Bournemouth named Britain's best beach

In a boost for coastal businesses, Bournemouth beach has been voted the best in Britain for its combination of water quality, scenic beauty, wildlife and facilities.

Around 10,000 readers of Coast magazine voted in its first annual awards to celebrate the people and places that benefit the British coastline. Most of the awards went to independent and small firms.

Local favourite the Magpie Cafe in Whitby, North Yorkshire, was named the best fish and chip shop, while the best coastal café award went jointly to the Lord Nelson in Southwold, Suffollk and the Porthminster Café in St Ives, Cornwall. Tynemouth's Surf Shop took the title as best coastal shop.

Coast editor Clare Gogerty said that "a new spirit" had energised the British coast.

"There has been a real excitement as beaches have cleaned up their act, new boutique hotels have opened and regeneration schemes have brought life back to forgotten resorts," she said.

The judging panel included fishmonger and FishWorks restaurateur Mitchell Tonks, and Jonathan Shaw, minister for marine, landscape and rural affairs.