THREE Wirral organisations came out on top at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards 2019.

A total of 19 awards were handed out last night (Thursday, May 16) at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in celebration of an incredible year for the region's visitor economy and hosted by Andi Oliver.

Thornton Hough's five-star bed and breakfast Mere Brook House won two awards on the night - Guest Accommodation and Independent Tourism Business of the Year while New Brighton's Caffe Cream was crowned Café / Bistro of the Year and Port Sunlight Village Trust was awarded Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.

A new award for this year was the ‘Hidden Gem’ – this category was voted for by the public and recognises the region’s ‘best kept secret’ and was handed to Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels.

Guests on the evening were entertained by The X-Factor finalists LMA Choir, Spark – a high impact drumming show and Johnny Larsen, a performer from Liverpool ONE’s Tickle the Ivories piano busking festival.

Managing director, Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Mark Basnett said: “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.”

The full list of award 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