Wales’ biggest tourism awards ceremony was attended by 540 industry representatives in Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall.
The 2019 Swansea Bay Tourism Awards celebrated the tourism, leisure and hospitality industry across Swansea Bay.
Around 4.7m people visited the area last year bringing nearly £448m into the local economy. This helped support over 5,700 jobs.
More than 8,000 awards nominations and business entries were received – the highest since the awards started 13 years ago.
The awards are organised in partnership between Swansea Council and the local tourism trade association Tourism Swansea Bay. The ceremony took place on Thursday, November 14. Host was entertainer and broadcaster Kev Johns MBE.
Winners – 2019 Swansea Bay Tourism Awards
BEST PLACES TO STAY
Hotels
Hotels – Large
- Winner – Swansea Marriott Hotel
- Highly Commended – Village Hotel Club Swansea
Hotels – Small
- Winner – Oxwich Bay Hotel
- Highly Commended – The Bluebell Hotel
Inns / Restaurants with Rooms
- Winner – King Arthur Hotel
- Highly Commended – The Fountain Inn
Guesthouses / B&B’s
- Winner – Parc-le-Breos House
- Highly Commended – Cwtch Farm, The Barn B&B, Tides Reach Guesthouse
Self-Catering (1-2 units)
- Winner – Promenade View
- Highly Commended – Slade Barn, Ty Hiraeth, Bramwood Accessible Holiday Home
Self-Catering (3+ units)
- Winner – Swansea Valley Holiday Cottages
- Highly Commended – Cilhendre Fawr Farm, Croft Acre Cottages, Home from Home
Caravans and Campsites
- Winner – Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park
- Highly Commended – Greenways of Gower, Pitton Cross Caravan & Camping Park
BEST PLACES TO EAT & DRINK
Restaurants & Bistros
Restaurants
- Winner – Beach House, Oxwich
- Highly Commended – Britannia Inn, Langland Brasserie, The Cliff / Y Clogwyn
Bistros
- Winner – The Bay Bistro & Coffee House
- Highly Commended – Copperfish, Mumbles Pier, Hoogah Café, Bar & Kitchen
Cafés and Tea Rooms
- Winner – Three Cliffs Coffee Shop
- Highly Commended – Cariad Café, Kardomah Café, The Lookout, Rhossili
Pub Food
- Winner – The Plough & Harrow, Murton
- Highly Commended – The Rake & Riddle, The Fountain Inn
Pubs & Bars
Pubs
- Winner – The Brit, Cwmavon
- Highly Commended – Britannia Inn,King Arthur Hotel
Bars
- Winner – Brewstone
- Highly Commended – Beer Riff, Nomad Bar & Kitchen
BEST THINGS TO SEE & DO
Activity Providers
Activity Providers – Single Activity
- Winner – Gower Coast Adventures
- Highly Commended – Langland Bay Golf Club, Swansea Footgolf
Activity Providers – Multi Activity
- Winner – RipNRock
- Highly Commended – Call of the Wild’s Adventure Britain
Attractions
Attractions – Small
- Winner – Dylan Thomas Birthplace
- Highly Commended – Aberdulais National Trust, Cinema & Co
Attractions – Large
- Winner – Margam Country Park
- Highly Commended – Gower Heritage Centre, LC
Festival and Event
Festival and Event – Small
- Winner – Gower Walking Festival
- Highly Commended – Gower Bluegrass Festival
Festival and Event – Large
- Winner – Wales Airshow
- Highly Commended – Dragon Ride, Gower Show, JCP Swansea Half-Marathon
Live Music Venue
- Winner – The Bunkhouse
- Highly Commended – Sin City
Wedding Venue
Wedding Venues – Small
- Winner – Ocean View
- Highly Commended – King Arthur Hotel, Oxwich Bay Hotel
Wedding Venues – Large
- Winner – Oldwalls Collection
- Highly Commended – Swansea Marriott Hotel, The Orangery at Margam Country Park
New / Renewed Tourism Businesses
- Winner – Plantasia
- Highly Commended – GG’s & The Estuary, Swansea Bus Museum
DEDICATION AND INSPIRATION
Dog-Friendly Tourism Businesses
- Winner – Clyne Farm Centre
- Highly Commended – Oxwich Bay Hotel, Pilton House Gower, Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park
Tourism Ambassadors
- Winner – Holly Hughes
- Highly Commended – Peter Savage
Team Ambassadors
- Winner – Home from Home
- Highly Commended – Gower Tours, National Trust Gower
Longstanding Services to Tourism Award
- John Hughes, of What’s On in Swansea Magazine
Tracey McNulty, the council’s head of cultural services, said: “A Swansea Bay Tourism Award is testimony to an operator’s commitment and dedication to making Swansea Bay a world-class visitor destination.
“The awards evening was a great addition to Swansea’s 50th anniversary as a city celebrations.
“We thank all sponsors and friends of the awards. There was positive feedback from industry professionals who attended the awards night.”
“My congratulations go to all the nominees and winners in this year’s Swansea Bay Tourism Awards which is a true partnership between public and private sectors.”
Stephen Crocker, chairman of Tourism Swansea Bay, said: “It was good to see businesses and organisations who go the extra mile being recognised for their excellence.
“This is a highly competitive awards scheme and it gets harder to judge every year. The entries reflect the increasing quality of the tourism offer in Swansea Bay.”
The awards are open to tourism businesses across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
This year’s categories included best hotel, restaurant, live music venue, best attraction, dog-friendly business and young tourism ambassador.
The awards attracted the most sponsors in its history. Sponsors included Development Bank of Wales, Castell Howell, Burns Pet Nutrition, JR Catering & Events, Harlequin Print, The Rake & Riddle, Buffoon Media, Traveline Cymru, Gower Brewery, Sherwood Florist, SA3 Photography, What’s On in Swansea magazine, Total Sound Solutions, The Fountain Inn, Home from Home and TLC – The Training and Learning Company.
