Almost 20 of Northern Ireland’s pub and bar operators have been nominated for a for a National Pub & Bar Award.
The annual event, which will take place in London on June 24, highlights an eclectic range of venues across the whole of the UK by naming 94 sites as the best in their respective counties.
In a change-up to previous years, the 94 county winners will be announced live at the event, as well as highly commended venues for each area. In total, 256 pubs and bars have been shortlisted throughout the north, England, Wales and Scotland.
The awards look at a number of elements that affect the customer journey, including marketing, digital presence, design, service, style of offer and investment. The venues now have over two months in which to trade off their achievement, before making their way to the National Pub & Bar Awards grand final in June.
From Antrim to Armagh there are 18 NI pubs (three from each county) hoping to be named the best bar in their respective area.
They are:
Antrim
Armagh
Courthouse BarKeegan’sThe Hole in the Wall
Down
Fermanagh
Derry
BlackbirdGuildhall TaphousePedar O’Donnell’s
Tyrone
BogansThe Brewer’s HouseTomneys
The awards night will also crown the Pub Group of the Year, Bar Group of the Year, The Tyrrells Tyrrellbly Good Taste Award – presented by the event’s headline sponsor – and, ultimately, the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year.
On top of that, the 2025 event will launch the Top 10 Pubs & Bars in the UK list, which has been voted for by hundreds of operators from across the country.
“The aim of the National Pub & Bar Awards is simple,” says Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine, which runs the event.
“We want to showcase how brilliant these businesses are and how valuable pubs and bars are to fabric of society across the whole of the UK.
“It has never been harder in hospitality. Whether it’s a countryside pub with rooms or a city centre bar showing live sport, these operations deserve widespread recognition and more customers – hopefully the National Pub & Bar Awards can help with both.”
The National Pub & Bar Awards 2025 is sponsored by Tyrrells, Booker, Cawston Press, ICRTouch, Randall Parker Food Group, Sky Business and Strongbow. The full list of nominees can be found below.