COFFEE CULTURE HELPING BOOST LOCAL ECONOMY

Tourism boss says independents are leading the way in North Wales

- By OWEN HUGHES

A NEW coffee culture is helping to revitalise town centres and boost tourism across North Wales - with independents leading the way. That's the message from Jim Jones, the CEO of North Wales Tourism.

The number of cafes across the region has boomed in recent years a welcome antidote to the woes seen in the retail sector.

Jim said the area was particularly seeing the emergence of a “new breed of independents” offering a more locally focused alternative to brands like Starbucks and Costa.

He added that the trend was helping to draw people visitors and locals alike into town centres and strengthening the economy, also then supporting retailers.

The phenomenon is having such a big impact that a new category has been added for this year’s Go North Wales Tourism Awards for the bistro, cafe and coffee shop of the year. The ceremony to celebrate the heroes of the tourism and hospitality industry will be held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Thursday, November 20.

The 2025 event is once again being supported by Harlech Foodservice who have pledged to sponsor the awards for three years and the ceremony will be hosted by former BBC journalist and TV presenter Sian Lloyd who hails from Wrexham. Details on entering are below.