The 2024 Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards Finalists can today be revealed – with several superb Southport businesses in the running for top awards.
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.
Sunnyside Guest House in Southport has been shortlisted in no less than THREE categories.
The Windmill pub on Seabank Road is a Finalist for Pub Of The Year for the third year in a row.
The B&B and Guest House of the Year will definitely see a Southport winner this year, with all three Finalists from our town: The Bowden Lodge; The Braemar Southport; and Sunnyside Guest House.
The Eden Warehouse on West Street in Southport is once again a Finalist in the Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year category.
Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa is the only Sefton contender for Hotel of the Year, up against six contenders from Liverpool city centre.
Sunnyside Guest House in Southport won the Bronze Award at the 2023 Visit England Awards for Excellence. Owners Anthony and Larissa Duffey
With record entries this year, the applications have been narrowed down by an expert judging panel and will now go forward to the awards ceremony taking place at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday 29th February 2024.
The 19 categories this year include awards for Hotel of the Year, Experience of the Year, New Tourism Business and Unsung Hero. Twelve of the winners will then go forward to the Visit England Awards for Excellence in June 2024, at which Liverpool hotel, Titanic won gold at the 2023 ceremony earlier this summer.
Janet Nuzum, Sector Lead for Visitor Economy at Growth Platform said:
“We are delighted to have received record entries for the Tourism Awards this year as the support for the awards continues to grow and businesses recognise the value of being involved.
“In particular it is pleasing to see so many entries for the two new categories – Entertainment Venue of the Year and the Eurovision Experience Award which demonstrates the breadth of venues we have across the city region and also how businesses fully embraced Eurovision in such a unique way.
“Special thanks go to our experienced panel of judges who have had a difficult job in shortlisting this year as the quality of entries was so high.”
The 2023 Your Southport Stars Awards, organised by Southport BID, was held at The Vincent Hotel in Southport. Tom Hodkin and Neil Walsh from The Windmill pub in Southport
Photo by Bertie Cunningham
Bill Addy, Chief Executive at Liverpool BID Company and Headline Sponsor, said:
“What an incredible shortlist we have and how well they reflect our vibrant and committed tourism sector.
“We know how critical this industry is to our city region. Liverpool is the fifth most visited city in the UK for overseas tourists and the fourth for domestic visitors. It is these businesses that provide both the attraction, the welcome and the purpose for the visit. They are the oil that keeps our vibrant visitor economy running and I am delighted for each one on the shortlist.”
Today organisers are also announcing the ‘Hidden Gem’ category will be back again for 2023 and sponsored by The Guide Liverpool.
Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards at the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool on 2nd March, 2023. Picture Jason Roberts
This category will be voted for by members of the public and will recognise the region’s ‘best kept secret.’
Hidden Gems could be attractions, bars, restaurants, tours, or natural assets which are off the main tourism trail.
By nominating a ‘Hidden Gem,’ they could be catapulted into the Tourism Awards spotlight.
Please click here to nominate your Hidden Gem – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LCRHIDDENGEM2023
The headline sponsor is Liverpool BID Company, with associate sponsors Liverpool ONE and Lexus Liverpool.
Other confirmed sponsors and event partners are ACC Liverpool, Bolland & Lowe, BDO LLP, The Guide Liverpool, Kimpton, Knowsley Safari Park, Liverpool Cathedral, Merseyrail, MSP Global, My Time, NML, The Metro, PIB Insurance, Ticket Quarter, Virgin Experience Days, West Midlands Trains and Wild Thang.
The full 2024 Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards shortlist is:
B&B and Guest House of the Year
The Bowden Lodge, Southport
The Braemar Southport
Sunnyside Guest House, Southport
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
The Eden Warehouse, Southport
Quest Apartments Liverpool City Centre
Staybridge Suites Liverpool
Hotel of the Year
Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa
Hope Street Hotel
INNSiDE by Melia Liverpool
Malmaison Liverpool
Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village
Pullman Liverpool
Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Business Events Venue
Escape Live Liverpool
INNSiDE by Melia Liverpool
The Jockey Club Venues – Aintree Racecourse
Spaces at The Spine
New Tourism Business Award
Brewery Bus Tours
Eureka! Science + Discovery
Liverpool Famous Walking Tours
Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village
Radisson Red Liverpool
Shakespeare North Playhouse
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Sunnyside Guest House, Southport
Antonio’s Bar & Grill
Leonard Hotel Liverpool
Liverpool Philharmonic
Spaces at The Spine
The Palm House Sefton Park
Independent Tourism Business of the Year
Sunnyside Guest House, Southport
Arts Bar Hope Street
Fab 4 Taxi Tours
Liverpool Famous Walking Tours
Manifest
MerseyMade
Eurovision Experience of the Year
British Music Experience
Invisible Wind Factory presents Aquatopia – The Blue and Yellow Submarine Parade
John Lewis & Partners Liverpool
Liverpool Philharmonic
Liverpool Tourist Information Centre
National Museums Liverpool
Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
The City of Liverpool College
Taste of Liverpool Award – Café / Bistro of the Year
Bean Coffee Roasters Liverpool ONE
MerseyMade
The Watering Can
The Welsford Bistro
Taste of Liverpool Award – Restaurant of the Year
Antonio’s Bar & Grill
Baltic Market
Delifonseca Dockside
Manifest
The Art School
The London Carriage Works
Pub of the Year
The Windmill Southport
The Hightown Pub & Kitchen
The Red Fox Thornton Hough
Experience of the Year
Liverpool Famous Walking Tours
Liverpool Food Tours – A Taste of Liverpool Food Walking Tour
Mersey Tunnel Tours
National Trust, The Beatles’ Childhood Homes
The Magical Mystery Tour
Viking Quest Adventure Golf
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
LFC Stadium Tours & Experiences
Liverpool Cathedral
Mersey Ferries
Museum of Liverpool
National Trust, Speke Hall
The Beatles Story
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
British Music Experience
Liverpool Beatles Museum
Strawberry Field
The Palm House Sefton Park
Entertainment Venue of the Year
Arts Bar Hope Street
Future Yard
Liverpool Philharmonic
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
Liverpool’s Royal Court
M&S Bank Arena
Shakespeare North Playhouse
The Cavern Club
Tourism Young Person of the Year
Yasmin Rainbow, Hilton Liverpool
Natash Elston, Holiday Inn Express Royal Albert Dock
James Duckworth, Shakespeare North Playhouse
Amber Kinrade, Strawberry Field
Alex Zervos, The Art School
Unsung Hero Award
Chris Duffy, Hilton Liverpool
Tracey Sellars, Holiday Inn Liverpool
Roy Forshaw, National Museums Liverpool
Caitlin French, Pullman Liverpool
Colin Hughes, Sefton Park Palm House
Me Terzza, Shakespeare North Playhouse
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