A railway that came back from the brink of collapse, a zoo that’s attracted eight million visitors and the world’s deepest hotel have been hailed as tourism heroes in North Wales. The Llangollen Railway, the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay and Go Below Underground Adventures in Eryri (Snowdonia) were among the big winners at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards.

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.

The popular Llangollen Railway was named 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.

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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.

Honouring the animal magic of Welsh Mountain Zoo with the Go North Wales Service to Tourism Award was particularly timely because the iconic attraction is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The zoo opened in 1963 after Robert Jackson, his wife Margaret and their three sons, Tony, Chris and Nick moved from their Cheshire home to Colwyn Bay.

The zoo now employs a team of about 40 permanent staff - rising to about 55 staff over the summer months – and has attracted more than eight million visitors since it opened.

The deepest hotel in the world, 1,375ft below the mountains of Eryri, won the award for the Go North Wales Experience of the Year. The subterranean bolthole is set deep within a chamber of the abandoned Cwmorthin slate mine, near Blaenau Ffestiniog.

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.

“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.”

David Cattrall, the Managing Director of Harlech Foodservice, said: “The fundamental reasons why North Wales is such an attractive place to visit are still there and will continue to be in demand in future.

“We have amazing scenery and world class facilities so I am sure the sector will go from strength to strength. That means that the tourism and hospitality sector can play a big role in leading the economic recovery in North Wales.”

Winners at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards

Go Large Hotel of the Year 2023 sponsored by Castell Howell Foods Ltd

■ Rossett Hall Hotel, Wrexham

Go Small Hotel of the Year 2023 sponsored by Carbon Zero Renewables

■ Plas Dinas Country House Hotel, Bontnewydd

Go B&B / Inn and Guest House of the Year 2023 sponsored by Aber Falls Distillery

■ Riversdale House, Llangollen

Go Self Catering of the Year 2023 sponsored by Pario Leisure Group

■ 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

■ Tan y Bryn Glamping & Touring, Llandudno Junction

Go Attraction of the Year 2023 sponsored by SF Parks

■ Llangollen Railway

Go Experience of the Year 2023 sponsored by Snowdonia Hospitality & Leisure Ltd

■ Go Below Underground Adventures

Go Best Event of the Year 2023 sponsored by Penderyn Distillery, Llandudno,

■ Always Aim High Events

Go Eating Out Experience of the Year 2023 sponsored by Office Equipment Systems Ltd

■ The Lemon Tree, Wrexham

Go Tourism Supplier of the Year 2023 sponsored by Booking.com

■ Parisella’s Ice Cream

Go Young Person in Tourism & Hospitality Award 2023 sponsored by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai

■ Megan Harris, Abergele Golf Club

Go Skills Enhancement in Tourism & Hospitality Award 2023 sponsored by Wales Ambassador Scheme

■ Rhian Jones, Conwy Tour Guide

Go New Tourism Business of the Year 2023 sponsored by Thornley Leisure Parks

■ Tree Tops and Train Tracks, Mold

Go Cruise North Wales sponsored by Cruise Wales

■ Wales Best Guides

Go Pet Friendly Award 2023 sponsored by Holidaycottages.co.uk Travel Chapter

■ Rivercatcher, Corwen

Go Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Award 2023 sponsored by Development Bank of Wales

■ Llandudno Bay Hotel

Go Resilience and Innovation Award 2023 sponsored by Plas Dinas Country House Hotel

■ Go Below Underground Adventures

Go Marketing and Media Recognition Award 2023 sponsored by Heart North and Mid Wales

■ Bearded Men Adventures

Go North Wales Service to Tourism Award 2023 sponsored by Tir Prince Leisure Group / Llandudno Pier Trading

■ Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay

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