TEN of the county’s top bars are set to go head-to-head in a battle to see who will be crowd as ‘Fermanagh Pub of the Year’ at the prestigious and popular Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards.
The Linnet Inn in Boho was named as ‘Fermanagh Pub of the Year’ at last year’s event, which took place at the award-winning La Mon Hotel and Country Club in Belfast.
Owned by Dessie McKenzie, the Boho pub is one of the last remaining rural bars in the county and it recently underwent major redevelopment, including the rethatching of its roof.
“I know it’s a cliche, but it’s not just a pub anymore. It’s a community centre for the people [of Boho],” Dessie McKenzie, who took over the ownership of The Linnet Inn in 2011, told the Herald.
“It’s not just about serving them a drink. It’s about talking to them and trying to help them out whenever we can.”
Charlie’s Bar, which has recently been in the headlines following its epic Christmas advert which went viral on social media, has also been shortlisted for the ‘Fermanagh Pub of the Year’ category.
A number of Enniskillen bars including ‘Blakes of the Hollow’, ‘The TapHouse’, ‘Pat’s Bar’, ‘Mulhern’s Bar’ and ‘Granny Annie’s’ are all in the running for the Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards.
It has also been confirmed that the ‘Fiddlestone Bar’ in Belleek and two Newtownbutler pubs, ‘An Chead Chumann’ and ‘Mulligan’s’, have been nominated for the Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards gong.
“These awards celebrate the heartbeat of our region’s hospitality industry,” said a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards last year.
“They not only recognise excellence but also inspire continuous growth, promoting a spirit of innovation that shapes the future of Northern Ireland’s hospitality landscape.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and nominees.
“Their dedication and hard work have made a significant impact on Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector, contributing to its growth and success,” they added.
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