There are 17 categories in the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards taking place at LIverpool Cathedral in March and the shortlist has been revealed. Tony McDonough reports
Knowsley Safari Park, Duke Street Food and Drink Market, Cafe Tabac and Cruise Liverpool are all among the diverse list of finalists for the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.
Taking place at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday, March 10 2022, the awards will be held in person for the first time since 2019. Last year’s ceremony was a virtual event due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
And organisers of the awards, Growth Platform in association with Liverpool BID Company – see the event as a celebration of the resilience of the local tourism sector which has endured the most turbulent period in its recent history.
Every year the judging panel sifts through the many applications to narrow down the very best, who will now go forward to the final judging panel ahead of the ceremony. Peter Sandman, head of visitor economy development at Growth Platform, said: “It’s great to see the visitor economy sector throwing their support behind these awards.
“This year we have seen close to a 40% increase in applications with many of those being new businesses getting involved for the first time. We are privileged to hold the event in such a stunning venue and to be able to celebrate our unique, diverse and resilient sector in style.”
The 17 categories include awards for best hotel, restaurant, and attractions, alongside some new awards for ‘Resilience and Innovation’ and ‘Unsung Hero’ with the return of the ‘Hidden Gem’ category which highlights the city region’s best kept secrets and is put to a public vote.
Liverpool BID Company is the headline sponsor and also supporting the awards is Quest Liverpool, Liverpool ONE and National Museums Liverpool as associate sponsors with ACC Liverpool, BDO LLP, Epic, Lu Ban Restaurant, Merseyrail, Ticket Quarter and Wirral Chamber as category sponsors.
Today we are also announcing the ‘Hidden Gem’ category will be back again for 2021. This category will be voted for by the public and will recognise the region’s ‘best kept secret’.
Organisers want to hear what people think is the best gem in the Liverpool city region, whether that be in Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, or Wirral. Gems may be attractions, bars, restaurants, tours, or natural assets which are off the main tourism trail. What is the city region’s best kept secret?
Sponsoring the ‘Hidden Gem’ category is The Guide. Director Jay Hynd said: “Liverpool city region is packed full of hidden gems, all shining bright waiting to be discovered by tourists and visitors to our area.”
By nominating a ‘Hidden Gem’, they could be catapulted into the Tourism Awards spotlight. Further details can be found at www.lcrtourismawards.com
The shortlist is for the awards is:
New Tourism Business Award
Boom Battle Bar: Liverpool
Liverpool Food Tours
Liverpool VRVE
MerseyMade
SKAUS Store & Cafe
Independent Tourism Business of the Year
Duke Street Food and Drink Market
Fab 4 Taxi Tours
Liverpool Beatles Museum
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres
Liverpool Food Tours
MerseyMade
Shiverpool
Taste of Liverpool Award – Café/Bistro of the Year
Benty Farm Tearooms
Bold Street Coffee
Cafe Tabac
Caffe Cream of New Brighton
Taste of Liverpool Award – Restaurant of the Year
Buyers Club
Delifonseca Dockside
Lu Ban Restaurant
Lunya
Marco Pierre Steakhouse Bar & Grill Liverpool
The London Carriage Works
Pub of the Year
Liverpool Gin Distillery
Masons
The Bridewell
The Denbigh Castle
The Windmill Southport
Resilience and Innovation Award
Cruise Liverpool
Liverpool ONE
Liverpool Philharmonic
Lu Ban Restaurant
Lunya
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Redstones Cottage
Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust
Strawberry Field
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Sunnyside Guest House
The Braemar Southport
The Heidi Bed & Breakfast
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
EPIC Apartments
Quest Liverpool City Centre
Staybridge Suites Liverpool
Staycity Aparthotels, Liverpool, Waterfront
Hotel of the Year
Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa
Hope Street Hotel
Pullman Liverpool
Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Royal Liver Building 360
Sefton Park Palm House
Strawberry Field
Western Approaches
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Knowsley Safari
Liverpool Cathedral
Tate Liverpool
The Atkinson
World Museum
Experience of the Year
British Music Experience
Liverpool Food Tours
Shiverpool
Treasure Trails
Unsung Hero Award
Connie Blakemore, Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa
Gerard Madden, The Bridewell
Hannah Todd, The Interesting Eating Company
Phil Phillips, National Museums Liverpool
Tourism Young Person of the Year
Carlotta Cervia, Hilton Liverpool City Centre
Dana Heard, Camp and Furnace
Emily Doyle, Lu Ban Restaurant
Jaime Stanton, Woodside Ferry Village
Mark Langan, Holiday Inn Express
Victoria Smith, Shiverpool