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Co Down village pub crowned best in NI at prestigious bar awards

Co Down village pub crowned best in NI at prestigious bar awards

The National Pub & Bar Awards revealed their winners for this year, with the Dundrum Inn being crowned the best in this part of the UK.
The pub – which has been running in the village since 1834 – won the Northern Ireland Pub & Bar of the Year award.
Responding to the accolade, the owners of the Dundrum Inn – Sarah and Phil Patterson, along with their manager Tom Doak – took to social media to celebrate.
'We are absolutely over the moon,' said Sarah Patterson.
'This award is for our entire team, our loyal customers, and the beautiful community of Dundrum. We can't wait to welcome even more visitors to experience what makes this place so magical.'
It's the latest accolade for the village, after it was previously named the best place to live in Northern Ireland back in March in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
Meanwhile, The Bull in Charlbury, Oxfordshire was named the overall winner of the UK's best pub for 2025.
Dundrum named as the Sunday Times best place to live in Northern Ireland
The pub is owned and operated by the Public House Group, which also runs London venues The Hero and The Pelican.
The judges said The Bull has cemented its reputation as a 'leading countryside pub' since it reopened in July 2023 under the leadership of founders Phil Winser, James Gummer and Olivier van Themsche.
'Blending quintessential qualities with the finesse and flawless service of a contemporary operation, the National Pub & Bar of the Year has been praised for its stripped-back design, brilliant front-of-house team and exceptional food coming out of the kitchen,' they added.
'In what can only be described as a mammoth achievement, The Bull was chosen as number one ahead of 255 other pubs and bars from across the UK, all of which had been shortlisted to represent their respective counties at the annual event.'
The 2025 National Pub & Bar Awards winners:
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