Cricketers pub in Cardiff shortlisted for national tourism award

The Evan-Evans Brewery flagship pub at The Cricketers in Cathedral Road, Cardiff, has been shortlisted in the National Tourism Awards for Wales.

The pub has been picked in the 'Best place to eat (pub)' category.

A record number of Welsh tourism businesses have entered this year’s National Tourism Awards for Wales, with 59 now shortlisted for the prestigious awards.
More than 420 applications were made for the 19 National Tourism Award categories that will name the Best Place to Eat, the Best Place to Stay, the Best Visitor Experience and the Regional Tourism Awards, among others.
The awards are staged by Visit Wales, in partnership with the Wales Tourism Alliance and in commercial partnership with Quadrant Media and Communications, to recognise and reward the very best in Welsh tourism.
In total, there are 15 businesses short-listed from the Capital Region, which covers South East Wales, 12 from mid Wales, 16 from North Wales and 16 from South West Wales.
The short-listed businesses were officially announced at the launch of the new tourism strategy for Wales by Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart.

The strategy ‘Partnership for Growth’ has set the vision for the industry and Welsh Government to work in partnership to increase visitor spend to Wales.
The Minister said: “It’s fantastic to see such a high number of entries for this year’s National Tourism Awards for Wales. What’s more, the quality of those entries was outstanding. We are very fortunate in Wales to have a tourism sector of such high calibre. The shortlisted businesses are prime examples of quality businesses, helping to drive higher tourism earnings for the Welsh economy. We look forward to unveiling the winners in November.”
A panel of independent judges whittled down all entries into the announced shortlist.

The finalists from that shortlist will be unveiled at the National Tourism Awards for Wales awards ceremony at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on 21 November 2013, where the overall winners will be crowned.

CAPITAL REGION

Hidden Valley Yurts Vale Resort Abergavenny Food Festival Cardiff City FC Trecco Bay Holiday Park The Old Station, Tintern The Bell at Skenfrith The Cricketers Llansantffraed Court The Walnut Tree Doctor Who Experience, BBC Worldwide Welsh Whisky Company Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff Llanerch Vineyard Celtic Manor Resort

Best Place to Stay - hostels, bunkhouses Best Place to Stay - Hotel Best Event Best Visitor Experience Most Successful Tourism Team Best Place to Eat - Café Best Place to Eat - Pub Best Place to Eat - Pub Best Place to Eat - Restaurant Best Place to Eat - Restaurant Regional Tourism Award Regional Tourism Award Business Tourism Operator Award Young Tourism Entrepreneur Technology in Tourism Award

MID WALES

Nanteos Mansion Cosy Under Canvas Lon Lodges World Alternative Games Gwesty Cymru The Bakers' Table Y Ffarmers The Checkers - Restaurant with Rooms The Falcondale Hotel and Restaurant Bwlch Nant yr Arian Y Talbot, Tregaron Adventure Beyond

Best Place to Stay - guest accommodation Best Place to Stay - hostels, bunkhouses Best Place to Stay - self catering Best Event Most Successful Tourism Team Best Place to Eat - Café Best Place to Eat - Pub Best Place to Eat - Restaurant Best Place to Eat - Restaurant Regional Tourism Award Regional Tourism Award Young Tourism Entrepreneur

SOUTH WEST WALES

Llwyn Helyg Country House Llwynifan Farm, South Wales Caravan Park Quay West Holiday Park Trellyn Woodland Camping St Brides Spa Hotel Ffynnon Partners Celtic Quest Coasteering Folly Farm Leisure Limited Quayside Tearoom The Stackpole Inn Sosban Ltd The Grove Narberth Dan-yr-Ogof, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales Llwyn Helyg Country House Bluestone National Park Resort Celtic Quest Coasteering

Best Place to Stay - guest accommodation Best Place to Stay - holiday, touring or camping park Best Place to Stay - holiday, touring or camping park Best Place to Stay - hostels, bunkhouses and alternative Best Place to Stay - Hotel Best Place to Stay - self catering Best Visitor Experience Most Successful Tourism Team Best Place to Eat - Café Best Place to Eat - Pub Best Place to Eat - Restaurant Best Place to Eat - Restaurant Regional Tourism Award Regional Tourism Award Business Tourism Operator Award Technology in Tourism Award

NORTH WALES

Escape Boutique B&B Plassey Holiday Park Bodysgallen Hall & Spa Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens and Cottages Always Aim High Events Ltd Zip World Tre-Ysgawen Hall Country House Hotel and Spa Caffi Florence Bryn Tyrch Inn Limited Signatures Restaurant Tyddyn Llan Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways National Slate Museum Venue Cymru RibRide Your Tourism Community Ltd

Best Place to Stay  - Guest accommodation Best Place to Stay - Holiday, touring or camping park Best Place to Stay - Hotel Best Place to Stay - self catering Best Event Best Visitor Experience Most Successful Tourism Team Best Place to Eat - Café Best Place to Eat - Pub Best Place to Eat - Restaurant Best Place to Eat - Restaurant Regional Tourism Award Regional Tourism Award Business Tourism Operator Award Young Tourism Entrepreneur Technology in Tourism Award

BY CATEGORY

Best Event	Abergavenny Food Festival World Alternative Games Always Aim High Events Ltd
Best Place to Eat – Café	The Old Station, Tintern The Bakers' Table Caffi Florence Quayside Tearoom
Best Place to Eat – Pub	The Bell at Skenfrith The Cricketers Y Ffarmers Bryn Tyrch Inn Limited The Stackpole Inn
Best Place to Eat – Restaurant	Llansantffraed Court The Walnut Tree The Checkers - Restaurant with Rooms The Falcondale Hotel and Restaurant Signatures Restaurant Tyddyn Llan Sosban Ltd The Grove Narberth
Best Place to Stay – Guest Accommodation	Nanteos Mansion Escape Boutique B&B Llwyn Helyg Country House
Best Place to Stay – Holiday, touring and camping parks	Plassey Holiday Park Llwynifan Farm, South Wales Caravan Park Quay West Holiday Park
Best Place to Stay – bunkhouses, hostels and alternative	Hidden Valley Yurts Cosy Under Canvas Trellyn Woodland Camping
Best Place to Stay – Hotel	Vale Resort Bodysgallen Hall & Spa St Brides Spa Hotel
Best Place to Stay – Self Catering	Lon Lodges Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens and Cottages Ffynnon Partners
Best Visitor Experience	Cardiff City FC Zip World Celtic Quest Coasteering
Business Tourism Operator	Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff Venue Cymru Bluestone National Park Resort
Most Successful Tourism Team	Trecco Bay Holiday Park Gwesty Cymru Tre-Ysgawen Hall Country House Hotel and Spa Folly Farm Leisure Limited
Regional Tourism Award	Doctor Who Experience, BBC Worldwide Welsh Whisky Company Bwlch Nant yr Arian Y Talbot, Tregaron Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways National Slate Museum Dan-yr-Ogof, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales Llwyn Helyg Country House
Technology in Tourism Award	Celtic Manor Resort Your Tourism Community Ltd Celtic Quest Coasteering
Young Entrepreneur Award	Llanerch Vineyard – Ryan Davies Adventure Beyond – Jethro Moore RibRide – Phil Scott & Tom Ashwell