Beaulieu’s biggest event has been chosen as a finalist in Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Tourism Awards which celebrate excellence in tourism.
International Autojumble, which is Beaulieu’s oldest and most prestigious event, marked its half century last year and has been selected for the Tourism Event/ Festival of the Year category.
The final gold, silver and bronze winners will be announced by radio presenter Toby Anstis at the Beautiful South Tourism Awards ceremony at The Grand in Brighton on November 29th.
Beaulieu Events Manager Judith Maddox said: “We are thrilled that this very special year for our longest running and best-loved event has been chosen for this prestigious award. The 50th International Autojumble was an opportunity for exhibitors and visitors to share their wonderful memories with us and we were overwhelmed by the affection it inspired in visitors from all over the world.”
Beaulieu Commercial Director Stephen Munn said: “This nomination makes us very proud, as it not only recognises the boost that the International Autojumble gives to the New Forest economy but also the loyalty of exhibitors and visitors who come back every year. It is a must on the motoring calendar and many of our overseas visitors plan their annual holidays around it.”
The International Autojumble, which is held in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, is the largest autojumble this side of the Atlantic and attracts visitors from across Europe and beyond. More than 36,000 visitors turned out for last year’s landmark event to scour the 2,378 stands which are crammed with motoring treasures and elusive spare parts for restoration projects and to keep classic cars on the road. The event created a local economic benefit of £3m to the New Forest and surrounding area.
The 2016 anniversary event invited exhibitors to join in with a special gold theme and a trophy was awarded to the best gold stand, which was topped with a ‘birthday cake’ which could be seen across the Beaulieu events fields. A special display of vehicles showed what can be achieved with parts bought at the autojumble and loyal exhibitors and visitors recorded five decades of memories in a commemorative booklet.
The Beautiful South Awards are the most coveted accolades for the tourism industry in the region. The awards celebrate the very best for all types of tourism businesses including B&Bs, hotels, holiday parks and visitor attractions, as well as recognising businesses that have gone the extra mile with regards to accessibility, sustainability and great customer service. The award judges have taken many factors into account, including visitor feedback, reviews, online coverage and value for money.
Nell Barrington, of the Beautiful South Awards, said: “The Beautiful South Awards, sponsored by The Grand Brighton, attracted 146 entries so the judges have had a very tough task in identifying the region’s best. Judges were, as always, looking for evidence of excellence. So to be a finalist is a significant achievement.”
Nigel Smith, Chief Executive of Tourism South East, said: “The Beautiful South Awards are the highlight of the year for the South East’s visitor economy. They are a reminder of the amazing wealth of fantastic tourism businesses and experiences South East of England has to offer. This year the overall standard of entries was higher than ever, making it extremely tough for the judges. Some very fine businesses narrowly missed the cut so the finalists truly are the best of the best.”
Beaulieu’s 2018 International Autojumble will be held on September 1st and 2nd *. For the latest information and full Beaulieu events calendar, click here.
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* Events dates are subject to change until the announcement of the F1 calendar. Please check the website for the latest information.