Licensed & Catering News Awards 2016
Harbour & Co., which opened less than a year ago in the Co. Down village of Donaghadee, has claimed the title of Bar of the Year (sponsored by Tennents NI) at this year’s Licensed & Catering News Awards, held in the Europa Hotel, Belfast, on Friday evening, June 10.
Bar of the Year, sponsored by Tennents NI was one of 17 much-anticipated categories announced during NI’s main hospitality industry event, which was, once again, a complete sell-out. More than 450 guests packed The Europa for the gala evening and, for the first time this year, media-partner Q Radio was on hand to broadcast live from the red carpet at The Europa.
Among the awards newly introduced this year was Mixologist of the Year, sponsored by Dillon Bass. Six talented local bartenders went head-to-head during a busy day of judging at The Albany in Belfast recently and during the gala evening on Friday, Jonathan Magennis of Eipic in Belfast was declared the winner.
Also new was the award for Outstanding Customer Service, sponsored by Tourism NI. Again, the response was tremendous and judges were hard-pressed to select a winner. In the end, The Muddlers’ Club in Belfast was victorious.
And the coveted LCN Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by RiverRidge Recycling) this year went to hotel veteran, Lord Diljit Rana MBE, owner of one of Northern Ireland’s largest hospitality chains and a prominent figure in politics and business in Northern Ireland for decades. Lord Rana attended the awards and lifted his trophy in person.
Guests at the Europa also enjoyed a packed bill of entertainment, including a scintillating live acrobatics demonstration by Belfast’s Premiere Circus and live music from The Leading Ladies, Danny Conlon Jnr. and The Manouche Boys and Rose Devine and The Professor.
The Licensed & Catering News Awards are the biggest event of their kind for local hospitality businesses. First presented in 2009, they attract a wide cross-section of the trades and offer recognition to the best hotels, bars, restaurants and guest houses across Northern Ireland.
Bill Penton, organiser of the LCN Awards, says that this annual event has now become the benchmark for the best local hospitality businesses:
“The LCN Awards are the biggest night out locally in the hospitality trade for good reason,” he adds. “We’re here tonight to recognise and celebrate the very best hotels, guest houses, restaurants and bars in Northern Ireland. The industry has really embraced that over the years, I think they have valued the recognition that we’ve sought to give the trades and they know they will have a fantastic time when they book their table at the LCN Awards. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists tonight.”
Our picture at the top shows Lewis Waterworth (centre) and Jody Waterworth (right) from Harbour & Co. accepting their award for Bar of the Year from Conor Magill of category sponsor, Tennents NI.
Here are the other winner
