'Hairy' adventure firm scoops up honours in top tourism awards

* Hugh Owen of Bearded Men Adventures with the Go Rising Star in Tourism & Hospitality Award and award sponsor sponsor Sam McIlvogue of Coleg Llandrillo Menai.

* Jason Rickwood and Hugh Luckock of Bearded Men Adventures with award sponsor Glen Evans, centre, of Snowdonia Hospitality & Leisure Ltd.

A “hairy” adventure company was hailed as a star of the tourism industry in North Wales.

Bearded Men Adventures in Llangollen was among the big winners at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards.

The glittering annual event organised by North Wales Tourism celebrates the dedication, skill and achievements of the region’s tourism and hospitality industry.

This year the ceremony at Venue Cymru in Llandudno was hosted by former BBC journalist Sian Lloyd, who hails from Wrexham, and the headline sponsor once again was Harlech Foodservice which supplies many of the region’s hotels, guest houses and restaurants.

Most of the winners will go forward to the National Tourism Awards for Wales next March, hosted by Visit Wales.

Bearded Men Adventures,  whose adrenaline-fuelled activities include white water rafting, canoeing across the world famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and axe throwing, picked up two gongs.

The outfit, which describes itself as the Hairiest Adventure Company in North Wales, won the Go Activity or Experience award while 18-year-old team member Hugh Owen was named as the Rising Star in the Tourism and Hospitality Category.

Hugh said winning the Rising Star awards was an unbelievable start to his dream job.

From the age of 16 he set his sights on a career which would allow him to share his love for nature and adventure with others.

He said landing his traineeship with Bearded Men Adventures was a golden opportunity in itself but to also win the Rising Star accolade was more than he would have thought possible.

Hugh, who comes from Wrexham, said: “It’s too crazy for words really. I’ve known for a while that outdoor pursuits and tourism were the fields I’d love to work in and now that pathway is evolving in front of me.

“It’s also such a great time to be involved in the tourism sector in North Wales. There’s so much happening in Wrexham and the surrounding area these days, all the publicity which has come from the success of Wrexham FC since it was taken over by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

“It’s created such potential for the region, it’s too exciting for words really. There’s such a buzz around the whole region and it’s great to be with a such a dynamic company which is right at the heart of things and brimming over with energy.”

Hugh said he also wanted to thank his parents Anna Mottershead and Aled Owen for supporting his dream to work in the world of outdoor pusuits.

Bearded Men Adventures trailblazers Hugh Luckock and Jason Rickwood said they were overjoyed to scoop the award for being for best company in the business of providing high octane fun for thrill seekers.

Jason said: “It’s fantastic to be rewarded for doing what we love and offering our customers a safe way to take part in adventures that they also love, it doesn’t get better than that.”

He said the award would be a positive boost as they promote new offerings in the Bearded Men catalogue including stays at the newly named Without a Paddle hotel they have just opened in the heart of Llangollen.

According to head judge, Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, Adam Williams was an “irrepressible force of nature”.

He said: “Adam is a real-life hero of the tourism and hospitality industry in North Wales whose drive and ingenuity are helping to turbo charge the visitor economy as well as preserving a precious part of our tourism heritage.

“I would like to congratulate Adam and every single one of the winners but I would also like to stress that all the nominees have played an absolutely vital role in rebuilding tourism sector in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.

“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.”

It was a sentiment echoed by David Cattrall, the Managing Director of headline sponsors Harlech Foodservice.

He said: “We are delighted to once again be the headline sponsor of this wonderful awards ceremony and it’s very much a vote of confidence in the tourism and hospitality sector which has endured such a difficult time in recent years."

* Bearded Men was also a finalist in the Marketing and Media Recognition Award.

Llangollen International Eisteddfod was a finalist in the Event of the Year category and another Llangollen-based organisation, Drosi Bikes, reached the final of the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award.