IRELAND'S highest public house is in line for one of the drink industry's highest awards.
The Ponderosa on the Glenshane Pass, which since 1858 has been a stop-off point for travellers on the main Belfast-Derry road, has been included on the short-list for this year's Hospitality Ulster Pub of the Year Awards on November 11.
It's among five contenders in the new rural Pub of the Year category alongside Friels Bar & Bistro in Maghera, the Halfway House Banbridge, Maghera Inn Castlewellan and Wild Duck Inn Portglenone.
A total of 44 premises and individuals will go head-to-head to be named toast of the trade,when winners of a record 14 awards will be revealed at the La Mon at a special gala awards night hosted Pete Snodden.
Olga Walls, chair of Hospitality Ulster, said: “Our new look Pub of the Year Awards provide a valuable opportunity to recognise the significant contribution Northern Ireland’s hospitality venues make, not only within their own communities, but to the hospitality sector as a whole.
“We are lucky to have world class hospitality venues on our doorstep and these awards will recognise and reward those businesses that are setting industry standards with their customer offering, service and innovations."
This year,for the first time, sees three Pub of the Year Awards, recognising the best pubs and bars in rural, urban and city locations.
Also new for 2015 will be three Commitment to Local Food Awards (in partnership with FoodNI/Taste of Ulster) to recognise the growing importance of locally sourced food in the north's pubs, hotels and restaurants.
Tickets to the Hospitality Ulster Pub of the Year Gala Awards night cost £85 per person or £850 for a table of 10 and can be booked by emailing Caroline Dunlop on CarolineD@mcepublicrelations.com. For more information visit www.nipuboftheyear.org
Pub of the Year 2015 short list:
- Best Hotel Bar (one to three-star) - Adair Arms Ballymena, Port Hotel Portrush, Salty Dog Bangor, Walsh's Maghera, Whistledown Warrenpoint
- Best Hotel Bar (four and five star) - Bushmills Inn, Europa Hotel, Everglades Hotel, La Mon Hotel & Country Club, Manor House Enniskillen
- Commitment to the Community Hotel - Fir Trees Hotel Strabane, La Mon, Port Hotel, Salty Dog, Walsh’s
- Commitment to the Community Pub - Devenish Complex Finaghy, Elk Toomebridge, Front Page Ballymena, Ivy Newtownards, Wild Duck Inn Portglenone
- Commitment to the Community Restaurant - Four Trees Moira, Pretty Mary's Moira, 26 West Bar & Grill Belfast
- Pub of the Year Belfast - The Albany, Bootleggers, Garrick, Perch Rooftop, Sunflower
- Pub of the Year Rural - Friels Maghera, Halfway House Banbridge, Maghera Inn Castlewellan, Ponderosa Derry, Wild Duck Inn Portglenone.
- Pub of the Year Urban - Devenish Bar Enniskillen, Devlin’s Armagh, Dirty Duck Holywood, Mary’s Magherafelt, Pier 36 Donaghadee
- Commitment to Local Food Pub (In Partnership with Food NI / Taste of Ulster) - Dirty Duck, Garrick, Maghera Inn, Pier 36, Pretty Mary's.
- Commitment to Local Food Restaurant (In Partnership with Food NI / Taste of Ulster) - Barking Dog Belfast, Elk Toomebridge, Molly’s Yard Belfast, Tedfords Belfast, Yellow Heifer Camlough.
- Commitment to Local Food Hotel (In Partnership with Food NI / Taste of Ulster) - Bushmills Inn, La Mon, Newforge House Magheralin, Salty Dog, Slieve Donard Newcastle.
- Best Bar Person - Danny Leitch (Ruby's, Larne), Laura Keegan (Keegans Bar, Armagh), Nathaniel McAuley (Muriel's Cafe Bar, Belfast), Neil McDonald (The Poet, Dundonald), Willie Gregg (Harbour Bar, Portrush).
