Borders businesses win at south of Scotland tourism awards

The annual event took place for the second time at the Peebles Hydro with a night of live music, fine dining and ceilidh dancing.

Borders winners included the Trimontium Museum (Inclusive Tourism Award); Cross Keys Inn Ettrickbridge (Best Pub or Bar) and Kirsty Archer-Thompson, of the Abbotsford Trust, (Tourism Individual of the Year).

The winners will go on to represent the south of Scotland at the national Scottish Thistle Awards taking place next month.

This year saw the introduction of the Rising Star award which seeks to reward emerging talent won by Thania Meneses Flores of the Trimontium Museum.

Thania said: “What an absolute honour to win this award. I was delighted to have been shortlisted for the Rising Star category in the South of Scotland Thistle Awards, and it’s a privilege to be a winner.

“Trimontium is an amazing place to work and thrive, and this would not be possible without the support of trustees, staff and volunteers who have all believed in me since the beginning, who took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to join their team at the very start of my museum and tourism career. 

“I look forward to keeping contributing to our thriving community and sharing the fascinating story of the Roman Iron Age in Scotland.”

Awards were claimed from across 12 categories with 30 finalists and over 100 entries from the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

The full list of winners:

Best B&B or Guest House Experience – Queensberry House B&B, Moffat

Best Self-Catering or Unique Stay – The Outdoor Hotel, Auldgirth

Best Bar or Pub – Cross Keys Inn, Ettrickbridge

Best Hotel Experience – The Ship Inn Hotel, Gatehouse of Fleet

Best Eating Experience – The Globe Inn, Dumfries

Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival – Wigtown Festival Company, Wigtown

Celebrating Thriving Communities – All Roads Lead to Whithorn, Whithorn

Best Visitor Attraction – Famous Blacksmiths Shop Visitor Attraction, Gretna Green

Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience – Mostly Ghostly, Dumfries & Galloway

Tourism Individual of the Year – Kirsty Archer-Thompson, FSAScot, Abbotsford Trust

Inclusive Tourism Award – Trimontium Museum, Melrose

Rising Star Award – Thania Meneses Flores, Trimontium Museum

Russel Griggs OBE, chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “I am delighted to see the South of Scotland Thistle Awards returning for its second year, after the success of its inaugural year in 2023.

“Last year, a number of local winners went on to achieve national Thistle Award titles, generating more visibility for the fantastic tourism sector we have in the South of Scotland.

“I am sure this year’s South of Scotland Thistle Award winners will again do our region proud on the national stage.”