New look Pub of the Year Awards launched

Colin Neill, CEO Hospitality Ulster; model Ashleigh Coyle and Olga Walls, chair, Hospitality Ulster at the official launch of the new-look Pub of the Year awards in The Hudson Bar, Belfast.

The search to discover Northern Ireland’s best pubs, hotels and restaurants got underway recently with the launch of the new-look Pub of the Year Awards. A record 14 awards are up for contention this year.

Three new ‘Commitment to Local Food’ awards have also been introduced to recognise the growing importance to hospitality operators of locally produced food.

And the Pub of the Year title will now be awarded in three separate categories, recognising the best venues in rural, urban and city locations.

With community involvement continuing to be an important focus for the local hospitality industry, 2015 also welcomes the introduction of three ‘Commitment to the Community’ awards for pubs, hotels and restaurants.

And this year’s Best Hotel Bar category features two accolades with Awards for the Best One, Two and Three-Star Hotel Bar and Best Four and Five-Star Hotel Bar.

One Award category will invite nominations from the general public. People can nominate their favourite barperson by writing to The Sunday Life, which is joining forces with Hospitality Ulster once again to find out who’s the Best Barperson in the pub personality stakes.

The Awards will also recognise the industry’s rising stars and those that have played a vital role in shaping the sector with two new awards: Hospitality Ulster’s Rising Star (in partnership with Ulster University) and the Industry Legend Award (in partnership with Hospitality Review).

All submitted Award entries, along with public nominations from the Best Barperson and the Industry Legend Awards will be vetted and judged by an independent judging panel comprising industry experts, before being mystery shopped

Olga Walls, chair of Hospitality Ulster, says that the awards celebrate everything that’s great about the hospitality trade in Northern Ireland:

“We have some of the best hospitality venues in the world right on our doorstep and many of these are setting industry standards when it comes to their customer offering and service as well as innovation,” she adds.

The closing date for entries for Hospitality Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards 2015 is September 15. A final shortlist will be announced by the end of October, revealing the premises shortlisted in each Award. The winners of the 14 Awards will be revealed at a gala dinner on Novemb12 11 at La Mon Hotel and Country Club.