Heritage railway and world’s deepest hotel go up in the world with top tourism awards

An iconic heritage railway and the world’s deepest hotel have been hailed as stars of the tourism industry in North Wales.

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways in Porthmadog and Go Below Underground Adventures in Eryri were among the big winners at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards.

Meanwhile, the blue riband Go North Wales Tourism Service to Tourism Award went to Adam Williams, the owner of Llandudno Pier and Tir Prince Amusement Park in Towyn.

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 former BBC journalist Sian Lloyd and the headline sponsor once again was Harlech Foodservice which supplies many of the region’s hotels, guest houses and restaurants.

Most of the winners will go forward to the National Tourism Awards for Wales next March, hosted by Visit Wales.

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, the second oldest and longest heritage railway in Britain, was named as the Go Attraction of the Year.

The railway is on track to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its preservation next year and contributes more than £20 million to the Gwynedd economy every year, annually transporting 150,000 passengers through the beautiful landscape of Eryri.

David Russell is among more than 1,000 registered volunteers who support the railway. He said: “It’s testament to the dedication of all those who have gone before us and their resolution to preserve this railway which is so loved by the community of Gwynedd, and railway enthusiasts all around the world.

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Visitor Experience manager Stephen Greig added: “Winning tonight is a real feather in our cap and consolidates our reputation as one of the UK’s best visitor experiences.”

Go Below Underground Adventures went up in the world when they won the gong as the Go Glamping, Camping, Caravanning and Holiday Park of the Year.

Deep Sleep is located in a disused Victorian slate mine 1,375ft below Snowdonia and is accessible only by hike, zip lines and flooded chambers.

Guests can stay in log cabins or slate-roofed chambers – dubbed “the deepest sleep in the world”.

The unique subterranean hotel sees people venture down through an abandoned Victorian slate mine to reach the remote off-grid camp.

Go Below Operations Manager Mike Morris said: “It’s a wonderful feeling to win an award like this, a great affirmation that we’re going in the right direction.

“When we launched Deep Sleep it felt like such a radical move. We were the first company in the world to offer overnight stays in a slate mine, some people could have thought us mad, but it felt the right thing to do and the right time to do it.

“Its subsequent success proved something of a game changer for the business, triggering a surge of new interest from all around the globe. We’ve had visitors from as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

“Now this award is an additional confidence booster, it goes to show that you don’t have to be afraid to be innovative, sometimes taking a calculated risk can reap benefits.”

He praised the business owners Miles and Jen Moulding for enterprising spirit in embracing the idea of the underground hotel and determination to make it a reality.

Entrepreneur Adam Williams bought Llandudno’s historic pier in 2015 and six years later bought the adjacent pier pavilion which had .been derelict for more than a quarter of a century.

The 1,234ft, Grade II listed pier first opened in 1877 and was voted national Pier of the Year in 2005.

According to head judge, Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, Adam Williams was an “irrepressible force of nature”.

He said: “Adam is a real-life hero of the tourism and hospitality industry in North Wales whose drive and ingenuity are helping to turbo charge the visitor economy as well as preserving a precious part of our tourism heritage.

“I would like to congratulate Adam and every single one of the winners but I would also like to stress that all the nominees have played an absolutely vital role in rebuilding tourism sector in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.

“This event really showcases the very best of North Wales and we have seen so many amazing entries, all of which underlines why this is a truly world class destination for visitors.”

It was a sentiment echoed by David Cattrall, the Managing Director of headline sponsors Harlech Foodservice.

He said: “We are delighted to once again be the headline sponsor of this wonderful awards ceremony and it’s very much a vote of confidence in the tourism and hospitality sector which has endured such a difficult time in recent years.

“This is our opportunity to give something back and celebrate the achievements of our core customers.

“The impact of Covid and its aftermath have made things very difficult for everybody and tourism and hospitality is one of the sectors that has suffered the most in terms of economic impact.

“But as the awards have shown tonight we are a resilient lot thanks to an army of heroes who work on the front line in this important sector.

“It is important that we continue to celebrate our many achievements and there are reasons to be optimistic about the future.”

Full list of winners at Go North Wales Tourism Awards

New Tourism Business of the Year Award sponsored by Guestline

• Sawna Bach – The Scenic Sauna

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

• Anglesey Sea Zoo Marine Conservation Centre

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

• SF Parks

Go Pet Friendly Award sponsored by holidaycottages.co.uk

• Waterloo Hotel

Go Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award sponsored by Hafan y Môr Holiday Park

• Tŷ-Pren

Go Rising Star in Tourism & Hospitality Award sponsored by Coleg Llandrillo Menai

• Hugh Owen – Bearded Men Adventures

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

• The Bull’s Head Inn

Go Hotel of the Year sponsored by Castell Howelll Foods

• Plas Dinas Country House Hotel

Go Self Catering of the Year sponsored by Pario Leisure Group

• Hafan Y Mor Holiday Park

Go Glamping, Camping, Caravanning and Holiday Park of the Year sponsored by Carbon Zero Renewables Ltd

• Go Below Underground Adventures

Go Cruise North Wales Award – The Best Immersive and Sustainable Tour sponsored by Cruise Wales

• Atgof – Making Memories in Wales

Go Attraction of the Year sponsored by SF Parks

• Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways

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

• Bearded Men Adventures

Go Best Event of the Year Award sponsored by Penderyn Distillery Llandudno

• Gŵyl Fwyd Caernarfon

Go Eating Out Experience Award sponsored by Office Equipment Systems Ltd

• The Gunroom Restaurant – Plas Dinas Country House

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

• Wild Horse Brewing Co

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

• Hafan Y Môr Holiday Park

Go North Wales Tourism Service to Tourism Award sponsored by Tir Prince Leisure Group

• Adam Williams, owner of Llandudno Pier