The Spa team at Dart Marina Hotel is again celebrating after being a finalist in the Professional Beauty Awards 2009 – a scheme which recognises ‘flawless facilities, tremendous treatments, perfect personnel and superb support’.

Lesley Dennison, manager of the Spa said: “We were up against some stiff competition and the winner was a fabulous hotel on Jersey – but we all feel that we represented Devon really well at the finals in London and that we have made our mark in the world of spas. We were so pleased to get through to the last stages of the judging as it was pretty tough. As well as an arranged visit we had a mystery shopper who was a specialist in spa treatments and then both reports were judged against the other 200 spas that entered. To have got through to the finals is a real result for us as we are very small compared to the London spas. I told the team that size isn’t everything and we make up for our size by offering an amazing experience in a magical riverside setting and it seems that the judges agreed.”

Judges' comments declared that Dart Marina’s Health Spa was “smart and chic with excellent catering facilities.”  This latest award comes after the Dart Marina Health Spa was awarded a maximum Five Bubbles in the Good Spa Guide. For further information please call Dart Marina Hotel & Spa on 01803 832580 or click here.

2.   Easter Egg hunt

Paignton Zoo will have a new Easter egg trail for children over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Chocolate Tracks Easter Trail runs from Good Friday 10th April through to Easter Monday 13th April. Visitors will be able to hop, skip and jump their little bunnies around Paignton Zoo with this tasty activity trail. Every child who hands in a completed trail at the Egg Hut will receive a chocolate Easter egg reward - and could be in with a chance of winning a bag full of Zoo goodies.

In addition, it’s hoped that the Zoo’s four rare Sumatran tiger cubs will be on show to visitors by Easter – though this is entirely dependant on the weather and their mother, Banda.  For information click here or ring (01803) 697500.

Why not come down for the weekend? to stay:

3.  International artist and designer

Paul Barclay, international artist and designer, recently went to Britannia Royal Naval College to deliver his latest spectacular illustration of the college, an intricate line drawing that shows the full splendour of the building, majestically overlooking the town and river. The picture which now hangs proudly at the college was received by Commander David Graham, the Commander of BRNC, on behalf of the Council of the Britannia Association (BA) and Sean O’Reilly its Chief Executive. 

Check out Paul's website by clicking here.
 

5.   The Dartmouth Apprentice

The final stage in the conversion of the former St Barnabas Church in Dartmouth was completed on Tuesday when the Dartmouth Apprentice Restaurant was formally opened by cookery writer and TV personality Prue Leith. The restaurant, together with accommodation for homeless people, is operated by the charity “Training for Life”, and will help homeless and jobless young people back into work through apprenticeships in the hospitality industry. The original plan to provide accommodation for the homeless was begun by Bob Trevatt more than 10 years ago and the conversion sees the culmination of his idea. The Chef in charge is local man Nick Crossley, formerly of the Cutters Bunch restaurant in Dartmouth.  Check out their website by clicking here.

6.    Small News

• Digital TV Switchover
  There has been a lot of information about this recently.  But two facts have not been brought to the attention of Dartmouth's residents.  The first is that we will be the very fist area in the UK, so no one knows exactly what will happen, there is no history or experience.  The second is that the lower town is serviced by a relay, and no one knows how that will perform.  It's a very small aerial on the side of the hill in Waterpool Lane, and its power is not much more that a battery torch.
  
  Some people in Dartmouth have put up with very poor TV and while the old analogue system is resilient to a weak signal, the new digital signal is not, and if you have quite a poor picture now, you may find you get nothing at all on digital.  We all know digital is just that, on or off.  Picture or no picture.
  
  What is the answer? no one knows, we are the first, everyone will learn from us...........

The Boatfloat last Sunday

Why not come and visit Dartmouth?

• Self catering accommodation click here
   
• Dartmouth B and B  click here
   
• Dartmouth Hotels click here
   
• A Tourist Guide to Dartmouth click here