Devon’s Crealy has shown it is the best of what the county has to offer families 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 Devon voted 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 magazine that is distributed to 90 per cent of primary schools across Devon and taken home directly via the children to mum and dad. 

In Devon, the overall winner of the Primary Times Star Award has been awarded to Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park, near Exeter. This much-loved family adventure park has won the hearts and minds of many local families as a great place to take the children whatever the weather. Crealy 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.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the result and cannot thank the readers enough for choosing Devon’s Crealy as their number one family destination,” Rod Pearson, Crealy’s managing director, said.

“We have invested heavily in the Park over the years and will continue to do so to ensure we deliver our promise of ‘Maximum Fun Guaranteed’. The opinions and wishes of our visitors and members is always of paramount importance, so thanks once again from all of the Crealy team - it really has made our day.” 

Anne Blackham, sales and marketing manager at Primary Times, said they were thrilled with the response to the Reader Star Award survey. “It has highlighted what attractions and shops are important to our readers,” she said. “We are delighted for Crealy on winning this great accolade and congratulate their efforts in making their attraction such a hit with our readers.”

A new and much-anticipated addition to Crealy is due to reach completion in May 2012. A £1.4 million caravan and camping resort, called Crealy Meadows, is currently being built adjacent to this Park, and is the latest development planned by the leading Devon attraction for their 100-acre site.

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. 

Readers were quizzed on their most preferred choice from a wide range of topics, namely family attraction; restaurant, pub or cafe; indoor play centre; stately home or historical visit; sport/leisure centre or swimming pool; party venue or party entertainer; garden centre; theatre or cinema; children’s clothes shop or shoe shop; toy shop; book shop and bike shop. There were individual winners for each category and an overall winner was chosen from the highest number of total votes across all categories.

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. 

You can read more about Crealy at www.crealy.co.uk or read more about the Primary Times Star Awards at www.primarytimes.net/devon

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Photograph: (L-R) Crealy’s Buddy Bear, Linda Edwards (joint editor of Primary Times, Rod Pearson (managing director of Devon’s Crealy) and Ceri Lee (joint editor of Primary Times