Organisers of the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards hail record number of entries as they reveal this year’s shortlist. Tony McDonough reports

Winners of the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards 2023

A record number of entries have been received for the 2024 Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards with the ceremony scheduled for early in 2025.

Organised by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and supported by the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), the awards highlight the best of the £6.25bn tourism and hospitality sector across the city region.

Now the shortlist has been revealed across the 19 categories. Finalists will now go forward to the awards ceremony being held at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday, February 27, 2025. 14 of the winners will go forward to the Visit England Awards for Excellence.

This year’s 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.

Bill Addy, chief executive at headline sponsor Liverpool BID Company, said: “As we prepare to gather together again to celebrate those working in our tourism industry and visitor economy it is a moment to think about how important these businesses, individuals and events are to our city region economy.

“It is not just jobs but experiences, welcomes, visits, special days out and cultural moments.

“Tourism is a vital ingredient in the business of Liverpool city region and its importance is something we just both celebrate and innovate to keep ourselves ahead of the game in such a competitive field.”

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Back for this year is the Hidden Gem category, sponsored by The Guide Liverpool. This will be voted for by the public and will recognise the region’s ‘best kept secret’. Click here to nominate your Hidden Gem. The full shortlist is:

B&B and Guest House of the Year

The Bowden Lodge
The Braemar Southport
Sunnyside Guest House

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year

Garden by The Bay
Happy Days Apartments
Quest Apartments Liverpool City Centre
Staybridge Suites Liverpool
The Eden Warehouse

Hotel of the Year

Hope Street Hotel
Malmaison Liverpool
Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village
Pullman Liverpool
The Municipal Hotel & Spa MGallery Liverpool
Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Business Events Venue

Aintree Racecourse
Escape Live Liverpool
Hilton Hotel Liverpool
Rum Warehouse at Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Spaces at The Spine
The Lake House

New Tourism Business Award

Arts Bar Baltic
Blackstock Market
Eureka! Science + Discovery
Gravity Max Liverpool ONE
Salt & Tar
School Lane Hotel

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award

Eureka! Science + Discovery
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Philharmonic
Strawberry Field
Sunnyside Guest House

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

Future Yard
Liverpool Philharmonic
Liverpool Properties, National Trust
NORD
Sunnyside Guest House
The Eden Warehouse
Titanic Hotel Liverpool

International Tourism Award

Hotel Anfield
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Tourist Information Centre
The Beatles Story

Taste of Liverpool Award – Café/Bistro of the Year

Crosby Coffee
Imagine More Café at Strawberry Field
Museum of Liverpool Café
The Bluecoat Café
The Lake House
The Watering Can

Taste of Liverpool Award – Restaurant of the Year

Antonio’s Bar & Grill
Chamber 36
Delifonseca Dockside
Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill
Salt House Tapas
Tik Taco

Pub of the Year

The Bridewell
The Jacaranda
The One O’Clock Gun
The Red Fox
The Windmill Southport

Experience of the Year

Fab 4 Taxi Tours
Mersey Tunnel Tours
National Trust, The Beatles’ Childhood Homes
Reel Tours

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Liverpool Football Club Tours & Experiences
Liverpool Cathedral
National Trust, Speke Hall
The Beatles Story
World Museum Liverpool

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

British Music Experience
Port Sunlight Museum
Royal Liver Building 360 Tour
Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust
Strawberry Field

Entertainment Venue of the Year

Arts Bar Hope Street
Albert’s Schloss
Liverpool Philharmonic
Salt & Tar
Shakespeare North Playhouse
The Liverpool Empire Theatre

Tourism Young Person of the Year

Jack Frank, Hilton Hotel Liverpool
Ellen Taylor, INNSiDE By Melia
Philip Barnes, Mersey Ferries
Erin Lorimer, Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village
Liam Roberts, School Lane Hotel
Tom Hughes, The Bus Yard
Daisy Cooper, Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Unsung Hero Award

Mark McKenna, Liverpool Tourist Information Centre
Craig Cavanagh, Masons Liverpool
Phil Witter, National Museums Liverpool
Simon Osborne, National Trust
Jean Milton, Port Sunlight Village Trust
Bridget Mulroy, Shakespeare North Playhouse
Veso Mihaylov, The Jacaranda/Jacaranda Baltic