Hotel and pub in the running to be best in England

Merseyside venues are in the running for the tourism industry’s national Awards for Excellence.

The VisitEngland awards champion the best of England’s tourism industry and according to organisers they celebrate "quality, innovation, best practices and exceptional customer service." The 48 finalists were handpicked by tourism industry experts and now go on to compete in 16 core categories at the national awards.

The categories range from Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and Small Hotel of the Year to New Tourism Business of the Year and Pub of the Year. Competing for the title of Large Hotel of the Year is Liverpool's own Hope Street Hotel.

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Welcoming its first guests back in 2004, Hope Street Hotel was Liverpool's first independent, privately-owned, boutique hotel. Located on Hope Street in the Georgian Quarter, the concept for the business came from owner Dave Brewitt, who has lived in Merseyside since 1981. A spokesperson said they were "delighted" to be nominated.

Thronton Hough's The Red Fox, built in the second half of the 19th century, is in the running for Pub of the Year. The venue boasts spacious rooms, open fires, raised terraces which overlook the lawns and countryside and several seasonal menus.

All finalists are invited to attend the national awards ceremony, this year being held at the Rum Warehouse at The Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on June 5, where gold, silver and bronze winners will be announced at the black tie event.

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