Seventeen County Down businesses have been named amongst the Top 100 Hospitality Businesses in Northern Ireland for 2019.
A total of nine newcomers made it on to this year’s coveted list, including Balloo House, Killinchy; Bull & Claw, Donaghadee; Goat’s Toe, Bangor; Number Seven Duke Street, Warrenpoint; Portaferry Hotel, Portaferry; Rostrevor Inn, Rostrevor, The Stillhouse, Moira and Newry’s Bridge Bar and Canal Court.
The new entrants join other businesses who have clinched a coveted Top 100 spot for a second year, including Bank Bar & Bistro, Newry; Hillside Bar & restaurant, Hillsborough; Hop House, Bangor; Lobster Pot, Strangford; Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch; NOBLE, Holywood; Saltwater Brig, Kircubbin and Wine & Brine, Moira.
The local businesses were announced as winners at Hospitality Ulster’s second annual Top 100 Hospitality Business Awards at Titanic Belfast on Wednesday 27 February 2019.
The prestigious ceremony was hosted by acclaimed stand-up comedian Colm O’Regan and attended by a number of VIP guests including former Ireland rugby captain, Brian O’Driscoll and sports pundit, Adrian Logan.
Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 Hospitality Businesses shines the spotlight on Northern Ireland hospitality at its best. The Awards were presented in alphabetical order on the night, with each winner receiving equal recognition for their role in driving forward industry standards.
Commenting after the Awards ceremony, Mark Stewart, chair, Hospitality Ulster said: “We’re delighted to shine the spotlight on the top hospitality businesses throughout Northern Ireland for a second year.
“The Top 100 Hospitality Businesses are venues that continually go the extra mile to provide first-class hospitality and customer service, from pubs to nightclubs, restaurants to hotels. We have so many businesses at the top of their game here in Northern Ireland and we would like to congratulate all of our winners again on making it to the Top 100.”
Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 Hospitality Business Awards are the only industry recognised awards. Entries and nominations were vetted and shortlisted by a panel of independent judges. Headed up by Northern Ireland food critic, Joris Minne (Belfast Telegraph), the panel included celebrity chef Paula McIntyre, Irish News journalist and food columnist Allison Morris, Ulster Business editor, John Mulgrew and Sunday Life Pub Spy columnist and music journalist Edwin McFee.
This year’s Awards were supported by partners, Bacardi Brown-Forman, Coca-Cola, Counterpoint, Diageo, Dillon Bass, Heineken, Henderson Foodservice, Molson Coors, Richmond Marketing, Tennent’s NI and United Wine Merchants Ltd and media partners, Hospitality Review NI, Sunday Life and U105.
As part of Wednesday’s event, the 100 winners were also placed into a prize draw to win a range of incredible prizes. A place on a Mini MBA course at Queen’s University Belfast (sponsored by Queen’s University) was won by Hagan’s Bar & Bar Bella, Dungannon; Henry’s & The Jailhouse scooped a £2,000 marketing package with U105 (sponsored by U105) and Ocho Tapas in Portrush won the use of a branded Top 100 car for a year (sponsored by Donnelly Fleet and Towergate Dawson Whyte).
Funds raised on the night will be donated to The Benevolent, a charity that provides help and support to current and former employees of the drinks industry and their families.
The full Hospitality Ulster Top 100 can be viewed online at: www.Top100NI.com
The list detailing the winners in County Down for Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 Hospitality Businesses is listed below.
- Balloo House, Killinchy (new for 2019)
- Bank Bar & Bistro, Newry
- Bridge Bar, Newry (new for 2019)
- Bull & Claw, Donaghadee (new for 2019)
- Canal Court, Newry (new for 2019)
- Goat’s Toe, Bangor (new for 2019)
- Hillside Bar & Restaurant, Hillsborough
- Hop House, Bangor
- Lobster Pot, Strangford
- Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch
- , Holywood
- Number Seven Duke Street, Warrenpoint (new for 2019)
- Portaferry Hotel, Portaferry (new for 2019)
- Rostrevor Inn, Rostrevor (new for 2019)
- Saltwater Brig, Kircubbin
- StillHouse, Moira (new for 2019)
- Wine & Brine, Moira
The full list detailing the winners for Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 Hospitality Businesses is listed below.
Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 Hospitality Businesses 2019:
- Anchor Bar Complex, Portstewart
- Angler’s Rest, Benone (new for 2019)
- Auction Rooms, Moy
- Balloo House, Killinchy (new for 2019)
- Bank Bar & Bistro, Newry
- Billy Andy’s, Raloo
- Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry-Londonderry
- Blackbird, Derry-Londonderry
- Blakes of ‘The Hollow’, Enniskillen
- Brewer’s House, Donaghmore
- Bridge Bar, Newry (new for 2019)
- Browns Restaurant, Derry-Londonderry
- Bull & Claw, Donaghadee (new for 2019)
- Bullitt, Belfast
- The Bushmills Inn, Bushmills
- Canal Court, Newry (new for 2019)
- The Cellar Bar, Lurgan
- Church Street, Magherafelt (new for 2019)
- Coachman, Magherafelt
- Coppi, Belfast
- The Corner House, Lurgan
- Corr’s Corner, Newtownabbey (new for 2019)
- Crosskeys Inn, Toome
- Crowne Plaza, Belfast
- Cyprus Avenue, Belfast
- Deanes at Queen’s, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Deanes EIPIC, Belfast
- The Dirty Onion, Belfast
- Dorman’s Bar, Magherafelt
- The Duke of York, Belfast
- EDO, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Entrada, Derry-Londonderry
- Errigle Inn, Belfast
- Europa Hotel, Belfast
- Friel’s Bar & Restaurant, Swatragh
- Front Page, Ballymena
- Fullerton Arms, Ballintoy
- Galgorm Resort & Spa, Ballymena
- The Garrick Bar, Belfast
- Ginger Bistro, Belfast
- Goat’s Toe, Bangor (new for 2019)
- Grand Central Hotel, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Granny Annie’s, Limavady (new for 2019)
- Guildhall Taphouse, Derry-Londonderry (new for 2019)
- Hadski’s, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Hagan’s Bar & Bar Bella, Dungannon
- The Harp Bar, Belfast
- Head O’The Road, Portadown (new for 2019)
- Henry’s & The Jailhouse, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Hillside Bar & Restaurant, Hillsborough
- Hop House, Bangor
- House, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Howard Street, Belfast
- Jumon, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Keegan’s Bar, Armagh
- Kelly’s Cellars, Belfast
- Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges, Enniskillen (new for 2019)
- Kiwi’s Brew Bar, Portrush (new for 2019)
- La Taqueria, Belfast
- Lavery’s, Belfast
- Limelight, Belfast
- Lobster Pot, Strangford
- Londonderry Arms, Carnlough (new for 2019)
- Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen
- Mary McBride’s, Cushendun
- Mattie’s Meeting House , Cairncastle
- McAleer’s Bar, Dungannon
- McConville’s, Portadown
- Merchant Hotel, Belfast
- Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch
- Morning Star, Belfast
- Muddlers Club, Belfast
- , Holywood
- Northern Lights, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Northern Whig, Belfast
- Nu Delhi, Belfast (new for 2019)
- Number Seven Duke Street, Warrenpoint (new for 2019)
- Ocho Tapas, Portrush (new for 2019)
- O’Neill’s (Red Ned’s), Armagh (new for 2019)
- Ownies Bar & Bistro, Carrickfergus
- OX, Belfast
- Peadar O’Donnell’s, Derry-Londonderry
- Portaferry Hotel, Portaferry (new for 2019)
- Primrose, Derry-Londonderry (new for 2019)
- Ramore Wine Bar, Portrush
- Rostrevor Inn, Rostrevor (new for 2019)
- Ruby’s Bar, Larne
- Sally’s of Omagh, Omagh
- Saltwater Brig, Kircubbin
- Sandinos Café Bar, Derry-Londonderry
- Shepherd’s Rest, Draperstown (new for 2019)
- Shu, Belfast
- Spaniard, Belfast (new for 2019)
- The StillHouse, Moira (new for 2019)
- Sunflower, Belfast
- Taphouse Gastro Pub, Enniskillen
- Union Street Bar, Belfast
- Voodoo , Belfast (new for 2019)
- Wine & Brine, Moira
- Yugo, Belfast (new for 2019)
