Midlands 103 Hospitality Awards Winners Revealed

The awards featured a range of categories, including Best Newcomer, Customer Service Excellence and Best Restaurant Manager.

The winners of this year's Midlands 103's 5th Annual Hospitality Awards have been revealed.

A gala ceremony was held last night to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the region's vibrant hospitality sector.

The judges for 2024 were TV chef and Westmeath's Maria Harte, Gary O'Hanlon, Executive Chef of the K Club and Basketball Hall of Fame's Tim McCarthy, who lives in Athlone and founder of the Choice People Staffing Solutions, Valerie O'Connell. 

The awards featured a range of categories, including Best Newcomer, Customer Service Excellence and Best Restaurant Manager.

The winners included Glasson Lakehouse which was crowned Wedding Venue of the Year, Best Ethnic Restaurant went to Shishir in Tullamore and 
the Hare's Corner in Mountmellick won Best Family Dining.    

A significant moment of the evening was the presentation of the Albert Award for Lifetime Achievement, awarded posthumously to the late John Flanagan Snr. His daughter, May Kavanagh, accepted the award in his honour.

"We were thrilled to return for the fifth year of these awards, with the strong support of Tullamore D.E.W.," said Will Faulkner, Managing Director of Midlands 103. "It was a privilege to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our hospitality professionals, who truly form the heart of our community."

The event was held in the Tullamore Court Hotel and was proudly sponsored by Tullamore D.E.W. Laois County Council, Westmeath County Council and Offaly County Council. 

The winners were: 

Hotel Sector - sponsored by Gertie Browne's Athlone     

Overall Hotel of the Year - sponsored by Playtown Tullamore
Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise    

Best Customer Service (Hotel) - sponsored by Shishir Indian Restaurant
Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar     
    
Wedding Venue of the Year    
Glasson Lakehouse, Glasson    

Best Family Hotel - sponsored by Mollie Moo's
The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise    

    
Best Hotel Leisure Centre (Hotel)    
The Springs Leisure Club,  County Arms, Birr    
    
Wedding Coordinator of the Year    
Dee Smyth, County Arm's, Birr    

Best Destination Hotel - sponsored by Barry Martin Motors 
Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone     

Best Hotel Manager    
Barry Kennedy, County Arm's, Birr    

Receptionist of the Year    
Elaine Connolly, The Heritage Hotel, Killenard    

Best Hotel Bar    
An Bhearú Bar & Bistro, Talbot Hotel, Carlow    

Best Business Hotel    
The Heritage Hotel, Killenard    

Spa & Wellness of the Year  
Sirana Spa at Sheraton Athlone Hotel    

Best Hotel Restaurant - sponsored by Hoctor Refrigeration
The Old House Restaurant, Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar     

Restaurant Sector 

Overall Restaurant of the Year - sponsored by Lambe Oil
Bramley, Abbeyleix    
    
Best Ethnic Restaurant - sponsored by Tullamore Credit Union 
Shishir, Tullamore    
    
Best Café / Coffee Shop - sponsored by Cooney Kitchens & Bathrooms 
SiP Coffee Garden, Ballymore    
    
Best Dining Experience    
Townsend House Tapas Restaurant, Birr    
    
Best New Establishment - sponsored by CL Plant & Tool Hire 
The Good Café, Athlone    
    
Best Restaurant Manager    
Pat Byrne, Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar     
    
Best Family Dining    
The Hare's Corner, Mountmellick  

 
    
Chef of the Year    
Gerard O'Riordan, Hackett's Eatery, County Arm's, Birr    
    
Best Activity - sponsored by Sheraton Hotel, Athlone
Dún Na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park, Moate    
    
Best Golf Club     
Tullamore Golf Club     
    
Best Children's Attraction     
Playtown Tullamore    
    
Best Festival / Event - sponsored by County Arms, Birr
Durrow Scarecrow Festival     
    
Best Dark Sky Experience / Best Caravan / Camping / Glamping Experience    
Glamping Under The Stars, Portlaoise    

Bar & Pub Sector - sponsored by The Killeshin Hotel 

Overall Pub of the Year    
Scanlon's Bar & Restaurant, Kinnegad    
    
Bar Food of the Year    
O'Gormans Bar & Restaurant, Portlaoise    
    
Bar Manager of the Year    
Colin Harris, Lord Bellamys Bar, Athlone
    
Music Venue of the Year    
John Lee's Bar & Venue, Tullamore     
    
Best Bar for Sport    
Old Warehouse, Tullamore    
    
Best Traditional Bar    
JJ Houghs Singing Pub, Banagher  

 
    
Best Beer Garden    
Peadar's Bar, Moate    
    
Best Drinks Producer     
Dead Centre Brewing, Athlone     

Tourist Bar of the Year - sponsored by The Hodson Bay Hotel
JJ Killeen's, Shannonbridge    

Customer Choice Awards - sponsored by O'Gormans Bar & Restaurant    

Best Industry Newcomer - sponsored by Maldron Hotel
The Cellar Bistro, Moate    

Special Contribution to the Industry - sponsored by Midlands Park Hotel 
Noel McCann, Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore    

Industry Personality of the year - sponsored by Talbot Hotel 
Orla Wynter, Old Warehouse Tullamore    

Albert Award - For Life Time Achievement - sponsored by Tormey's Solicitors 
John Flanagan Snr    

Midlands 103 Gold Resilience Award    
Trevor Byrne - Scanlon's Bar & Restaurant, Kinnegad