Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate Midlands 103’s Hospitality Awards in a lavish event to honour the best in the sector.
Serving Counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in Ireland, Midlands 103 is billed as “Feel Good Radio”.
The celebrations at the Mullingar Park Hotel recognised those working in the hospitality sector in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath, with over 10,000 votes counted to create the shortlist.
First Dates barman and Laois’ Neil McKenna, Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, Hotelier & President of the Irish Hotels Federation, Westmeath Bachelor 2023 Winner Ciaran Clarke and Mark Fitzpatrick, Restaurateur spent hours deciding on the winners.
Ms. Fitzgerald Kane says ‘we can never celebrate the best of Irish hospitality enough. The midlands is blessed to have so many exceptional hospitality providers and that was very evident in the high standard of applications received’.
The independent judging panel selected 48 winners from across five categories.
The big winners on the night included The Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, which was crowned Overall Hotel of the Year, with Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone taking the title of Wedding Venue of the Year, while Bar 62 in the County Arms Hotel in Birr scooped the award for Best Hotel Bar.
Bramley in Abbeyleix took home two awards for Overall Restaurant of the Year and Best Fine Dining Restaurant, with Browne’s The Venue Tullamore taking the title of Best Dining Experience and Best Hotel Restaurant going to Wineport Lodge in Glasson.
Laois is home to the Chef of the Year with Aine McEvoy, Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise getting the nod.
Overall Tourism Attraction of the Year went to Playtown Tullamore and Birr Castle Demesne took home the award for Best Family Attraction.
Best Festival / Event went to Forest Fest 2023, which was held in Emo last July.
The staff in O’Gorman’s Bar & Restaurant, Portlaoise had plenty to celebrate after picking up the award for Overall Pub of the Year, while Alan Conroy, Peadar’s Bar, Moate is the best Bar Manager in the region.
Shane Lowry’s Old Warehouse in Tullamore was named Best Bar for Sport and Best New Establishment.
Read more about the winners including the full list here: Midlands103.com.