Bristol’s Wake The Tiger – the world’s first ‘amazement park’ – has been named the region’s top tourist business in a prestigious awards scheme.
The attraction, which has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors since it opened just over two years ago, claimed the title Winner of Winners at last night’s Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards. 
Having landed Gold as the best new tourism business in the same awards last year, Wake The Tiger, pictured, topped the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category this year before going on to win the overall winner title.
Its success capped a triumphant night for Bristol leisure and hospitality businesses in the annual awards, which showcase the cream of the West of England’s tourist attractions and celebrate excellence in an industry, while facing huge challenges over recent years, has continued to innovate and develop.
Aerospace Bristol, the museum that celebrates the city’s world-class aviation heritage, made it a top two for the city by winning Silver in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, while the Tree Tops Adventure at Ashton Court won Silver in the Active & Learning Experience of the Year category.
Conservation and education charity Bristol Zoological Society, which runs the Bristol Zoo Project near Cribbs Causeway, landed Bronze for Accessible and Inclusive Tourism.
The city’s creativity was recognised with Sparks, the arts hub in the former Marks & Spencer store in Broadmead, earning Silver in New Tourism Business category, while also gaining Silver – for Tourism Event/Festival of the Year – was The Bristol Light Festival, which was established in 2020 to showcase the vibrant, playful and creative side to the city. 
As a foodie city, Bristol also performed well in the relevant categories with Noah’s, a family-run fish & chip restaurant and seafood kitchen near the Cumberland Basin, winning another Silver for the Casual Dining, adding it to the Bronze it scooped in the New Tourism Business category.
The Gold and Silver awards in the Restaurant of the Year category went to BANK, a contemporary neighbourhood restaurant in Totterdown, and The Granary on Welsh Back respectively.
Bristol Harbour Hotel’s CBD Stress at HarSPA underground wellness centre was commended in the Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year category having won Silver last year, while Boutique luxury hotel Berwick Lodge picked up a Bronze award for the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism and Coombe Lodge at Blagdon collecting Silver in Wedding Venue of the Year category.
The awards ceremony, at which 65 finalists lined up in the 28 categories, was staged at Batch Country House in Lympsham, near Weston-super-Mare.
A surprise award made at last night’s ceremony went to Jon Chamberlin, pictured, head of marketing at Visit West, the regional destination marketing organisation behind the Visit Bristol brand, for his outstanding contribution to tourism. 
Visit West managing director Kathryn Davis said: “We are thrilled that so many of our businesses have been rewarded for all their incredible achievements this year with their success at the awards and look forward to seeing some of our winners hopefully progress into the national Visit England for Excellence finals next year.
“We have so many iconic destinations and world-class experiences in the region, it is important to remember to celebrate this, and that tourism doesn’t just happen.
“It is thanks to the investment, creativity and hard work of these businesses that make our visitor economy so valuable, worth more than £2.5bn just to the West of England.
“While this sector is largely made up of many small businesses, together they are incredibly powerful and thoroughly deserve the recognition received this evening.”
Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards director Nell Barrington added: “For many, it has been a really challenging year, but tonight was all about celebration and recognising those businesses who go above and beyond every day to ensure every visitor has a fantastic, truly memorable experience.
“It is great that they get recognition for all their efforts and my sincere congratulations go to them for everything they do to put Bristol, Bath, Somerset and beyond on the map.”
