would get something but to get gold and the Winner of Winners on top blew us away," he said.
"We are all really pleased. We've got a couple of bottles of champagne in the fridge at the moment."
He said Geevor is very close to his heart, with both his father and uncle working while the mines were still operating.
"I love this part of Cornwall. I'm immensely proud to be here. Without Cornwall and its tin mining the world would still be in the Stone Age.
"We're a charity and it involves the entire community. It's for all of us.
"We're always trying to improve and to be recognised like this is fantastic. We try to keep the spirit alive."
Manager Mike Simpson could not believe it when the winner was announced.
"We were up for the awards on the night but even after they announced us I didn't realise what was going on. It was amazing," he recalled.
Mr Simpson said the team was heralded for its "evocative and interactive Cornish mining exhibitions and tours", and applauded for its value for money.
"Everyone was very complimentary about what we do.
"It's the ultimate accolade – my staff here have worked extremely hard over the years.
"The attraction has done very well and it's been commended.
"We're over the moon," he added.
Other winners in West Cornwall included Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Gulval, which took bronze in the Garden of the Year category, and Porthminster Beach Café in St Ives, which scooped silver in the Restaurant of the Year category.
For details of winners in the Isles of Scilly see page 22.
