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Primary Times Reader Star Award Winners Devon
The 2017 results...
THIS year there have been record levels of you, our Primary Times readers, voting in the Primary Times Reader Star Awards, for your favourite local family friendly places and people in Devon.
The results from all the completed surveys, that appeared in the Back to School issue of the magazine and on the Primary Times website, exhibit an honest reflection of where you prefer to spend your free time, providing a useful glimpse into what’s universally popular with local families.
Now, it’s time to reveal the names of the lucky winners!
This year, the prestigious family attraction category has been awarded to Crealy Adventure Park and Resort. Crealy continues to reign supreme in this category, partly due to its ability to innovate and introduce new rides and events, appealing to the needs of the discerning visitor.
This year’s newest additions have included a Junior Driving School, musical tribute acts, a High Dive Show, further facilities to its Crealy Meadows resort and various enthralling shows. Readers are also impressed with the wide range of rides and facilities, variety of children’s activities and overall appearance of this enormously popular attraction.
Primary Times’ readers appear to enjoy dining out and it was interesting to read the broad spectrum of answers to the family friendly eating place category. The delicious food and friendly service helped The Kind Grind in Torquay secure the winning place, with The Pizza Cafe in Newton Abbot as a close second.
The all-weather rides and facilities at Crealy Adventure Park and Resort ensured that this Clyst St Mary located attraction scored the most votes in the Outdoor Play category. As for Indoor Play, the massive adventure play zone at Planet Play in Crediton enabled it to scoop the highest number of nominations.
The Sports Venue category climbed to great heights this year with Clip n Climb in Exeter acquiring the most votes; whilst on a less active but equally gripping note, the Theatre or Arts Centre category was won by the Northcott Theatre in Exeter.
The amazing party packages offered at The Bear Trail enabled it to reach the top spot in the children’s party venue category, and the interesting artefacts, interactive exhibits, historical stories and various family events contributed to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery in Exeter gaining the most votes in the Museum and Historical Attraction group.
Crealy Adventure Park and Resort was chosen as the Primary Times Reader Star Award Overall Winner in Devon. This is a great result for this all-weather family attraction, reflecting its ability to adapt to the needs of local families.
Linda Edwards, Publishing Editor at Primary Times said:
“We are thrilled with the extraordinary response to this year’s Reader Star Award survey and we’d like to say a massive thank you to all the readers who took part. The results are sure to help other local families decide what to do and where to go. Each individual category winner deserves worthy recognition as they are clearly offering something that our readers want. We’d also like to congratulate Crealy Adventure Park and Resort on being such a big hit with our readers once again. Crealy’s ability to resonate with its customers and innovate accordingly is extremely impressive. It truly sets a high bench mark as a leading family friendly attraction in the region.”
Overall Winner
Crealy Great Adventure Park
Chris Down, Managing Director of Crealy Adventure Park and Resort said: "We are delighted to have won the Devon Primary Times Star Awards for 'Overall Winner' and 'Family Attraction of the Year', for the seventh year running, along with the fantastic 'Outdoor Play' Award.
We strive to improve our guest experience every year, therefore these results mean a great deal to us and to the whole team. These awards are real recognition of their hard work and commitment.
Winning these awards is a great achievement and we would like to thank all the Primary Times readers who voted for us. 2017 has been a fantastic year at the park, we have launched two brand new rides and hosted some amazing shows which have all proven to be a real success this summer.
With Santa’s Magical Christmas starting next month and exciting new shows to be launched in 2018, we look forward to welcoming both new and returning guests to Crealy Adventure Park and Resort".
Runner Up: The Bear Trail
Other Crealy wins...
Family Attraction
Crealy Adventure Park and Resort
The Bear Trail
Outdoor Play/Activity Centre
Crealy Adventure Park and Resort
Runner Up: The Bear Trail
Indoor Play/Activity Centre.png)
Planet Play, Crediton
Sean and Nicola from Planet Play in Crediton, told Primary Times: "We are all delighted at Planet Play to have received these awards, and are overwhelmed to have heard the news on our first birthday! Thank you to all the readers for visiting and voting for us and we look forward to welcoming you back soon".
Runner Up: Crealy Adventure Park and Resort
Party Venue or Entertainer
The Bear Trail .png)
The freindly folk at The Bear Trail told Primary Times: ''All the team at The Bear Trail are absolutely thrilled that we have received these awards. It means the world to us to see families having a great time here. A massive thank you to everyone who voted and the support is very much appreciated. We will continue to add to the Trail and keep making it the most fun day out we possibly can! Love Mud, Love Life!''
Runner Up: Planet Play, Crediton
Sports Venue or Provider
Clip n Climb, Exeter
Damian Johnson, Managing Director, from Clip n Climb, Exeter, told Primary Times: "We're thrilled to be voted the 2017 Sports Venue of the Year Award and wish to thank your readers and their families for their continued support for Clip 'n Climb Exeter: they are the people that make the centre!"
Runner Up: LED Leisure Centres
Museum or Historical Attraction
Royal Albert Memorial Museum 
Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture, Cllr Rachel Sutton, said: “We are privileged and absolutely delighted to receive this award as it reflects the hard work staff and volunteers give to make sure that visitors whatever their age have a memorable visit. RAMM had record visitor numbers over the summer and winning this award reinforces its success as being one of Exeter’s top attractions.
It's always a delight to see our very young visitors dashing around in the bee tabards towing the activity packs along behind them as they explore the museum. We would like to thank Primary Times readers for voting for RAMM and look forward to welcoming them to our lively, fun events and activities in the future.”
Runner Up: Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life
Theatre or Arts Centre
Northcott Theatre, Exeter
Mark Gambrill, General Manager, Exeter Northcott Theatre, told Primary Times: "The Exeter Northcott is absolutely thrilled to have been voted Favourite Theatre/ Arts Centre by Primary Times readers. We look forward to welcoming many more families through our doors in the future!"
Runner Up: Princess Theatre, Torquay
Family Friendly Place to Eat
The Kind Grind, Torquay
Owner Steffi Rox said: "We are delighted to win this award and thank readers for recognising the hard work of our team having been open for just 4 months. This is a fantastic achievement for our coffee shop and we couldn't be happier"
Runner Up: The Pizza Café, Newton Abbot