Tourism NI Announces Shortlist for Giant Spirit Awards

Pictured (l-r) are Mark Mulholland, Diageo, Eimear Callaghan, Tourism NI and Helen McGorman, Tourism Ireland. Photo by Matt Mackey / Presseye

Following a record number of entries Tourism NI has announced the shortlist for its newly launched annual awards programme aimed at showcasing and rewarding best in class in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Renamed The Giant Spirit Awards, the event has been aligned more closely to the award winning destination brand Northern Ireland ~ Embrace a Giant Spirit 

The 2022 event will recognise and celebrate the resilience and spirit of the industry in facing the challenges of the last two years as well as those who exemplified the values of the destination, innovated and built competitiveness.

The awards gala dinner and presentation will take place in the Grand Ballroom of the Slieve Donard Resort, Newcastle on Thursday 6th October 2022.

 

SHORTLIST

Best Bed & Breakfast / Guesthouse

Blackrock House Luxury B&B, Portrush, Co. Antrim 

Brook Lodge Guesthouse, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry

Kiltariff Hall Country House, Rathfriland, Co. Down 

 

Best Food and Drink Experience, Large

Fish City, Belfast 

Friels Bar & Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry

Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, Co. Down 

Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh

Best Food and Drink Experience, Small

NearyNógs Stone Ground Chocolate, Kilkeel, Co. Down 

NI Food Tours Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, Killinchy, Co. Down

Taste and Tour, Belfast 

The Chocolate Manor, Castlerock, Co. Londonderry 

Walled City Brewery, Derry~Londonderry 

 

Best Hotel, Large

Best Western Plus White Horse Hotel, Derry~Londonderry

Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry~ Londonderry 

Clayton Hotel, Belfast 

Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh

The Whistledown Hotel, Warrenpoint, Co. Down

 

Best Self Catering, Large

Dunamoy Cottages and Spa, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim 

Larchfield Estate, Lisburn, Co. Antrim 

 

Best Self Catering, Small

Aurora North Coast, Bushmills, Co. Antrim

Coastguard Boat House, Whiteabbey, Co. Antrim 

Keenaghan Cottage, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh 

Quarry Hill Church, Strangford, Co. Down

 

Best Tourism Experience, Large

Friels Bar and Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry 

Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, Co. Down 

Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, Co. Down 

National Museums NI – Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

The Spa at Galgorm, Galgorm, Co. Antrim

Titanic Belfast, Belfast

 

Best Tourism Experience, Small

Bakehouse, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry

Carlingford Lough Ferry, Greencastle, Co. Down  

Castle Archdale Boat Hire and Watersports, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh 

Cranfield Alpacas, Kilkeel, Co. Down 

Lough Neagh Artisans, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry 

Portrush Surf School, Portrush, Co. Antrim

 

Most Innovative Business, Large

Friels Bar and Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry 

Further Space, Northern Ireland wide 

Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh

Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry 

Visit Derry, Derry~Londonderry 

 

Most Innovative Business, Small

Castle Archdale Boat Hire and Watersports, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh  

NearyNógs Stone Ground Chocolate, Kilkeel, Co. Down 

Paul Cunningham Mourne Larder, Co. Down 

The Saint Patrick Centre, Downpatrick, Co. Down 

Tumble Circus, Belfast 

Urban Scale Interventions (USI), Belfast 

 

Most Promising Student

Hastings Hotels – Marisa King

The Bakery by Yellow Door – Emma Jayne McCartney

Titanic Hotel – Jordan Sloan

 

Local Spirit Award

Gordon Wilson – Montalto Estate

Jamese McCloy – Mid Ulster Cluster

Jamie Hamill – Coleraine BID

Mary McGee – Mid-Ulster District Council

Mick Boyle – Killeavy Castle Estate