Wild Duck and Connolly’s win pubs accolade

The local winners were announced at the Antrim Regional Pub of the Year presentations which took place at The Thatch in Broughshane.

With bars in Ballymena and Portglenone coming out on top, it’s clear that the borough has the finest bars in County Antrim.

The pubs in first place in each category will now go forward to the Gala Awards Night at Belfast City Hall on November 16, where they will compete against other regional winners in the bid to be crowned the overall winner of their category.

The Antrim Pub of the Year Award winners were as follows: Regional Pub of the Year 2011- Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone; Best Neighbourhood Pub- Connolly’s Bar, Ballymena; Best Food Pub Blackstone Bar and Restaurant, Ballymena; Best Family Friendly Pub- Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone; Most Innovative Pub- Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone.

Pubs of Ulster, the professional body for the licensed trade in Northern Ireland, has once again recognised and rewarded the excellence that exists in the local pub trade in its search for Northern Ireland’s best pubs.

Commenting on the regional awards, Colin Neill, chief executive of Pubs of Ulster, said: “The regional heats of the Pub of the Year Awards are a great opportunity to recognise the contribution local pubs make, not only within their own community, but to the industry as a whole.

“The standard of entries this year has been exceptionally high, demonstrating the quality and excellence that exists in the industry.

“I would like to congratulate all the winners and we look forward to seeing them battle it out with the other regional winners at the Gala Awards Night in Belfast in November.”

The winners were selected following an extensive judging process which, depending on their category, included written submissions, interviews or independent mystery shoppers. An independent judging panel then selected the overall winners.

As well as unveiling the overall winners of each of the award categories, the Pub of the Year Gala Awards Night will also reveal the winner of the Sunday Life Readers’ Choice Award as well as the Pubs of Ulster Chairman’s Award, which will be presented to an individual, premises or organisation that has excelled in their field and made a major contribution to the development and enhancement of the local licensed trade sector.

The Pub of the Year Gala Awards Night will take place in the majestic surroundings of Belfast City Hall on Wednesday, November 16 and will be hosted by top local comedians Tim McGarry and Dan Gordon.

For full details on the regional award winners as well as details on how to purchase tickets for the awards night, please visit www.nipuboftheyear.com or contact Paula Kane on 028 9026 7099.