A HEREFORDSHIRE pub has been announced as a finalist in an incredible three categories as the county's best tourism businesses are celebrated.

The Riverside Inn, Aymestrey has been selected as a finalist in three categories in the inaugural Visit Herefordshire Tourism Awards.

They are the B&B and Guest House of the Year, Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, and Taste of England awards.

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Plenty of exceptional businesses across the county have been shortlisted for this prestigious recognition, which celebrates the best of Herefordshire’s thriving tourism sector.

Andy Link, chef patron at the Riverside Inn, said it is a huge honour to have been selected as a finalist.

"It makes all of us here at the Riverside feel very proud, and it is also a fantastic recognition of the huge amount of hard work that the entire team puts into making the pub such a great place to visit," he said.

“We are constantly striving to not only maintain our high standards, but to innovate so that our food and drink offering is constantly fresh and exciting.”

The selected businesses are now one step closer to receiving regional accolades, with all award winners automatically being shortlisted for the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. These awards provide an opportunity for businesses to be recognised among the country’s finest, offering industry-wide exposure and a chance to be named as one of the best tourism experiences in England.

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The businesses are now in the second round of judging, where independent industry professionals will conduct site visits and assessments to determine the winners and highly commended finalists in each category.

The winners of the Visit Herefordshire Tourism Awards will be unveiled at the inaugural awards evening, to be held in February 2025, thanks to the headline sponsor Hello Starling.

Diane Mansell, chief executive officer of Herefordshire County BID and Visit Herefordshire, said the quality and diversity of the businesses represented is "testament to the strength of Herefordshire’s tourism sector".

The full list of shortlisted businesses and further information about the awards can be found on the Visit Herefordshire website.