Liverpool Cathedral provided the stunning backdrop on Thursday evening for the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards – with all the winners revealed. Tony McDonough reports

 

All the winners of the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards were revealed on Thursday evening at a ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral.

Recognising excellence across the city region’s tourism and hospitality industry for 2023, the annual awards are delivered by Growth Platform, the city region’s economic development agency.

Triple winner on the night was Shakespeare North Playhouse, taking home the accolades for New Tourism Business of the Year, Unsung Hero and Tourism Young Person of the Year.

The special Eurovision Experience of the Year award went to the Invisible Wind Factory for its Aquatopia – The Blue and Yellow Submarine Parade – which kicked off the Eurovision celebrations last May.

And the only category voted for by the public, the Hidden Gem Award, recognising the region’s best kept secret, went to The Bus Yard – two converted double decker buses operating in Crosby Marina and Liverpool ONE.

Other winners on the night included The Art School for Restaurant of the Year, The Red Fox in Thornton Hough for Pub of the Year and Strawberry Field for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year. The coveted Hotel of the Year went to Hope Street Hotel.

The Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award went to Chris Brown – for more than 35 years tourism experience in the city and who actively led the city’s marketing activity for Eurovision.

Leanne Campbell of Radio City was the host for the evening and guests were welcomed with a drinks reception sponsored by Virgin Experience Days and Liverpool Football Club and entertainment from local choir Very Vocal.

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Headline sponsor of the awards was Liverpool BID Company. Chief executive Bill Addy, said: “We are always delighted to sponsor the Tourism Awards as this sector is a vital economic driver in our region.

 

 

“The people and businesses who deliver this work deserve recognition, and we are so pleased for all of the sector winners. It has been such a strong and positive year for our tourism and visitor economy.

“We have seen this first hand, in the first operating year of the Accommodation BID, which provides a platform for the hotel and serviced accommodation sector.

“Eurovision is the major headline of course, but there have been incredible events and activity, day in and day out, to help make this city world class.”

 

Winners of the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards:

Tourism Young Person of the Year – sponsored by City of Liverpool College and Hospitality Hero

Winner: James Duckworth, Shakespeare North Playhouse

Highly commended: Amber Kinrade, Strawberry Field

Unsung Hero Award – sponsored by Liverpool ONE

Winner: Meg Terzza, Shakespeare North Playhouse

Highly commended: Chris Duffy, Hilton Liverpool

B&B and Guest House of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool Cathedral

Winner: The Braemar Southport

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year – sponsored by National Museums Liverpool

Winner: Staybridge Suites Liverpool

Hotel of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool BID Company         

Winner: Hope Street Hotel

Highly commended: Novotel Paddington Village

Business Events Venue – sponsored by ACC Liverpool

Winner: Spaces at The Spine

New Tourism Business Award – sponsored by BDO LLP

Winner: Shakespeare North Playhouse

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award – sponsored by Lexus Liverpool

Winner: Sunnyside Guest House

Highly commended: Leonardo Hotels Liverpool

Independent Tourism Business of the Year – sponsored by Bolland & Lowe

Winner: Manifest

Highly commended: Fab 4 Taxi Tours

Eurovision Experience of the Year – sponsored by West Midlands Trains

Winner: Invisible Wind Factory presents Aquatopia – The Blue and Yellow Submarine Parade

Highly commended: National Museums Liverpool

Taste of Liverpool Award – Café/Bistro of the Year – sponsored by PIB Insurance

Winner: The Watering Can

Taste of Liverpool Award – Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Knowsley Safari

Winner: The Art School

Pub of the Year – sponsored by Wild Thang

Winner: The Red Fox Thornton Hough

Entertainment Venue of the Year – sponsored by Kimpton

Winner: M&S Bank Arena

Special recognition: Liverpool Philharmonic

Highly commended: Future Yard

Experience of the Year – sponsored by Merseyrail          

Winner: Liverpool Food Tours – A Taste of Liverpool Food Walking Tour

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Ticket Quarter

Winner: Strawberry Field

Highly commended: Liverpool Beatles Museum

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Winner: Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool City Region Hidden Gem

Winner: The Bus Yard

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism – sponsored by Growth Platform

Winner: Chris Brown