A staggering 50,000 votes have been cast to produce a dazzling shortlist for this year’s Fate Awards in association with Diet Coke, showcasing the very best the Northern Ireland entertainment and hospitality industry has to offer.
Announcing the shortlist, Michael Deane, head of the judging panel, commented; “The Fate Awards is synonymous with success throughout Northern Ireland. Each year the bar is raised as the expert panel of judges whittle down the public nominations to determine the leaders in our industry.”
Now in their fourth year, The Fate Awards ceremony on the 26th March will recognise 17 categories, with all shortlisted entries competing for the judges affections to win the now coveted award.
Last year’s winners included Belfast hot spots Muriels, No 27 Talbot Street and Apartment, alongside regional winners Sallys in Omagh and The Plough in Hillsborough. The challenging part of actually judging the people and venues shortlisted is just beginning and with old favourites like The Bot and Laverys together with newcomers like Slide and Rain featuring, some difficult decisions lie ahead.
Award categories are: Best Classic Bar, Best Style Bar, Best Cocktail Bar, Best Gastro Pub, Best Front of House, Best Chef, Best Restaurant, Best Regional Bar, Best Regional Restaurant, Best Club, Best Regional Club, Best DJ, Best Gay Venue, Jim Aiken Live Venue, Colin Angus Best Media Personality, Best Hotel and Best Newcomer.
Commenting on the shortlist, Michael Mervyn-Jones, publisher of Fate Magazine, said; “Across the country, everyone in the entertainment industry has worked really hard to prove their worth in the past year and although the year ahead is also predicted to be a difficult one, outstanding achievements should always be celebrated. That’s what the Fate Awards are all about; recognising and celebrating those who go that extra mile within the hospitality industry.
“The industry is still thriving with a number of new restaurants, bars and clubs opening in 2009 and our newcomer category is testament to the resilience of the Northern Ireland people who, even in recession, have come out to support and enjoy these new and exciting venues.”
The Fate Awards in association with Diet Coke, star-studded Party of the Decade will be held on 26 March 2010 in Belfast’s Europa Hotel and is proudly supported by Peroni, BMI, Bacardi Brown-Forman, Tigi and UTV.
Shortlisted entries for Fate Awards 2010 are:
Classic Bar
Duke of York
The John Hewitt
The Botanic Inn
Laverys
Robinsons
Style Bar
Apartment
Bar Retro
McCrackens
Cafe Vaudeville
Muriels Cafe Bar
Cocktail Bar
Apartment
Tzar Bar @ Kremlin
The Merchant Hotel
Northern Whig
Cafe Ceol
Gastro Pub
The Plough
Ramore Wine Bar
The House
The John Hewitt
Cutters River Bar and Grill
Front Of House
Gerry White – The John Hewitt
Claire Charleton – Northern Whig
Darren Latimer – Cafe Ceol
Andy Carson – Bar Retro
Theresa McGourty – Crescent Town House
Best Chef
Alan Higginson – No 27
Danny Millar – Balloo House
Derek Creagh – Deanes
Damian Tumilty – Cafe Vaudeville
Andy Rea – Mourne Seafood
Best Restaurant
No 27
Ivory
Zen
Menu @ Fitzwilliam Hotel
Cafe Vaudeville
Regional Bar
Bar Retro (Hillsborough)
Mint Cafe Bar (Cookstown)
Grace Neills (Donaghadee)
Brysons (Magherafelt)
Sallys (Omagh)
Regional Restaurant
Balloo House (Killinchy)
Plough (Hillsborough)
Ramore Wine Bar (Portrush)
Jamaica Inn (Bangor)
Tartine Distillers Arms (Bushmills)
Best Club
Box
Rain
Yello
Thompsons
Stiff Kitten
Regional Club
Lush (Portrush)
Mint Cafe Bar (Cookstown)
Sallys (Omagh)
The Bank (Newry)
Halo (Ballycastle)
Best DJ
Dale Hooks
Kenny K
Jay Kay
Steve Boyd
Steve Simpson
Gay Venue
Kremlin
Union St
Mynt
Dubarrys
Slide
Live Venue
Ulster Hall
Spring & Airbrake
Mandela Hall
Empire
Limelight
Media Personality
Zoe Salmon
Gemma Garrett
Pete Snodden
Gerard McCarthy
Julian Simmons
Best Hotel
The Merchant Hotel
Malmaison
Galgorm Resort & Spa
Fitzwilliam Hotel
Ten Square
Best Newcomer
Rain
Ivory
Bengal Brasserie
Little Wing Pizzeria
Slide
Fitzwilliam Hotel
RBG
Coco
Lonely Poet
Tartine Distillers Arms