Where’s your favourite Hidden Gem in Southport?
We’d love to see YOUR suggestions for this year’s Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards!
It could be your favourite shop; a cosy coffee shop; the local attraction just waiting to be discovered.
By nominating a ‘Hidden Gem,’ they could be catapulted into the Tourism Awards spotlight. Please click here to nominate your Hidden Gem.
The Liverpool City Region Hidden Gem category is sponsored by The Guide Liverpool.
This category will be voted for by 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.
This year’s awards saw two local finalists; Season Coffee, Bar and Kitchen, on King Street and Tik Taco on Coronation Walk, both in Southport town centre.
Last year the Hidden Gem category was won by Southport Bijou Cinema.
The independent cinema, on Post Office Avenue in Southport town centre, won the only category that was voted for by members of the public.
Southport Bijou Cinema was joined on the night by Silcock’s Carousel on the Promenade, Tik Taco restaurant on Coronation Walk and Cranberry’s cafe in Cambridge Walks.
The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards shortlist was officially announced in October, setting the stage for an exciting celebration of the region’s thriving tourism and hospitality sector.
Several superb businesses in Southport and across Sefton were once again been recognised as among the very best in the region.
Southport has secured a clean sweep in the B&B and Guest House of the Year category, with The Bowden Lodge, The Braemar Southport and Sunnyside Guest House all shortlisted.
Sunnyside Guest House is also a finalist in other categories too: Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award; and Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award.
The Windmill pub on Seabank Road has been named a Finalist for the Pub of The Year category for an impressive fourth time.
Tik Taco Mexican Cantina is a Finalist in the Restaurant of the Year category.
The Eden Warehouse and Garden By The Bay have been recognised in the Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year category.
The Lake House in Waterloo is a Finalist in the Business Events Category.
The new Salt & Tar events space in Bootle, which hosted gigs by Sir Tom Jones, Red Rum Club and Status Quo this summer, is a Finalist in the New Tourism Business Award category and also in the Entertainment Venue of the Year section.
Crosby Coffee and The Lake House are Finalists in the Café / Bistro of the Year category.
An expert judging panel whittled down a record number of entries across 19 categories into the shortlist. The number and quality of entries reflects the continued growth of the city region’s tourism industry.
The finalists will go forward to a glittering awards ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday 27 February 2025.
Organised by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and supported by the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), the prestigious awards highlight the best of tourism and hospitality across the city region.
This year’s 19 categories include awards for accommodation providers, attractions, food and drink venues and new tourism businesses. New for this year are the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism award and the International Tourism award.
Fourteen of the winners will then go forward to the Visit England Awards for Excellence in June 2025.
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