A HUSBAND and wife team from South Devon have swept the board at a top industry awards ceremony against companies from all over the country.

David and Eloise Hayes won 12 of the 37 awards available in the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association (BISHTA) awards in Coventry.

Their company, Hydropool Devon, based in Kingskerswell, picked up the most prestigious award of the night – Showroom of the Year – beating off opposition from bigger and longer established companies.

‘We’re incredibly proud’, said David. ‘This is the best we’ve ever done in these awards and to win the Showroom of the Year is just fantastic.’

Eloise said: ‘To get two other gold medals, five silvers and four bronzes against the best in Britain was a great achievement and a wonderful reward for all the hard work the whole team has put in over the years’.

The couple, who live in Paignton, started out with a decking business, Riviera Decking, more than 15 years ago.

‘We soon realised that decking, swim spas and hot tubs complement each other perfectly and Hydropool Devon was born nine years ago.’, said Eloise.

David said that BISHTA ensures that companies engage in only the highest ethical practices in the display, sales and maintenance of spas and hot tubs.

And more recently they have paid particular attention to not only the pleasure that hot tubs bring, but also the health benefits.

Hydropool Devon in fact picked up gold awards in both the ‘Hot Tub Happiness’ section and also ‘Hot Tubs Change Lives’.

Marketing manager Courtenay Whyte said ‘Sometimes you don’t even realise when you are selling someone a hot tub that it is about to have a profound effect on their lives.

‘Others tell us of existing illnesses or injuries and then tell us afterwards how much the home hydrotherapy treatment has made their life so much better. Just listening to their stories can be extremely moving’

When Mark and Sharon Cusworth moved to Paignton from Cambridgeshire, they decided to build a garden annexe which contained a self-cleaning Hydropool hot tub.

Said Courtenay: ‘This was a key factor in their decision to spend a little more to get a hot tub capable of providing the treatment Sharon needs. It especially helps her relax and relieve discomfort before settling down for the evening, and also reducing the symptoms of pain-induced insomnia’

Simon Bodill, a retired police officer, who was a blood and bone-marrow donor for many years, suffered a neck and back injury while working on his conservatory.

‘After several surgeries and many sessions of physiotherapy, he still hadn’t fully recovered. But he found that hospital hydro-therapy helped relieve the pain and stress.

‘Eventually he came to us for his own swim-spa which combines swimming and water-jets, and he found it helped enormously.

‘Hearing Simon’s story after a lifetime of helping others, was a truly inspiring and humbling experience.’

David Hayes said after arriving back in Devon: ‘Our showroom spans 4000 square feet and has 16 hot tubs and five swim spas on display. We also managed to include two residential infrared saunas.

‘A lot of hard work has gone into getting the showroom just right, and people are always amazed to find such a facility in a place like Kingskerswell.’

Hydropool Devon’s website can be found athttps://hydropooldevon.co.uk