The Bishop’s Palace has scored an outstanding 94% in a recent assessment by Visit England as part of the national Visitor Attractions Quality Scheme, the highest score achieved by the Palace to date.

The high scores awarded to the heritage site in Wells have meant the Palace has also been nominated for a national Gold Accolade.  There was also particular recognition for The Bishop’s Table café which has been nominated for a prestigious Quality Food & Drink Accolade following a 100% rating in its category.

Attractions are independently visited by a team of experienced quality assessors.  With strict criteria for each of the quality schemes, assessors thoroughly inspect the services and facilities offered each year, from the efficiency of the booking process to the level of service provided. The top Gold Accolade is only awarded to the top scoring attractions in the country.

Overall, the assessor noted that they were “most impressed and future improvements are anticipated with interest. A big “well done” to all the team for a very enjoyable visit experience”.

The Bishop’s Table café was particularly singled out with the assessor noting that the recent “total refurbishment of café decoration and furniture .. gives it a more modern feel, more space”.

The quality of the food was also highlighted by the assessor who said “the onsite chef produces meals of an excellent quality using local and fresh ingredients. The All Day Breakfast ordered ranks as one of the very best the assessor has had. Service was quick and efficient”.

Chief Executive of The Palace Trust, Merryn Kidd, said “We are absolutely thrilled to have been recognised in this way. Our staff and volunteers work extremely hard all year round to ensure that The Bishop’s Palace and The Bishop’s Table café always offer a warm welcome to our visitors.  It’s fantastic to see that our efforts have paid off, with our scores actually increasing from the already positive feedback we received from our assessment last year.”