'Fairytale' hotel and holiday park restaurant named the best in North Wales

'Fairytale' hotel and holiday park restaurant named the best in North Wales
Go North Wales Tourism Awards celebrated the sector's high flyers

A grand hotel on Anglesey and a celebrated holiday park restaurant were among those named the best in North Wales at the region's tourism awards.
The annual event at Venue Cymru was organised by North Wales Tourism to celebrate the dedication, skill and achievements of the region’s tourism and hospitality industry.
It was hosted by former BBC journalist Sian Lloyd and the headline sponsor were Harlech Foodservices.

The event saw a teenager who fled the war in Ukraine crowned as the rising star of the tourism industry in North Wales. Yuliia Batrak, 19, a student at Coleg Llandrillo, won Young Person in Tourism and Hospitality prize at the prestigious Go North Wales Tourism Awards.

At the other end of the age spectrum, the blue riband Service to Tourism Award went to Geoff Lofthouse, 70, who retired recently after more than 40 years as manager of the four star Imperial Hotel in Llandudno. Among the other big winners on the night was fairytale 19th century hotel Chateau Rhianfa, spectacularly located overlooking the Menai Strait and across to breathtaking views of Eryri (Snowdonia).

The 26-bedroom, Grade II listed chateau on the outskirts of Menai Bridge was named Hotel of the Year, having built a reputation as one of the most iconic places to stay in Wales. A very different business, located nearby on the shoreline in Menai Bridge, also came out on top. RibRide, which offers high-speed boat trips around the Anglesey coastline, was named as Activity or Experience of the Year – 20 years after they launched their first rib into the Menai Strait.

The business has also been recognised on Trip Advisor as the best boat tour operator in the UK and carries over 20,000 passengers a year. Back on dry land, Gimblet Rock in Pwllheli was named as Holiday Park of the Year after investing in eco-friendly initiatives, including electric buggies, energy efficient upgrades and planting Marram Grass to stabilise dunes and protect habitats. A giant of the adventure tourism industry, Zip World, won the Visitor Attraction of the Year accolade, confirming its place as one of North Wales’ greatest success stories.
Meanwhile, the acclaimed Signatures restaurant, based at the Aberconwy Resort and Spa in Conwy also tasted success. The eatery headed up by chef Jimmy Williams and his wife, Louise, was honoured as Restaurant of the Year. It’s also been named Wales' Best Restaurant at the World Culinary Awards three times.

Emlyn’s Coppice in Gwespyr, near Holywell, won the Self Catering Accommodation Award. The luxury glamping and camping retreat, featuring bespoke pods, private hot tubs and a handcrafted sauna, was praise for its sustainability, quality and guest experience.

Originally from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, 'rising star' winner Yuliia came to the UK with her mother, Liudmyla, and younger sister Alona after Russia invaded their homeland. Yuliia has been a student at Coleg Llandrillo since 2022 and is studying for a Level 3 Diploma in Food and Beverage Service Supervision. She also works part time at the George Hotel in Llandudno She is part of the UK skills food service team representing the UK and Wales at European and world competitions. Earlier this year she was awarded the Medallion for Excellence at the EuroSkills 2025 competition in Denmark. Yuliia’s personal tutor Mike Garner, a hospitality lecturer at Coleg Llandrillo, said: “From the very first training sessions I spent with Yuliia, you could see she had the dedication and focus to achieve great things and gain great success.
“I am incredibly proud of Yuliia and all that she has achieved so far. She has also been a has been a positive influence on her peers and become a real example of what hard work and dedication can achieve.

“She is consistently cheerful and always embraces her challenges and opportunities with a big smile and cheerful demeanour.”

According to head judge, Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, Geoff Lofthouse was a very worthy winner of the Service to Tourism Award. He said: “What Geoff has achieved over more than four decades at the helm of the Imperial Hotel has been remarkable and has helped cement Llandudno’s reputation as the Queen of Resorts.
“He is a real role model to those following in his footsteps, including the truly inspirational Yuliia Batrak who is already making her mark in the industry and has an incredibly bright future ahead of her. “I would like to congratulate both Geoff and Yuliia and every single one of the winners but I would also like to stress that all the nominees are the heroes of our tourism and hospitality industry. “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.”
Harlech Foodservice Sales director Mark Lawton said: “We’re thrilled to continue our support for the North Wales Tourism Awards so we can celebrate the people and businesses who help make North Wales one of the UK’s top visitor destinations. “This event has become a real highlight in the region’s calendar and plays a vital role in recognising a sector that’s at the heart of the North Wales economy. “We’re incredibly lucky to live and work in such a beautiful part of the world. Visitors come here for the scenery and adventure, but great food and drink are a huge part of the experience too. That’s why we always try to source as much as possible from local producers — it’s something we’re passionate about.

“North Wales is a world-class destination — diverse, innovative and full of character.. After everything the industry has been through, particularly during the pandemic, it’s fantastic to be able to give something back and celebrate the success of our core customers.”