CARDIGAN Castle faces some stiff competition in Thursday’s (April 13) final of Channel 4’s Great British Buildings Restoration of the Year.

The castle won the Georgian category in the first episode and is now up against two winners of the Victorian category, Lews Castle in Scotland and Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland plus last Thursday’s early category winner Hampton Court Palace.

Lews Castle is a Victorian era castle located west of the town of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, while Mount Stewart is a 19th-century house and garden in County Down, Northern Ireland, owned by the National Trust.

Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the town of East Molesey, Richmond upon Thames, Greater London, England, 11.7 miles south west and upstream of central London on the River Thames

A fifth and final finalist will be chosen from Thursday’s 20th century candidates before the overall winner is announced at the end of the programme.

Castle facilities officer Sue Lewis said: “To be in this competition against all these wonderful and imposing British buildings has been an honour.

“Winning the Georgian category has seen a huge upsurge of interest in the castle and we are all looking forward to the final on Thursday night.”

The castle accommodation bookings have gone into overdrive since the programme went on air and visitor numbers have also increased.

“We have had people from all over the UK who have come to visit the castle after seeing the programme,” said Sue.

“It has really put Cardigan on the map.”