Northern Ireland

Three venues in Northern Ireland praised for making the best breakfast

The awards celebrate the finest Irish food producers and those who take special pride in serving the best breakfasts and brunches in Ireland
The awards celebrate the finest Irish food producers and those who take special pride in serving the best breakfasts and brunches in Ireland The awards celebrate the finest Irish food producers and those who take special pride in serving the best breakfasts and brunches in Ireland

THREE venues in Northern Ireland have been praised for making the best breakfast.

The Lough Erne Resort in Co Fermanagh went home with the gong of 'best Irish breakfast in a five-star hotel' at Georgina Campbell's annual Irish Breakfast Awards

The awards celebrate the finest Irish food producers and those who take special pride in serving the best breakfasts and brunches in Ireland to tourists and locals.

The winners, who were selected by incognito inspectors, were revealed at a ceremony held at the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin on Monday.

Ms Campbell, founder of the awards, said they wanted to honour "the people who strive to make the first meal of the day a particularly special experience for visitors and regulars alike".

Almost 40 names were shortlisted across 17 award categories with eight businesses - from B&Bs to country houses and visitor attractions - named Ireland’s top breakfast venues at the event.

Hillsborough Castle Cafe was named the winner of 'best Irish breakfast at a visitor attraction', while Ardtara Country House in Upperlands, Co Derry was highly commended in the category for 'best Irish breakfast at a country house'.

Speaking at the awards, chef and author Rachel Allen encouraged chefs to "keep it simple" and make seasonal choices.