Choose your winner! Here are the 12 businesses up for the ‘Hidden Gem’ Liverpool City Region Tourism Award

It’s now time for you to vote for your Liverpool City Region Tourism Award ‘Hidden Gem’ for 2022

The shortlist has been announced, the votes are coming in and the winner will be crowned in March at a glitzy night at Liverpool Cathedral, but have you made your choice yet?

The Hidden Gem category celebrates the region’s best kept secrets and puts them in the tourism spotlight. Gems may be attractions, bars, restaurants, tours, or natural assets which are off the main tourism trail.

Promoted in association with us here at The Guide Liverpool there were more than triple the number of votes for this year’s awards. Today we delve into the top 12 businesses and ask for your support once again to vote for your winner.

Find out more about the shortlist here.

A Slower Space, Liverpool

A Slower Space is the creation of husband and wife team Michelle and Mike, who aim to bring a different perspective to the local shopping experience. “We have a genuine desire to create an inclusive relaxed space where all our customers feel like friends. We stock a range of homeware, gifts and plants from France, Copenhagen, Stockholm as well as local independents. We particularly enjoy working with other local businesses to create something unique. All the products are sourced with love and care by us to delight the customer and support the maker.”

Bijou Cinema Southport

The Southport Bijou Cinema is a cosy Community Interest cinema and arts venue, dedicated to bringing cinema and culture to the local community to bring them together. Down a side road and off the beaten track, the Cinema is Bijou in both name and nature, screening films such as classics old and new, independent films and dynamic world cinema. “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Hidden Gem award, and believe the Bijou fits the bill perfectly for its quaint, customer-based approach to building a community scene wherein the audience choose what is shown and played, and can comfortably visit on their own, enjoy a drink, and meet like minded people who all enjoy cinema, arts and culture – together. ”

British Lawnmower Museum, Southport

The British Lawnmower Museum was set up to preserve part of great British engineering & the demise of the British Garden Machine industry once the biggest in the World. A tribute to the Garden Machine Industry over the last 200 years.

Amongst the 1000 special Lawnmowers you can see the biggest, the smallest, the fastest, the most expensive & ‘Lawnmowers of the Rich & Famous’ including Merseyside’s own Paul O’Grady, Roger McGough, Jean Alexandre & Albert Pierpoint, to Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Brian May, James May, Alan Titchmarsh, Nicholas Parsons, Richard & Judy to Eric Morecambe’s Lawnmower acclaimed as one of the North West’s special 70 objects, plus many more, each one with their own unique story.

Enelles Glass House, Southport

Up a quaint tapered passage way, absent from the hustle and bustle exists one of Southport’s’ iconic buildings, crammed with character and life and dating back to the Victorian era. Beyond its entrance, amongst its corners, snugs, nooks and alcoves lives limitless memories and tales.

Frederiks, Liverpool

Home to a fabulous roast, one of liverpool’s biggest jazz nights, great cocktails and beer range and music to disco the night away to every Friday and Saturday night, Frederiks is a firm favourite in Liverpool City Centre. The team caters for weddings, parties, corporate events or baby showers – whatever the day they have something for everyone and anyone is welcome.

“We at Frederiks are delighted to be voted as Liverpool’s Best Hidden Gem – our guests that know about Fred’s return again and again but up on hope street we are away from the hustle and bustle of the centre. We offer something for everyone and pride ourselves on a brilliantly friendly team.”

Invisible Wind Factory Rollerdrome, Liverpool

“I believe we’ve been nominated for the Hidden Gem awards for a plethora of reasons, however what stands out the most is our love for state of the art production, music, culture and immersive display. We now even have a recreational skating and roller dance space within our live music venue, merging the worlds of sports and recreation, arts and culture. We’re a multi faceted venue always championing local talent of many disciplines as well as showcasing some of the biggest names in the music industry. We are located on the North Docks area, still quite a hidden gem in itself, buzzing away beyond the outskirts of the city centre with it its own collection of bars, restaurants and clubs waiting to be discovered. We are a hidden gem within a hidden gem!”

Southport Pier Pavillion, Southport

Boasting amazing sea views and offering the perfect spot for a chill by the seaside, Southport Pier Pavillion is loved by locals and tourists alike.

Sudley House, Liverpool

Sudley House is a well-kept secret nestled in grounds in the leafy south Liverpool suburbs near Sefton Park.

The smallest of the National Museums Liverpool venues it delights with its parkland location, beautifully decorated interiors from the late nineteenth-century aesthetic period, and its extraordinary art collection, all gifted to the city of Liverpool by Emma Holt in 1944.

A small house with a big impact and an atmosphere that makes everyone feel at home, thanks to the warm welcome visitors receive. The discovery of Sudley often leaves visitors wondering how they didn’t know it was there and vowing to return, we feel crowning it perfectly as one of the city’s hidden gems.

Sugar and Dice, Liverpool

“Sugar and Dice is a safe space for all to come and while away a few hours playing some games, and enjoying our delicious food and home baked cakes”

The Watering Can, Liverpool

Off the usual beaten track of Smithdown and Allerton Road, you can find the beautiful Watering Can café/bistro nestled within 12 acres of scenic Victorian park space at Greenbank Park.

Customers can enjoy the tranquillity of the park early mornings, to the hustle of bustle of the cosmopolitan vibe in the afternoons. We attract all walks of life, but we have been particularly proud of our support and work with the charity Liverpool Cares, and creating a safe space for our LGBTQ+ community given the increase in hate crime.

Vintage Tea Room, Churchtown

It is a real honour to be included on this award and such a lovely surprise to us that we were shortlisted. We have spent the last 4 and half years putting everything we have into building the business into something to be proud of and where customers can come and enjoy.

Volunteer Canteen, Waterloo

“There’s a sign next to the front door which reads “no pool tables, no juke box, no fruit machines” – so we’re very much a conversational pub, with zero distractions. Therefore, the bulk of the Volly’s unique charm is down to both the brilliant team of staff we have, and the wider community who frequent the place.”

To vote for your favourite visit the website HERE or scan the QR code below to take you to the voting form.