Organisers of the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards reveal shortlist for the event which takes place in March 2023. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards organisers have revealed the shortlist across 18 categories.
An expert judging panel has whittled down the entrants. They will now go forward to the event ceremony which takes place at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday, March 2, 2023. They are organised by economic development agency Growth Platform.
The 18 categories include awards for Hotel of the Year, Experience of the Year as well as best Hidden Gem. One award being reintroduced is the category for the Business Events Venue of the year. This is to reflect the successful return of meetings and conference events following the pandemic.
From the list, 13 of the winners will go forward to the Visit England Awards in June 2023. Liverpool restaurant Lu Ban won gold at the 2022 ceremony in Birmingham earlier this year.
Janet Nuzum, sector lead for visitor economy at Growth Platform, said: “It is pleasing to see so many applications received this year and in particular, it is great that so many businesses have entered the New Tourism Business category.
“From restaurants to accommodation to experiences, it’s thrilling to see amazing new venues opening, after what has been a particularly difficult time for the sector.”
For the Hidden Gem category the public is being asked to choose a winner. The aim is to identify the ‘best kept’ tourism secret in Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral, Halton or St Helens. You can click here to nominate.
Headline sponsor for the awards will again be Liverpool BID Company, with associate sponsors Liverpool ONE and Lexus Liverpool.
Other sponsors confirmed are ACC Liverpool, Bolland & Lowe, BDO LLP, EPIC, The Guide Liverpool, Knowsley Safari Park, Liverpool Cathedral, Lu Ban Restaurant, Merseyrail, The Metro, National Museums Liverpool, Ticket Quarter and Wirral Chamber of Commerce.
The full shortlist is:
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Hotel Anfield
Sunnyside Guest House
The Braemar Southport
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
Cumberland House
Mrs Blodget’s by EPIC
Staybridge Suites Liverpool
The Eden Warehouse
Hotel of the Year
Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa
Hope Street Hotel
INNSiDe by Melia Liverpool
Pullman Liverpool
Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Business Events Venue
Aintree Racecourse
INNSiDE by Melia Liverpool
Museum of Liverpool
PINS Social Club
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Liverpool ONE
Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust
Sunnyside Guest House
New Tourism Business Award
Cains Brewery
Escape Live Liverpool
Lerpwl
Mamasan
Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse Liverpool
Resilience and Innovation Award
Quirky Quarter
Royal Liver Building 360 Tour
Sunnyside Guest House
St Luke’s Bombed Out Church C.I.C.
Independent Tourism Business of the Year
Duke Street Food and Drink Market
Fab 4 Taxi Tours
iStay Liverpool
Lock & Key Hotel, Bar & Kitchen
Sunnyside Guest House Southport
The Romans
Taste of Liverpool Award – Café/Bistro of the Year
Bold Street Coffee
Cafe Tabac
Caffe Cream of New Brighton
The Egg Vegetarian Café
The Watering Can
Taste of Liverpool Award – Restaurant of the Year
Antonio’s Bar & Grill
Fazenda
Lerpwl
Lu Ban Restaurant
The London Carriage Works
Pub of the Year
Liverpool Gin Distillery
The Bridewell
The Denbigh Castle
The Guelder Rose Southport
The Windmill Southport
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
British Music Experience
Quirky Quarter
Royal Liver Building 360 Tour
Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust
Strawberry Field
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Liverpool Cathedral
Mersey Ferries
National Trust, Speke Hall
Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
The Beatles Story
Experience of the Year
Bongo’s Bingo
Gin Lab Experience – Liverpool Gin Distillery
City and Beatles Tour – Liverpool City Sights
National Trust, Beatles’ Childhood Homes
Old Dock Tour – National Museums Liverpool
Shiverpool’s Famous Hope St Shivers
The Romans
Tourism Young Person of the Year
Elen McKewan, The Bridewell
Jess Taylor, Lu Ban Restaurant
Josh McCafferty, Pullman Liverpool
Nic Slessinger, Masons/Epic
Neve Sutton, Hosted by National Museums Liverpool
Simone Greyling, 2030 Hub
Unsung Hero Award
Jake Lovatt, Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa
Joe Lenden, Liverpool Gin Distillery
Kayleigh Cox, Lu Ban Restaurant
Tom Ford, Delifonseca Dockside
Veronica Matthews, Pullman Liverpool