A South West Beacon business, The Venus Company, the UK’s leading beach café and shop operator, has been presented today with a 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Award for the Best in a Marine Environment Category at the World Travel Market in London. Venus has won this category “by living up to their mission to be the greenest beach café and shop operator in Europe.”



The West Country based family firm operates The Venus Cafe at the beaches of Blackpool Sands, East Portlemouth and Bigbury on Sea in the South Hams of South Devon and at Tolcarne in Newquay, Cornwall, providing the best of an alfresco Mediterranean style dining experience in a UK beach setting. There is also a Venus Beach Shop at Blackpool Sands, East Portlemouth and Tolcarne beaches and a South Hams Food and Drink Shop run by Venus at Blackpool Sands.



The 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards is organised by online travel agent responsibletravel.com, in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine. Now in their second year, the Awards celebrate tourism ventures around the world that make a positive contribution to conservation and the economies of local communities while minimizing any negative impacts of tourism.



Following the Presentation of the Awards, Michael Smith, Venus’ managing director said, “This is just the most amazing endorsement for the Venus Company as the awards nominations come from the general public from around the world. It shows that our efforts to minimize the harmful effects of our activities and maximise the beneficial influences on the environment and local communities are really being appreciated by our customers”. He added, “Our mission is to be the greenest beach café and shop operator in Europe, so recognition through this prestigious Award in an international arena such as this is great for all our hard working team who actually make the difference.”