Double delight for pubs

Glasses are being raised across Ballymena in celebration of two local pubs that have received top industry awards at Pubs of Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards 2014.
Kieran Bradley, Eileen Selfridge, Sara Girvin, Sunday Life and Kieran Donnelly pictured at Pubs of Ulsters prestigious Pub of the Year Awards 2014, where The Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone won the Best Entertainment Award. In addition to its big win, The Wild Duck was a finalist in the Best Marketing Idea category and was shortlisted for the Best Big Idea award. The Awards night, hosted by Cool FM Breakfast Show Host, Pete Snodden, was attended by the best in the hospitality business and was held at the La Mon Hotel and Country Club on Wednesday 12th November 2014. The annual Pub of the Year Awards are the only industry recognised awards and provide a valuable opportunity to recognise the significant contribution local pubs make, not only within their own communities, but to the industry as a whole. This years awards were sponsored by Britvic, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Dillon Bass, Heineken Northern Ireland, Molson Coors, Richmond Marketing, Tennents NI, Drinks Inc. and media partners, Sunday Life, Downtown/Cool FM aKieran Bradley, Eileen Selfridge, Sara Girvin, Sunday Life and Kieran Donnelly pictured at Pubs of Ulsters prestigious Pub of the Year Awards 2014, where The Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone won the Best Entertainment Award. In addition to its big win, The Wild Duck was a finalist in the Best Marketing Idea category and was shortlisted for the Best Big Idea award. The Awards night, hosted by Cool FM Breakfast Show Host, Pete Snodden, was attended by the best in the hospitality business and was held at the La Mon Hotel and Country Club on Wednesday 12th November 2014. The annual Pub of the Year Awards are the only industry recognised awards and provide a valuable opportunity to recognise the significant contribution local pubs make, not only within their own communities, but to the industry as a whole. This years awards were sponsored by Britvic, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Dillon Bass, Heineken Northern Ireland, Molson Coors, Richmond Marketing, Tennents NI, Drinks Inc. and media partners, Sunday Life, Downtown/Cool FM a
Kieran Bradley, Eileen Selfridge, Sara Girvin, Sunday Life and Kieran Donnelly pictured at Pubs of Ulsters prestigious Pub of the Year Awards 2014, where The Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone won the Best Entertainment Award. In addition to its big win, The Wild Duck was a finalist in the Best Marketing Idea category and was shortlisted for the Best Big Idea award. The Awards night, hosted by Cool FM Breakfast Show Host, Pete Snodden, was attended by the best in the hospitality business and was held at the La Mon Hotel and Country Club on Wednesday 12th November 2014. The annual Pub of the Year Awards are the only industry recognised awards and provide a valuable opportunity to recognise the significant contribution local pubs make, not only within their own communities, but to the industry as a whole. This years awards were sponsored by Britvic, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Dillon Bass, Heineken Northern Ireland, Molson Coors, Richmond Marketing, Tennents NI, Drinks Inc. and media partners, Sunday Life, Downtown/Cool FM a

The Wild Duck Inn in Portglenone was crowned the winner in the Best Entertainment category while the Adair Arms in Ballymena was crowned Best Hotel Bar at the Pub of the Year Awards at La Mon Hotel and Country Club on Wednesday 12th November 2014. Meanwhile, Gillie’s Pub was shortlisted for Best Hotel Bar and its barman Christian Grey was also a finalist in the Best Barperson category.

A total of 10 awards were handed out at the ceremony, which was hosted by Cool FM presenter and Bangor resident, Pete Snodden and attended by VIP guests including Finance minister, Simon Hamilton, mindreader and mentalist, David Meade; BBC weatherman, Barra Best and actor, Charlie Lawson (Coronation Street’s, Jim McDonald).

Commenting on the awards, Mark Stewart, chairman of Pubs of Ulster, said: “Pubs of Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards recognise and reward excellence and the important contribution local pubs make, not only within their own communities, but to the hospitality industry as a whole.

“This year we received our highest level of entries to date. The high standard of our finalists is a clear indication of the increasing professionalism and quality of pubs right across Northern Ireland.

“I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners, including our two Ballymena winners. I would also like to commend all of our shortlisted pubs – to reach the final of a competition of this scale is no mean feat; each and every pub should be proud to be counted amongst the best in Northern Ireland.”

For further information, the full list of winners visit www.nipuboftheyear.org.