Hollyoaks star Ashley Taylor Dawson has been revealed as the host of the 2025 Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards ceremony.

Ashley said he 'cannot wait to celebrate Cheshire's brilliant businesses and unsung heroes' after being unveiled as the host of the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards ceremony in March.

The Cheshire-born and raised actor and singer is best known for playing Darren Osborne in the Channel 4 soap set in fictional Chester suburb Hollyoaks.

He is also no stranger to the hospitality sector with his former Wilmslow ventures including being a business partner for both The Grove Bar Tavern and Wrap Studio and owning and running cocktail bar Symposium for 10 years.

Ashley said taking on the new role as host of the prestigious Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards 2024/2025, which celebrate the people and businesses behind Cheshire and Warrington's tourism sector, was "a true honour".

The actor who lives in Wilmslow will follow in the footsteps of actress Lucy-Jo Hudson who guest hosted last year.

He said: "Cheshire is my home and a region I love. I'm also not a stranger to the hospitality game in Cheshire. It has been a passion of mine for quite some time.

"So to be able to celebrate brilliant businesses and unsung heroes who work so hard to make our region such a wonderful place to live, visit and work is a real honour and a role I was delighted to accept."

The awards champion everything from family attractions, wedding venues and holiday parks to accommodation providers, pubs and restaurants - with a new Best Event or Festival Award, one of widespread 17 categories included for 2024/25.

Qualifying winners will be automatically entered into the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence to compete against the best in the country. 

For a second year in a row, Chester Cathedral will be host to an expected 300-strong audience on Thursday 6 March 2025.

Ashley's involvement comes as organisers issued a rallying call for visitor economy businesses to snap up the last few remaining tickets.

Marketing Cheshire officials are also urging any corporate businesses interested in supporting the awards with sponsorship to utilise the packages available. 

Judges had to sift through a record number of entries for the awards with finalists hailing from across Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington sub-regions were confirmed.

The Harry Styles-inspired Harry's Home Village Tour in Holmes Chapel and Chester Zoo are among finalists securing multiple nominations – both finding themselves as a finalist in three categories.

The full list of finalists can be found here.

Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Nub News provides updates to local residents in the town.

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

Please consider following Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Nub News on Facebook.