- Stories & Inspiration
- Best Independent Destination Guide 2026
South Wales Guide named Best Independent Destination Guide 2026
We've been named Best Independent Destination Guide 2026 in the SME News UK Enterprise Awards - a bit of a moment for a small independent guide to South Wales that started life just over a year ago.
Read more about the author: Steve
I'll be honest, I didn't expect it. South Wales Guide only launched in the summer of 2025 with a simple idea: my home region deserved a proper independent guide, written by people who actually know it, rather than just a regular tourist information website, or a national aggregator of attraction tickets for sale.
A year on, the guide covers everything from Chepstow to Tenby and up to Brecon, with more than 400 local businesses and experiences listed, and over 11,400 of you following along on social media.
What the award actually is
The UK Enterprise Awards are run by the business publication SME News. There’s no public vote and no entry fee - winners are chosen by an independent research panel that looks at things like innovation, business growth, online reputation and customer feedback. You can see the listing on the SME News website.
I started South Wales Guide because the region deserved a proper independent guide, written by people who actually know it. National recognition is a real boost for everyone involved, however the real credit belongs to the hundreds of small tourism & hospitality businesses across South Wales who make the region worth writing about in the first place.
That last bit isn't false modesty - our guide is only as good as the places we get to write about, and South Wales makes the job easy - the Coast Path, the Brecon Beacons, the history of the Valleys and cities, and nights out in Cardiff and Swansea.
It's also not just me any more. I work alongside a blog writer and the team at WCS Agency, who look after our social channels, so this one is shared around.
What happens next
More of the same, mostly - more places visited, more businesses listed, more days out worth your Saturday. Listings stay free, because aim of the guide is to showcase the best of South Wales, wherever that may be, but of course, we can't survive without our paid promotion too.
So if you run a tourism or hospitality business in South Wales and you're not on here yet, get yourself listed. And if you're just after somewhere new to go this weekend, that's what the whole thing is for.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the UK Enterprise Awards?
The UK Enterprise Awards are an annual awards programme run by the business publication SME News, which recognise small and medium-sized businesses across the UK. The awards are free to enter and are decided on merit rather than by public vote, with winners selected by an independent research panel that assesses each nominee's innovation, reputation, growth, and customer feedback.
- Does it cost anything to be listed on South Wales Guide?
No. Standard business listings are free, and always have been. The guide is funded by advertising rather than listing fees, with optional marketing packages starting at £95 per year for businesses that want enhanced listings, social promotion, or editorial features.
- What area does South Wales Guide cover?
South Wales Guide covers the region from Chepstow in the east to Tenby in the west, and as far north as Brecon. This includes Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, the Valleys, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Gower, and the Brecon Beacons.
Stay up to date
Sign up for the South Wales Guide newsletter to receive inspiration in your inbox for days & nights out, offers, competitions, trip planning ideas, and plenty more!
