A PIRATE ship, half marathon and several museums were among those crowned champions at last night's Wirral Tourism Awards.

More than 250 tourism professionals, including those from the Wirral Tourism Business Network (WTBN), gathered at New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion Theatre and Conference Centre for the prestigious awards on Wednesday.

The awards reflect the very best of Wirral’s tourism sector, recognizing the quality, achievements and continuous hard work of the individuals and teams behind the success.

Big winners on the night included Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, which was named Wirral Tourism Ambassador for their work before and during The Open Championship in 2014.

Volunteer Team of the Year went to New Brighton's Black Pearl pirate ship and Grace Darling in Hoylake.

Built out of items from the beach, the Black Pearl - created by Frank Lund and Major Mace - has attracted visitors from across the borough and beyond.

It was has undergone two rebuilds – one after it was set on fire and one after it was washed away by the tidal surge in December 2013.

Marc Wilkinson at Michelin-starred Restaurant Fraiche in Oxton, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Wirral Tourism award, after being named number one in The Sunday Times top 100 restaurants.

Eric Robinson, chief executive of Wirral Council said: “I was honoured to attend last night’s awards ceremony, which was a valuable opportunity to learn more about the borough, its people and its businesses.

“I’d like to congratulate all of the businesses and staff who were nominated this year. Just being nominated shows how highly valued they are by their customers.

“Wirral’s tourism businesses reinforce a great impression of what the borough has to offer.”

Tourism in Wirral is one of the faster growing industries in the city region.

Wirral’s tourist industry has grown by more than 30% over the past 5 years and is now worth over £327 million to the borough’s economy, employing some 4,600 individuals.

Next in the calendar are the Liverpool city region’s tourism awards on May 21, where 14 Wirral tourism businesses are shortlisted in 9 categories.

Mere Brook House and The Wro are finalists in the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, taking place next month in Newcastle-Upon -Tyne.

The full list of the 2015 Wirral Tourism Awards winners are as follows:

  • Outstanding Young Person – sponsored by Wirral Met College
    Jonny Medley, The Wro
     
  • Family Friendly Business – sponsored by Let’s Go publishing
    Adventureland, New Brighton
     
  • Outstanding Customer Care sponsored by The Pyramids shopping centre
    Richard Ellett, The Floral Pavilion
     
  • Accommodation of the Year – sponsored by Contessa Hotels
    Mere Brook House
     
  • Most Professional Front of House / Bar Team – sponsored by Woods Squared Accountants
    The Wro, West Kirby
     
  • Volunteer Team of the Year – sponsored by Ness Botanic Gardens
    The Black Pearl and Grace Darling
  • Most Supportive Supervisor or Manager – sponsored by Wirral Chamber of Commerce
    Warren Shaw, Tanskey’s Bistro
  • Tourism Team of the Year - sponsored by The Wedding Collection
    The Williamson Art Gallery
  • Wirral Taste Award – sponsored by Wirral Satellite Cars
    Caffe Cream, New Brighton
  • Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Holiday Inn Express Hoylake
    Port Sunlight Museum
  • Wirral Event of the Year – sponsored by Wirral Council
    BTR Wirral Half Marathon
  • Young Chef of the Year – sponsored by Wirral Met College
    Robert Wood, The Irby Mill
  • Wirral Tourism Ambassador – sponsored by Grosvenor G Casino
    Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake
  • Outstanding Contribution to Wirral Tourism
    Marc Wilkinson at Michelin-starred Restaurant Fraiche, Oxton