The Primary Times Reader Star Awards - Dorset
Results from the Primary Times Reader Star Awards are revealed
THE best of what Dorset has to offer families is revealed in the results of this year’s Primary Times Star Awards, as voted for by parents of children aged 4 to 11 years in the county.
Families across Dorset voted in volume during 2011 for their favourite local family-friendly places and entertainment in the prestigious Primary Times Star Awards.
Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire that was printed in this family friendly magazine that is distributed to 87% of primary schools across Dorset and taken home directly via the children to mum and dad.
Families were asked a series of straight-forward open-ended questions. Suggestive questions and multiple choice answers were deliberately omitted from the survey to test for unprompted responses. The answers were intriguingly revealing and portrayed an honest reflection of where families prefer to spend their leisure time or buy their goods.
The results of these unique awards, which attracted a huge number of entries from parents, provide a vital snapshot of what’s tops with families in a harsh economic climate - and give the worthy winners a well-deserved round of applause.
Readers were quizzed for their most preferred choice over 12 separate categories. There were individual winners for each category and an overall winner was chosen from the highest number of total votes across all categories.
Fun-loving families across the county voted by the sack load to ensure Adventure Wonderland scooped the best Family Attraction category. The all-important Party Venue and Entertainer was another hotly-contested category where two attractions were awarded the top prize. Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, a top party venue for children aged 8 and under, jointly won the title with Adventure Wonderland.
The Fox and Hounds at Wimborne secured the winning place in the family friendly Restaurant, Pub and Cafe category; whilst Serendipity Sam’s got full marks in the Indoor Play Centre category.
The picturesque surroundings and various family events contributed to Corfe Castle scoring the most votes in the Stately Home and Historical Attraction group. Making a big splash in the Swimming Pool/Leisure Centre category was Splashdown and Littledown Sports Centre who jointly gained the highest proportion of votes, and the Empire at Tower Park in Poole was chosen as the most favourite in the Cinema/Theatre grouping.
Garden Centres shone in their specialist category and according to Primary Times readers Haskins in Ferndown was regarded as the most favoured. Retailers also fared well with Next winning the Children’s Clothes and Shoe Shop award; Toys R Us and Howleys Toymaster won the most votes in the Toy Shop group; book loving families favoured Waterstones in the Book Shop category and Halfords and Cycle Paths came first in the Bike Shop group.
In Dorset the overall winner of the Primary Times Star Award has been awarded to Adventure Wonderland. This much loved family adventure park has continued to respond the needs of its customers and has consequently won the hearts and minds of many local families as a great place to repeatedly take the children whatever the weather. Adventure Wonderland continues to thrill local children with its huge portfolio of rides and slides, water based activities, indoor and outdoor play zones, animals to visit, and programme of special events.
Anne Blackham, Sales and Marketing Manager at Primary Times said “We were thrilled with the response to the Reader Star Award survey as it has highlighted what attractions and shops are important to our readers. We are delighted for Adventure Wonderland on winning this great accolade and congratulate their efforts in making their attraction such a hit with our readers!”
Regional winners in Dorset are as follows:
Overall Winner: Adventure Wonderland
Family Attraction: Adventure Wonderland
Restaurant/Pub/Cafe: Fox and Hounds, Wimborne
Indoor Play Centre: Serendipity Sam’s
Stately Home: Corfe Castle
Swimming Pool/Leisure Centre: Littledown Sports Centre and Splashdown
Party Venue/Entertainer: Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park & Adventure Wonderland
Garden Centre: Haskins, Ferndown
Theatre/Cinema: Empire, Tower Park, Poole
Children’s Clothes/Shoe Shops: Next
Toy Shop: Toy R Us and Howleys
Book Shop: Waterstones
Bike Shop: Halfords and Cycle Paths
