Countryside Alliance Awards 2026 – Northern Ireland Finals Live!
The very best of rural businesses from across Northern Ireland have been shortlisted for prestigious Countryside Alliance Awards. Thousands of public nominations have been whittled down to a final twenty-four.
Last year 2025 Duffy’s in Killough won the Best Shop/Post Office category.
Customers and patrons can now take part in a public vote to support their favourites. The champions will then be announced at Stormont on 27th April.
The successful businesses will then go forward to the next round, competing against winners from across the country in the grand final. National winners will be announced 8th July, at the House of Lords.
The businesses are judged on a range of criteria, including their passion and commitment, sense of community, championing local produce, and the energy and diversity of their business.
The ‘Rural Oscars’ are now in their 19th year, and are a vital way of celebrating rural businesses that go the extra mile and support their local economy.
Being nominated for the Countryside Alliance Awards can have a real impact on rural businesses. The businesses which go on to become finalists or champions will receive regional and national recognition, strengthening the reputation of their brand.
There are five categories: ‘best pub’, ‘best village shop/ post office’, ‘best butcher’, ‘best for local food a drink’ and the ‘rural enterprise award’.
It’s your chance to cast your vote for your favourite rural businesses – you can do this here. You can vote for one business in each category, and in as few or as many of the categories as you would like.
Countryside Alliance Northern Ireland Director Gary McCartney said: “Once more, we have been blown away by the number of nominations this year.
“So many amazing businesses have been sent in by the public. Every business has an important story to tell – it’s so important that they are recognised.
“The secret to the Rural Oscars’ popularity is that they honour the people involved in these businesses, and not just their produce or services.
“At this critical time for so many rural businesses, it is vital we all show our support in whatever way we can. We encourage as many people as possible to get voting.
“When you have voted, please share the link with friends and families.”
The link to the public vote can be found here.
The shortlisted businesses by category are as follows:
Butcher
- Cleaver and Steel Butchery, Co. Antrim
- Corries Meats Ltd, Co. Down
- Graham Family Butchers, Co. Fermanagh
- Millar Meats, Co. Fermanagh
- Millikens Farm Butchers, Co. Down
Local Food / Drink
- Ballylagan Organic Farm, Co. Antrim
- Heaney Brewery, Co. Londonderry
- Irvines Steakhouse and Bar, Co. Fermanagh
- Millbank Farm Shop, Co. Down
- Sally McNally’s, Co. Armagh
Pub
- Highway Inn, Co. Antrim
- The Dufferin Arms, Co. Down
- The Halfway House Country Pub, Co. Antrim
- The Happy Landing, Co. Londonderry
- The Poachers Pocket, Co. Down
Rural Enterprise
- Ballydougherty Ice Cream, Co. Down
- Hillstown Farm Shop, Co. Antrim
- Long Meadow Cider, Co. Armagh
- Macha’s Orchard, Co. Armagh
- Maydown Farm Shop, Co. Londonderry
Village Shop / Post Office
- Caldwell’s Spar Islandmagee, Co. Antrim
- Sam’s Nearby Laurelvale, Co. Armagh
- Spar Parkgate, Co. Antrim
- The Village Store Seskinore, Co. Tyrone
