Main Page - SPBWNI = The Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood N. Ireland Branch

PUB OF THE YEAR AWARD

This year will see the first presentation of the S.P.B.W. POTY award for 2005/6. This is a new scheme and was not part of the original branch working.

2005/6 WINNER

THE KING'S HEAD
Balmoral, Belfast
(part of the Botinns Group)

Kings Head Award

Since re-installed the cask ale it has been on fine form and always available. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Food and decor is good and, while very busy at times, the noise level in the front lounge is not overpowering. All in all, a good place to investigate


2006/7 WINNER THE JOHN HEWITT 51 Donegall Street, Belfast
Despite first impressions, the John Hewitt is actually quite a new bar in Belfast. It soon became well known as one of the few places in the town not to drive customers away with high prices. It also became the centre for traditional music, mostly Irish with a regular trad jazz night, but laterally a mixture of seasonally hosted folk, bluegrass, cajun and others. As far as I am aware it is the only place in the province which has a Hilden ale as its regular cask; now with a changing guest ale. There is a fine selection of continental and foreign bottled beers - just right to compliment the excellent food.

2007/8 WINNER

THE KITCHEN BAR
Victoria Square, Belfast
(part of the Botinns Group)

Kitchen Bar POTY

This is quite a change from the dark little side street pub known and loved by everyone. It is new, it has new owners but it still keeps some of its original customers and tasty items from past menus - like the KBS (although now described as "The Paddy Pizza"). The ales are still going strong and, as normal with the Botinns group, well served. It has taken a while to get acquainted with all the newness and the major change of having regular music nights, but the bar is extremely popular and right next door to the new shopping mall. An excellent place to stop of for an ale and a meal.


2009/10 WINNER THE TUESDAY BELL Lisburn
It is always a hard choice to pick a bar for a POTY award. More often than not it goes to a well used (as in "can't be bothered going elsewhere to investigate") bar without consideration of an all-year-round profile. A bar that quietly performs well every night, with consistancy and friendliness is hard to beat - and hard to find. The bar this year is one that had a difficult start, with a bad customer group moving in from another local. Over the months this crowd got the message and the clientele are now seen to be regulars, supportive, friendlier and much more relaxed. I have been using it on a regular basis and have found the staff well educated in the ales they sell.

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