duke of york belfast
Eighteen pubs and bars across Northern Ireland have made the shortlist in the National Pub & Bar Awards 2025.
The annual event, which returns to London on Tuesday 24 June, highlights an eclectic range of venues across the whole of the UK by naming 94 sites as the best in their respective counties.
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.
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 England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Local nominees include the historic Duke of York in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, Holywood’s Dirty Duck Alehouse – which recently received a shout out during Rory McIlroy’s Masters win- and the famous Charlie’s Bar in Fermanagh which grabbed worldwide attention back in 2023 with its Christmas advert going viral online featuring an elderly man being ignored in the street before joining a young couple and their dog for a drink in the pub.
Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine, which runs the event, said: “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.”
Held at Big Penny Social in London, the final will welcome all 256 nominees to come together and celebrate their success, before discovering which venues will go on to become County and Regional Winners.
Full Northern Ireland shortlist:
Antrim
- Duke of York, Belfast
- Rococo Wine Bar Antrim
- Sunflower Public House
Armagh
- Courthouse Bar
- Keegan’s
- The Hole in the Wall
Down
- Dundrum Inn
- The Dirty Duck Alehouse
- The Maghera Inn
Fermanagh
- Blakes of the Hollow
- Charlie’s Bar
- The Taphouse
Derry/Londonderry
- Blackbird
- Guildhall Taphouse
- Pedar O’Donnell’s
Tyrone
- Bogans
- The Brewer’s House
- Tomneys