SALAD Days at Dunster beach has been named by national tourist board VisitEngland as an Awards for Excellence finalist.

The beach hut accommodation provider is one of three finalists in the dog friendly business of the year and the only representative from Somerset.

Gold, silver and bronze award winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Bath Assembly Rooms on April 23.

VisitEngland Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: “The finalists have shown themselves to be of the highest calibre, using their talent and innovation to deliver excellence.

“The hundreds of applications this year reflect the quality products across our tourism landscape and I warmly congratulate all the finalists and wish them the very best of luck.”

Salad Days won gold in the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Awards held in Taunton last year, then was “over the moon” to clinch a further gold at South West Tourism Excellence Awards in Torquay last month.

“Now we can’t quite believe that our little beach hut has made it to the national Visit England finals,” said Brett Bates.

“Salad Days will be alongside some of the best tourism businesses in the country. All this in just our first two years of business – wow!”

He added: “Salad Days started as a dream over 50 years ago when I used to visit Dunster as a child and now I want our guests to experience some of the charm and magic that this wonderful part of Somerset offers.

“Now with this kind of recognition, it will help to put Dunster Beach on the map and more people will find it, which is good news for Dunster, Somerset and Exmoor.

“Right from the beginning we wanted Salad Days to be dog friendly as we knew that so many people visit this area with their dog – now they can stay at one of the best dog friendly businesses in England.”