The shortlist for this year’s Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards
has been unveiled.
The annual awards recognise and reward excellence across the regions tourism and hospitality sector and are delivered by Growth Platform – Liverpool City Region Growth Company.
The many applications have been scrutinised and narrowed down by an expert judging panel and will now go forward to the awards ceremony taking place at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday 2 March 2023.
The 18 categories this year 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 to reflect the successful return of meetings and conference events following the pandemic. Thirteen of the winners will then go forward to the Visit England Awards in June 2023, at which Liverpool restaurant, Lu Ban, won gold at the 2022 ceremony in Birmingham earlier this summer.
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”.
Today we are also announcing the ‘Hidden Gem’ category will be back again for 2022. This category will be voted for by the public and will recognise the region’s ‘best kept secret’.
We 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?
By nominating a ‘Hidden Gem’, they could be catapulted into the Tourism Awards spotlight. Please click here to nominate your Hidden Gem.
The headline sponsor 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.
Bill Addy, Chief Executive at Liverpool BID Company, said: “That we have such a strong shortlist for this year’s LCR Tourism Awards should come as no surprise to those who work with this incredible industry. I’m delighted to see the range and diversity of types of business and each reflects an ambition and a drive to push the sector forward.”
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 – The Famous Hope Street Shivers Tour
- 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