Business

Over 30 new hospitality venues named in north's 'Top 100'

Pictured at the Top 100 Hospitality Business Awards are: Darrell Montgomery, Galgorm Resort & Spa; Alain Kerloc’h, OX; Rachael Eastwood, Guildhall Taphouse; and Mark Stewart, chair Hospitality Ulster.
Pictured at the Top 100 Hospitality Business Awards are: Darrell Montgomery, Galgorm Resort & Spa; Alain Kerloc’h, OX; Rachael Eastwood, Guildhall Taphouse; and Mark Stewart, chair Hospitality Ulster. Pictured at the Top 100 Hospitality Business Awards are: Darrell Montgomery, Galgorm Resort & Spa; Alain Kerloc’h, OX; Rachael Eastwood, Guildhall Taphouse; and Mark Stewart, chair Hospitality Ulster.

A TOTAL of 34 new entries were recognised among the north's 'Top 100' hospitality businesses.

The coveted list, compiled by industry body, Hospitality Ulster, was unveiled at a gala ceremony in Titanic Belfast on Wednesday night.

It is the second year of the Top 100 list after it replaced the Pub of the Year Awards.

The 2019 Top 100 list featured a range of the best and brightest hospitality businesses in the north from Michelin starred restaurants and five-star hotels to bustling city centre nightclubs and quaint country pubs.

In all there were 34 new premises included on this year's Northern Ireland list, including Belfast-based Asian fusion eatery, Yugo, the newly opened Grand Central Hotel, Ocho Tapas located in Portrush and The Guildhall Taphouse in Derry.

There was also room on the list for established names, with the likes of OX restaurant, Sally’s of Omagh, Galgorm Resort & Spa, The Bushmills Inn and Blakes of the Hollow in Enniskillen all retained for a second year.

Hospitality Ulster chair, Mark Stewart said they were delighted to once again shine a light on the hospitality industry in the north.

“The Top 100 Hospitality Businesses are venues that continually go the extra mile to provide first-class hospitality and customer service, from pubs to nightclubs, restaurants to hotels. We have so many businesses at the top of their game here in Northern Ireland and we would like to congratulate all of our winners again on making it to the Top 100.”

The 2019 gala event was hosted by stand-up comedian Colm O’Regan and attended by a number of VIP guests including former Ireland rugby captain, Brian O’Driscoll.

Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 Hospitality Business Awards are the only industry recognised awards.

Entries and nominations were vetted and shortlisted by a panel of independent judges, headed up by Northern Ireland food critic, Joris Minne.

The panel also included celebrity chef Paula McIntyre, Irish News journalist Allison Morris, Ulster Business editor, John Mulgrew and Sunday Life Pub Spy columnist and music journalist, Edwin McFee.

Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 Hospitality Businesses 2019:

• Anchor Bar Complex, Portstewart

• Angler's Rest, Benone (new for 2019)

• Auction Rooms, Moy

• Balloo House, Killinchy (new for 2019)

• Bank Bar & Bistro, Newry

• Billy Andy's, Raloo

• Bishop's Gate Hotel, Derry

• Blackbird, Derry

• Blakes of the Hollow, Enniskillen

• Brewer's House, Donaghmore

• Bridge Bar, Newry (new for 2019)

• Browns Restaurant, Derry

• Bull & Claw, Donaghadee (new for 2019)

• Bullitt, Belfast

• The Bushmills Inn, Bushmills

• Canal Court, Newry (new for 2019)

• The Cellar Bar, Lurgan

• Church Street, Magherafelt (new for 2019)

• Coachman, Magherafelt

• Coppi, Belfast

• The Corner House, Lurgan

• Corr's Corner, Newtownabbey (new for 2019)

• Crosskeys Inn, Toome

• Crowne Plaza, Belfast

• Cyprus Avenue, Belfast

• Deanes at Queen's, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Deanes EIPIC, Belfast

• The Dirty Onion, Belfast

• Dorman's Bar, Magherafelt

• The Duke of York, Belfast

• EDO, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Entrada, Derry-Londonderry

• Errigle Inn, Belfast

• Europa Hotel, Belfast

• Friel's Bar & Restaurant, Swatragh

• Front Page, Ballymena

• Fullerton Arms, Ballintoy

• Galgorm Resort & Spa, Ballymena

• The Garrick Bar, Belfast

• Ginger Bistro, Belfast

• Goat's Toe, Bangor (new for 2019)

• Grand Central Hotel, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Granny Annie's, Limavady (new for 2019)

• Guildhall Taphouse, Derry (new for 2019)

• Hadski's, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Hagan's Bar & Bar Bella, Dungannon

• The Harp Bar, Belfast

• Head O'The Road, Portadown (new for 2019)

• Henry's & The Jailhouse, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Hillside Bar & Restaurant, Hillsborough

• Hop House, Bangor

• House, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Howard Street, Belfast

• Jumon, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Keegan's Bar, Armagh

• Kelly's Cellars, Belfast

• Killyhevlin, Enniskillen (new for 2019)

• Kiwi's Brew Bar, Portrush (new for 2019)

• La Taqueria, Belfast

• Lavery's, Belfast

• Limelight, Belfast

• Lobster Pot, Strangford

• Londonderry Arms, Carnlough (new for 2019)

• Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen

• Mary McBride's, Cushendun

• Mattie's Meeting House , Cairncastle

• McAleer's Bar, Dungannon

• McConville's, Portadown

• Merchant Hotel, Belfast

• Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch

• Morning Star, Belfast

• Muddlers Club, Belfast

• NOBLE., Holywood

• Northern Lights, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Northern Whig, Belfast

• Nu Delhi, Belfast (new for 2019)

• Number Seven Duke Street, Warrenpoint (new for 2019)

• Ocho Tapas, Portrush (new for 2019)

• O'Neill's (Red Ned's), Armagh (new for 2019)

• Ownies Bar & Bistro, Carrickfergus

• OX, Belfast

• Peadar O'Donnell's, Derry-Londonderry

• Portaferry Hotel, Portaferry (new for 2019)

• Primrose, Derry (new for 2019)

• Ramore Wine Bar, Portrush

• Rostrevor Inn, Rostrevor (new for 2019)

• Ruby's Bar, Larne

• Sally's of Omagh, Omagh

• Saltwater Brig, Kircubbin

• Sandinos Café Bar, Derry

• Shepherd's Rest, Draperstown (new for 2019)

• Shu, Belfast

• Spaniard, Belfast (new for 2019)

• The StillHouse, Moira (new for 2019)

• Sunflower, Belfast

• Taphouse Gastro Pub, Enniskillen

• Union Street Bar, Belfast

• Voodoo , Belfast (new for 2019)

• Wine & Brine, Moira

• Yugo, Belfast (new for 2019)