Wirral tourism businesses urged to enter regional awards
Wirral's tourism, hospitality and visitor economy businesses are being encouraged to showcase their achievements by entering the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards 2026/27.
Entries are open for the prestigious awards programme, which celebrates the people, places and experiences that make the Liverpool City Region one of the UK's leading visitor destinations. The scheme offers businesses the chance to gain regional recognition and potentially progress to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
Recognising excellence across 20 categories, the programme spans accommodation, attractions, food and drink, events and experiences. Categories include Experience of the Year, Pub of the Year, Large Hotel of the Year, Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award, International Tourism Award, Independent Tourism Business Award and Regenerative Tourism Award.
Open to businesses of all sizes, the awards provide an opportunity for Wirral organisations to raise their profile, celebrate success and benchmark themselves against some of the region's best operators.
Local businesses and attractions have seen success in recent years. In 2025, Eureka! Science + Discovery in Seacombe secured two awards, winning both New Tourism Business of the Year and the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, while Wallasey Beach Club was crowned Liverpool City Region Hidden Gem. The previous year, The Red Fox in Thornton Hough was named Pub of the Year and Birkenhead's Future Yard received a Highly Commended accolade in the Entertainment Venue of the Year category.
Tourism continues to play a significant role in the Liverpool City Region economy, attracting more than 60 million visitors annually and generating more than £6 billion in economic value.
Tourism plays a vital role in Wirral's economy, supporting jobs, attracting investment and bringing visitors to our towns, villages and coastline.
The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards are a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to gain recognition for their hard work, innovation and commitment to delivering exceptional visitor experiences. I would encourage all eligible Wirral businesses, large and small, who help make our borough such a welcoming and distinctive destination, to consider entering.
Liverpool City Region continues to raise the bar for tourism, and the success of The Beatles Story which went on to the national finals following their win here in Liverpool City Region shows just how strong our offer is. These awards are about celebrating excellence and shining a spotlight on the incredible businesses and individuals behind it.
We’re encouraging businesses of all sizes, including new entrants and those from diverse backgrounds, to put themselves forward.
The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards ceremony will take place at Liverpool Cathedral on 4 February 2027. Entries will be assessed by an independent panel of industry experts through a two-stage judging process, ensuring a fair and robust evaluation.
Businesses interested in entering can find full details, eligibility criteria and application forms here. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 7 September 2026.
