The shortlist for this year’s Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards has been unveiled

The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards are back celebrating the best businesses that add to the visitor economy in the area.

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”.

The ‘Hidden Gem’ category will be back again for 2022 too. This category will be voted for by the public and will recognise the region’s ‘best kept secret’.

What do you 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. You can nominate your hidden gem HERE.

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’s Famous Hope St Shivers

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