WREXHAM and Flintshire businesses were among those celebrating at this year's Go North Wales Tourism Awards ceremony.

The glittering annual event organised by North Wales Tourism celebrates the dedication, skill and achievements of the region’s tourism and hospitality industry.

This year the ceremony at Venue Cymru in Llandudno was hosted by ITV Wales journalist Carole Green and the headline sponsor once again was Harlech Foodservice which supplies many of the region’s hotels, guest houses and restaurants.

Johns' Boys Male Chorus, Wrexham choir and BGT semi-finalists also performed at the ceremony.

Businesses across Wrexham did the city proud with popular restaurant 'The Lemon Tree' receiving the 'Go Eating Out Experience Award of the Year.' 

Sam Regan, owner, said: "Absolutely blown away. We're eternally grateful for all the support we receive from all our loyal customers. We cannot thank you enough. I'm incredibly blessed to have a dedicated and innovative team.

"I’m also incredibly grateful to all my loyal customers for their ongoing and continued support. The Lemon Tree is only able to achieve the recognition because our customers keep coming back, keep loving what we do and enable us to deliver on our vision for The Lemon Tree by guiding that evolution."

The Leader: The Rossett Hall Hotel team and Toast Cafe owner Claire Wright.The Rossett Hall Hotel team and Toast Cafe owner Claire Wright. (Image: Go North Wales Awards 2023)

Also a finalist of the award ceremony was the much-loved Wrexham cafe 'Toast Cafe and Deli.' 

On Facebook, owner Claire Wright said: "Happy to have been a finalist again this time but massive congratulations to Sam, Elliot and the team at The Lemon Tree - they fully deserved to win as they are doing great stuff that is putting Wrexham on the map."

The 'Tree Tops and Train Tracks' woodland campsite in Flintshire also achieved the Go New Tourism Business of the Year award, a fantastic achievement for the eco-friendly business.

Set up by Seb and Hannah Willis this year, Seb said: "We are on a journey, learning about nature, trying out new skills and discovering all the fun and activities the great outdoors has to offer."

The Leader: Go New Tourism Business of the Year 2023 sponsored by Thornley Leisure Parks and won by Tree Tops and Train Tracks, at Nannerch, near Mold, pictured are owners Seb and Hannah Willis.Go New Tourism Business of the Year 2023 sponsored by Thornley Leisure Parks and won by Tree Tops and Train Tracks, at Nannerch, near Mold, pictured are owners Seb and Hannah Willis. (Image: North Wales Tourism Awards)

The popular Llangollen Railway was also among the big winners in North Wales, receiving the 'Go Attraction of the Year' after staging a remarkable comeback.

The heritage railway is now back on track after mounting debts caused by Covid disruptions forced its operating arm into receivership.

It steamed forward thanks to the dedication of the volunteers of the Llangollen Railways Trust who took over the railway’s operation.

Earlier this year the organisation achieved a long-held ambition to open the new   £1.25 million station in Corwen, enabling passenger-carrying trains to return to the Denbighshire town first time in four years.

The Leader: Go Attraction of the Year sponsored by SF Parks was won by Llangollen Railway, from left, Jonathan Seldon,of the sponsors, Tom Taylor, General Manager of the Railway, Phil Coles, Chairman, and Oliver Seldon.Go Attraction of the Year sponsored by SF Parks was won by Llangollen Railway, from left, Jonathan Seldon,of the sponsors, Tom Taylor, General Manager of the Railway, Phil Coles, Chairman, and Oliver Seldon. (Image: Go North Wales Awards)

Llangollen Railway Chair Phil Coles said: “It’s been a lot of very hard work over two and a half years with an awful lot of input from visitors and staff.

“Very many people have gone over and above in their dedication to the railway and this award is the icing on the cake for us after going bust in the pandemic.”

Jim Jones, the Chief Executive of North Wales Tourism, said: “Tonight is an opportunity to celebrate the best of best in the tourism and hospitality sector.

“The sheer volume and quality of entries this year has underlined why North Wales is a truly world class destination.

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“I would like to congratulate all the winners but I would also like to stress that all the nominees are playing a vital role in championing what we have to offer visitors from home and abroad. They do an exceptional job in putting North Wales on the map.

“The priority now is to try to get back up to where we were in 2019 and to increase the spend of the visitors who come here by raising the quality of what we are doing.”

Winners at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards

  • Go Large Hotel of the Year 2023 sponsored by Castell Howell Foods Ltd and won by Rossett Hall Hotel, Wrexham
  • Go Small Hotel of the Year 2023 sponsored by Carbon Zero Renewables and won by Plas Dinas Country House Hotel, Bontnewydd
  • Go B&B / Inn and Guest House of the Year 2023 sponsored by  Aber Falls Distillery and won by Riversdale House, Llangollen
  • Go Self Catering of the Year 2023 sponsored by Pario Leisure Group and won by The Rocks at Plas Curig, Capel Curig, Betws y Coed
  • Go Glamping, Camping, Caravanning and Holiday Park of the Year sponsored by  GreenWood Family Park and won by Tan y Bryn Glamping & Touring, Llandudno Junction
  • Go Attraction of the Year 2023 sponsored by SF Parks and won by Llangollen Railway
  • Go Experience of the Year 2023 sponsored by Snowdonia Hospitality & Leisure Ltd and won by Go Below Underground Adventures
  • Go Best Event of the Year 2023 sponsored by Penderyn Distillery, Llandudno, and won by Always Aim High Events, Llangefni
  • Go Eating Out Experience of the Year 2023 sponsored by Office Equipment Systems Ltd and won by The Lemon Tree, Wrexham
  • Go Tourism Supplier of the Year 2023 sponsored by booking.com and won by Parisella’s Ice Cream, Conwy
  • Go Young Person in Tourism & Hospitality Award 2023 sponsored by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and won by  Megan Harris, Abergele Golf Club
  • Go Skills Enhancement in Tourism & Hospitality Award 2023 sponsored by Wales Ambassador Scheme and won by  Rhian Jones, Conwy Tour Guide
  • Go New Tourism Business of the Year 2023 sponsored by  Thornley Leisure Parks and won by Tree Tops and Train Tracks, Mold
  • Go Cruise North Wales sponsored by Cruise Wales and won by Wales Best Guides
  • Go Pet Friendly Award 2023 sponsored by Holidaycottage.co.uk Travel Chapter and won by Rivercatcher, Corwen
  • Go Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Award 2023 sponsored by Development Bank of Wales and won by Llandudno Bay Hotel
  • Go Resilience and Innovation Award 2023 sponsored by  Plas Dinas Country House Hotel and won by Go Below Underground Adventures
  • Go Marketing and Media Recognition Award 2023 sponsored by  Heart North and Mid Wales and won by Bearded Men Adventures, Llangollen
  • Go North Wales Service to Tourism Award 2023 sponsored by  Tir Prince Leisure Group / Llandudno Pier Trading and won by Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay