Friday night, June 5, saw more than 400 members of the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland come together at The Europa Hotel in Belfast to celebrate at the fifth annual LCN Awards.
The event had a special significance for the magazine, since this is our 75th year in publication. We’re now the oldest trade publication in the country and our event at The Europa was diamond-themed in honour of that achievement.
There was great excitement around the awards themselves, as host for the evening, Adrian Logan, helped us recognise the best pubs, nightclubs, restaurants and hotels in Northern Ireland.
Our annual Lifetime Achievement Award this year went to Sir William Hastings OBE CBE, founder and chairman of the Hastings Hotel Group, who addressed the audience himself after accepting the honour.
As for the rest of the awards, you can see the all-important pictures of the winners and finalists below.
Keep an eye on this site and on Facebook for more images of the awards evening…
LCN Lifetime Achievement Award 2015
Winner: Sir William Hastings OBE CBE, founder and chairman, The Hastings Hotel Group.
Models, Nicola, Alison and Laura are pictured here with Sir William Hastings, recipient of the 2015 LCN Lifetime Achievement Award and special guest, Pamela Ballantine.
Hotel of the Year (up to 75 rooms)
Winner:
Galgorm Resort & Spa, Ballymena:
Pictured (from left) are Elaine Kelly and Helen McNamara from Galgorm Resort & Spa with Cathy Fox of the category sponsor, Counterpoint.
Finalists:
Pictured are the finalists (from left), Paul Rice, The Old Inn; Chris Stevenson and Andrew McIvor, Tullylagan Country House Hotel; David Cadden, Lusty Beg Island; Alex Holling-Dodds, The Enniskillen Hotel and Joulef Bounaaja and Neil Devlin, The Everglades.
Bar Person of the Year
Winner:
Chris Leonard, The Anchor Complex, Portstewart:
Chris Leonard (right), is pictured collecting his award from Patrick Morgan of category sponsor, Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
Finalists:
Pictured are the finalists (from left), Pandy Walshe, Bryson’s Bar; Joey O’Neill, The Queen’s Arms; Patrick Morgan, category sponsor, Bushmills Irish Whiskey and James Brown, The Downshire Arms.
Highly Commended:
A ‘Highly Commended’ certificate was also awarded in this category to Jamie Kirk (left), from Rita’s in Belfast. Included is Patrick Morgan from category sponsor, Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
Newcomer of the Year
Winner:
Sixty6, Belfast
Receiving their award from Sarah Shimmons (centre) of category sponsor, Tennents NI are Sinead Eastwood and Brett Weedon of Sixty6.
Finalists:
The finalists are (from left), Una Kincaid, Pier59; Barbara Carvill, Bernard Sloane and Daniel Wilson, Flaming Crust Pizzeria; Sarah Shimmons, Tennents NI; Sinead McAteer, The Sooty Olive and Conor Owens, Rita’s.
Cafe/Bistro of the Year
Winner:
The Jolly Sandwich Bar, Enniskillen:
Hazel Johnston (centre) and Carina Cutler of the Jolly Sandwich Bar accept their winners’ plaque from Robert Doherty of category sponsor, AIB Merchant Services.
Finalists:
Finalists in this category were David Caldwell and Leigh Gamble, Katch 27; Jenny Jackson, Bubbacue; Robert Doherty, AIB Merchant Services and John Doyle and Colin Mullan, Harry’s Bar and Bistro.
Pub Food of the Year
Winner
The Poacher’s Pocket, Comber:
Pictured are (from left), Sonia Rodgers and Victoria Corey, The Poacher’s Pocket, with Fergal Mulligan, category sponsor, Bunzl McLaughlin and Wynn Penton, event organiser.
Finalists:
Finalists are (from left), Pauline and Harry O’Hare, The Downshire Arms; Mervyn Steenson and Elaine Allardyce, Groucho’s Cafe Bar; Fergal Mulligan, category sponsor, Bunzl McLaughlin; Wynn Penton, event organiser; William Ferguson, The Four Trees and Thomas Doherty, Mary’s Bar.
Nightclub of the Year.
Winner.
Secrets, Magherafelt:
Thomas Doherty (centre) of Secrets Nightclub is pictured accepting his plaque from Graeme Murphy (left) of category sponsor, SHS Drinks (WKD). Included is event organiser, Bill Penton.
Finalists:
The finalists (from left) were: Paul Langsford, El Divino; Sinead Eastwood, Sixty6; Graeme Murphy, category sponsor, SHS Drinks (WKD) and Zoe Watson and Conor Quinn, Chinawhite.
Style Bar of the Year
Winner.
Rita’s, Belfast:
Pictured are (from left), Jamie Kirk, Rita’s; Anne McConnell, Diageo NI, category sponsor; Zoe Watson and Conor Quinn, Rita’s.
Finalists:
The finalists were (from left), Adam Duff and Sinead Eastwood, Sixty6; Anne McConnell, Diageo NI, category sponsor; Thomas Doherty, Mary’s Bar; Trish Greer, The Fitzwilliam and Michael McCallan, The Albany.
Hotel of the Year (more than 75 rooms)
Winner.
Culloden Estate & Spa:
Adrian McNally (right), Culloden Estate & Spa, collects his plaque from Ronan Skeath, Hugh Jordan and Co., category sponsor.
Finalists:
Pictured are (from left), Karen McNeilly and George Graham, Roe Park Resort; Cathy Scott, The Stormont; Stephen Meldrum, Slieve Donard Resort & Spa; James McGinn, The Europa; Michael McGinn, The Stormont and Jayne Brennan and Julie Moore, La Mon Hotel & Country Club.
Fish and Chip Shop of the Year
Winner.
The Friary:
Suzanne and David McKelvey (centre), from The Friary, with Ivan Bond (left) of category sponsor, McWhinney’s Sausages and Elaine McWhinney.
Finalists:
The finalists were (from left), Kevin Skelly, The Chop Co.; Alan Hanna, The Pit Stop, Kilkeel; Nicola Frew, Frew’s; Ivan Bond, category sponsor, McWhinney’s Sausages; Stewart Frew, Frew’s; Michael Meil and Angela Crothers, The Frying Squad and Bill Penton, event organiser.
Best Use of Social Media.
Winner.
Secrets Nightclub, Magherafelt:
Jonny Callan (centre), from sponsor, Kelly’s Patch Wines, presents the award to Michael Dorman (left) and Conor McGlone from Secrets Nightclub.
Finalists:
The finalists were (from left), Tirzah Pollock, Union Street Bar; Garvan Rice, The Old Inn; Joanne Graham, The Chippy; Peter McNicholl, Galgorm Resort & Spa; Jonny Callan, Kelly’s Patch Wines, category sponsor; Neil Gorman, Betty Black’s; Danielle D’Arcy and Zoe Watson, Rita’s and Alex Holling-Dodds, The Enniskillen Hotel.
Hotel Manager of the Year.
Winner.
Lloyd Jackson, La Mon Hotel & Country Club.
Lloyd Jackson (right), La Mon Hotel & Country Club, accepts his plaque from Paul Moffett of category sponsor, Balmoral Furniture.
Finalists:
Pictured (from left) are Stephen Meldrum, Slieve Donard Resort & Spa; Paul Moffett, category sponsor, Balmoral Furniture’ Paula Douds, Tara Lodge and Neill Devlin, The Everglades.
Restaurant of the Year.
Winner.
James Street South, Belfast:
David Gilmore of James Street South accepts his plaque from Nicola Daly (right), category sponsor, Deakin Wines. Included is Wynn Penton, event organiser.
Finalists:
Pictured (from left) are, Barry O’Brien and Kevin Clarke, Oysters Restaurant; Terry Brown, The Old Schoolhouse; Wynn Penton, event organiser; Brian Donaldson, Culloden Estate & Spa; Nicola Daly, category sponsor, Deakin Wines; Chris Kilpatrick, Culloden Estate & Spa and Joery Castel, The Boathouse.
Bar of the Year.
Winner.
Mary’s Bar, Magherafelt.
Mark Carron (left), category sponsor, Osborne King, presents the winner’s plaque to Thomas Doherty of Mary’s Bar.
Finalists:
Pictured (from left) are, Deane and Ian Coalter, The Necarne Arms; Mervyn Steenson and Elaine Allardyce, Grouch’s Cafe Bar; Mark Carron, category sponsor, Osborne King; Gayle Dornan and Matthew Davy, Maghera Inn and Christine and Danny Coyles, The Anchor Complex.
Guesthouse of the Year.
Winner.
Newforge House, Magheralin:
Pictured (from left), are Joanne McGeady and Lou Mathers from Newforge House and Mark French, category sponsor, Northern Ireland Visitors’ Journal.
Finalists:
Pictured (from left) are, Colin Douds and Pauline McCullough, Tara Lodge; Debbie Caskey and Richard Hall, Strandeen; Jenny and Chris Millan, Cairn Bay Lodge; Mark French, category sponsor, Northern Ireland Visitors’ Journal and Bernie and Conor McClelland, Rayanne House.
Our website uses cookies to provide you the best experience. However, by continuing to use our website, you agree to our use of cookies. For more info read our Cookie Policy
