A former royal home has been crowned as the best hotel in Wales and its acclaimed restaurant was named as the nation’s best place to eat.

The five star Plas Dinas Country House Hotel in Bontnewydd, near Caernarfon, won the accolade at The National Tourism Awards of Wales staged by the Welsh Government and Visit Wales at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

Meanwhile, its fine dining Gunroom Restaurant – run by head chef Daniel ap Geraint who’s representing Wales in the finals of the popular BBC 2 television show, Great British Menu – also came out on top.

A total of 48 finalists from across Wales were shortlisted in 12 categories ranging from Best Hotel to Best Event and including awards for Sustainable Tourism, Accessibility and Inclusivity and Dog Friendliness

The event was hosted by Aled Rhys Jones, a well-known broadcaster who’s also the Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and it was sponsored by foodservice company Castell Howell.

Entertainment was provided by the popular Welsh of the West End group who reached the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent and Band Pres Llareggub (Llareggub Brass Band) with their exciting blend of Welsh language pop, traditional New Orleans jazz and New York Hip Hop.

The leasehold for Plas Dinas Country House was bought by Daniel and Annie Perks in 2019 after they fell in love with the former royal retreat.

Back in the 1960s, it was the North Wales home of Lord Snowdon, formerly  Anthony Armstrong-Jones, and Princess Margaret, hidden away from the glare of London life.

It was also where Lord Snowdon used as a base to mastermind the investiture of the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles, at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.

Daniel ap Geraint joined The Gunroom in 2018, a year before Plas Dinas  was acquired by Daniel and Annie Perks, who have restored the building and raised the bar for hospitality in the region and together are the perfect pairing to achieve great things.

The restaurant has since been added to the Michelin Guide, gaining two AA rosettes and winning the AA Wine List Award for Wales 2024/25. They also won Best Hotel for Romance in the UK at the Condé Nast Johansens awards in London.

Other big winners on the night included the annual Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells which was named as the best event in Wales.

The show, one of the largest agricultural events in Europe, attracts around 200,000 people to the famous Llanelwedd showground, every  July.

It provides a showcase for livestock, equine competitions, horticulture, pole climbing, fur and feather, as well as having back-to-back 12 hour entertainment programmes across the site.

The Rock UK Summit Centre, in Treharris, near Merthyr Tydfil, was honoured as the best activity.

It’s an outdoor residential centre and climbing wall with 50,000 visitors yearly and has  been awarded a four star rating by Visit Wales.

Activities include climbing, hill walking, paddle sports, caving and archery and last year  over £11,000 worth of bursaries have been awarded, and many children from poorer families have been able to take part.

Glangwili Mansion, near Pencader, in Carmarthenshire, the winner in the Best B&B, Inn and Guesthouse category, is in a dark skies area and has a new star attraction  – a  Stargazer Cabin Dining Experience in the grounds.

The business has invested in a Glangwili Mansion Digital Guidebook, which is sent to guests in advance,  enabling them to plan their stay –  from restaurant bookings to attractions and things to do in the area. 

The system linked to Google Maps and allows guests, many of whom are first time visitors to the area, to make their way around the region and make the most of their time on holiday.

The award for the industry’s rising star went to Charly Dix, Lan y Môr, the stunning Michelin-rated beachside restaurant at Coppet Hall Beach, Saundersfoot, in Pembrokeshire.

The winners were congratulated by Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning who said: “The Welsh Government is proud to support The National Tourism Awards for Wales, particularly in 2025 – the Year of Croeso.

“These awards showcase excellence in a vital industry that employs nearly 12 per cent of our workforce and contributes £3.8 billion to our economy each year.

“This occasion has underlined Wales as a world-class destination thanks to our stunning landscapes, exceptional hospitality, and remarkable attractions, all underpinned by our unique culture and heritage.

“I congratulate all finalists who serve as outstanding ambassadors, and I’m particularly delighted to see Charly Dix win the Rising Star Award – a promising sign for our industry’s future.”

Full list of winners at National Tourism Awards of Wales

Best Hotel: Gwesty Plas Dinas, Bontnewydd, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Best B&B, Inn & Guesthouse: Glangwili Mansion, Llanllawddog, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire

Best Self-Catering: Wonderful Escapes Wern-y-Cwm Farm, Llandewi Skirrid, Abergavenny

Best Caravan, Camping, Glamping: Meadow Springs Country & Leisure Park, Ffinnant, Trefeglwys, Powys

Best Attraction: Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway,  Porthmadog, Gwynedd

Best Activity, Experience or Tour: Rock UK Summit Centre, Trelewis, Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil

Bro a Byd (Those going the extra mile on Environmental Sustainability): Cambrian Cottages, Berllan, Gwyddgrug, Pencader, Carmarthenshire

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award: Stangwrach Cottages, Llanfynydd Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire

Best Place to Eat: The Gunroom, Plas Dinas, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Rising Star: Charly Dix, Lan y Môr, Coppet Hall Beach, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire

Best Event: Royal Welsh Show, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys

Best Dog Friendly Business: Plas Llangoedmor, Llangoedmor, Cardigan, Ceredigion