https:\/\/gonorthwalestourismawards.website\/award-categories-2025\/<\/a><\/p>\nJim Jones, the CEO of organisers North Wales Tourism, said: \u201cThere is so much investment right across North Wales with new bistros, cafes and coffee houses opening everywhere and that\u2019s why we have included this new category to recognise their growing contribution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is definitely a new caf\u00e9 or coffee culture happening in North Wales and the places that are doing well are the ones where they have new cafes and bistros.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing the emergence of a new breed of independents adding a more locally focused alternative to the bigger brands like Starbucks and Costa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a personality and a sense of place at the heart of their offer and often serve premium, locally roasted coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cWrexham is leading the way thanks to the global spotlight generated by the football club and its Hollywood owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are also more and more examples of that right across North Wales , including Conwy, Ruthin, Llangollen, Rhos on Sea, Conwy, Llandudno, Betws y Coed, Trearddur Bay, Barmouth and so on.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing a lot of investment that\u2019s enhancing our town centres and increasing footfall.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a result the other high street businesses are also benefiting to it\u2019s creating a virtuous circle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe independent coffee shops are probably the best because they are at the heart of the local community and they are helping generate a new vibrancy in our town centres.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason people go to town centres instead of ordering online is that they want a pleasant experience rather than just staring at a screen and tapping on a keyboard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey like to look around nice shops and then go for a nice cup of coffee and nice lunch.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe caf\u00e9 culture in Europe is second to none and slowly but surely it\u2019s happening here as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all part of the process of our town centres reinventing themselves which a new breed of independent shops creating more interest and variety on our high streets.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me that\u2019s the only way these town centres are going to survive by offering experiences you just can\u2019t get by shopping online.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s also good about this new coffee culture is that they are places you can go all year round, so that\u2019s great news for local people and visitors alike.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a result, it\u2019s helping to extend the traditional tourism season and making us an attractive destination at any time of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s created the confidence to invest and we are seeing local entrepreneurs and the public sector rising to the challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are other areas that aren\u2019t doing so well and they are the ones where there\u2019s no investment.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones called on local authorities and the Welsh Government to recognise the importance of the tourism industry to the economy and to provide more support.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cPre-pandemic tourism brought in \u00a33.6 billion a year into the North Wales economy and supported more than 40,000 jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the right backing, we can get back to those numbers and even surpass them if there\u2019s a will and a strategy to make the most of what we\u2019ve got in order to grow.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur population isn\u2019t huge but we are a powerhouse in terms of what we have on offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need the public sector and the private sector to work collaboratively together for the greater good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Jones added: \u201cWe are grateful to all our sponsors and particularly our headline sponsors, Harlech Foodservice, who have pledged their continuing support for the next three years which is invaluable in terms of future security for our flagship event.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe industry is facing a lot of tough issues at the moment so this our way of saying thank you and raising the profile of these heroes of the sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harlech Foodservice Managing Director David Cattrall was delighted the company had signed up to support the awards with a three-year sponsorship deal.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThis is our opportunity to give something back and show solidarity with our core customers who have shown tremendous resilience and imagination in the face of some hugely difficult challenges in recent years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe passionately believe that Wales in general and North Wales in particular is the finest must-visit destination in the whole of the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the full package, with amazing scenery, world class attractions allied to our unique heritage and culture and it is right that we celebrate the fantastic people who work in the sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
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