The Liverpool City Region’s best tourism events, attractions and venues were celebrated last night (16 May) at a prestigious awards ceremony.

A total of 19 accolades were handed out at Liverpool Cathedral as the landmark played host to the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards 2019.

Television presenter, ‘Great British Menu’ judge and cook Andi Oliver presented the event, which recognised the area’s top eateries, exhibitions, hotels, event spaces and tourism attractions.

A ‘Hidden Gem’ category to highlight the region’s ‘best kept secret’ was voted for by the public this year, with Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels picking up the prize.

Meanwhile two winners enjoyed double award success on the night, as National Museums Liverpool received the ‘Large Event’ and ‘Tourism Experience of the Year’ titles for its ‘China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors’ exhibition and Wirral’s five-star Mere Brook House bed and breakfast won the ‘Guest Accommodation’ and ‘Independent Tourism Business of the Year’ awards.

There was another big win at the ceremony for brothers Colin and Gary Manning, who received the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ as they mark 20 years of their 60 Hope Street restaurant.

The venue, which forms part of the duo’s The 60 Group set of restaurants, has been hailed a turning point for both Hope Street and Liverpool’s restaurant scene.

The awards ceremony was organised by Eventful in conjunction with Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Mark Basnett, the LEP’s managing director, says: “These awards enable us to celebrate and showcase what the city region has to offer across the visitor economy.

“To see so many entries this year not only shows how prestigious these awards are but also the amount of healthy competition we have – which continues to push tourism standards up. As a growth sector this brings both economic benefits and increases the city region’s reputation.”

“Huge congratulations to all our winners as well as the shortlisted businesses and individuals.”

Guests at the celebration, which was sponsored by Liverpool ONE, also enjoyed entertainment from ‘The X Factor’ finalists LMA Choir; drumming show ‘Spark’; and Johnny Larsen, a performer from the city’s Tickle the Ivories piano busking festival.

 

The full list of winners:

Tourism Star of the Year sponsored by Liverpool City Region LEP:

Matt Cooke, Hope Street Hotel

 

Tourism Young Person of the Year sponsored by LCR Apprenticeship Hub:

Paul Dixon, Liverpool Film Office

 

Best Newcomer to the Visitor Economy sponsored by Epic:

Hinterlands

 

Independent Tourism Business of the Year sponsored Liverpool Cathedral:

Mere Brook House

 

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored Eventful:

Port Sunlight Village Trust

 

Small Event of the Year sponsored by Ticket Quarter:

Aurora

 

Entertainment Venue of the Year sponsored by Arriva North West:

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall & Music Room

 

Excellence in Business Tourism sponsored by ACC Liverpool Group:

Conference Centre at LACE

 

Tourism Experience of the Year sponsored by Merseyrail:

China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors

 

Café / Bistro of the Year sponsored by Liverpool Gin:

Caffe Cream of New Brighton

 

Bar of the Year sponsored by Wild Thang:

The Art School Cellars

 

Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Nat West:

Delifonseca Dockside

 

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by Wirral Chamber of Commerce:

Knowsley Safari Park

 

Large Event of the Year sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport:

China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors

 

Liverpool City Region’s Hidden Gem sponsored by Marketing Liverpool:

Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels

 

Serviced Apartment of the Year sponsored by Owen Drew Candles:

Staybridge Suites Liverpool

 

Guest Accommodation of the Year sponsored by MSP Global:

Mere Brook House

 

Hotel of the Year sponsored by MSP Global:

Pullman Liverpool

 

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism 2019 sponsored by Liverpool ONE:

Colin Manning and Gary Manning, The 60 Group