A family run, dog-friendly country pub in the rural village of Lisbellaw, about five miles from Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh, has been named the best pub in Northern Ireland.
The Dog and Duck Inn is one of 17 pubs across the UK who have battled to be crowned the winner in their area as part of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) prestigious Pub of the Year competition.
More: Is this Derry’s best Indian restaurant? - Eating out
Noted for its welcoming and cosy atmosphere, it specialises in independent beers, ciders and spirits.
No less than fourteen taps including four traditional cask handpumps, usually serving one real ale and three ciders, can be found at the bar.
The pub is also home to the Glenwinny micro distillery, which produces small batch rum, brandy and whiskey using locally sourced ingredients. Pubgoers can sample the range of spirits and even book a personalised tour and tasting experience.
Pubs in the competition are scored on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression, but most importantly – the quality of live beer, real cider and perry.
Andrea Briers, National Coordinator for the Pub of the Year competition says: “These amazing pubs really are the crème de la crème and I would encourage the public to seek out the 17 winners from across the nations and regions of the UK – they are top-tier pubs serving excellent beer, cider and perry, run by welcoming, hardworking staff.
“It’s also important to support your local all year round. With constant pressure from stubbornly high energy prices, fluctuating running costs and grossly unfair business rates threatening to drown pubs across the UK, it’s vital to get out and support the licensed trade.”
For the first time a Northern Ireland winner has been crowned this year, having previously been part of a joint Scotland and Northern Ireland Pub of the Year competition.
The regional and national finalists will now compete for the UK National Pub of the Year award, with judges whittling the 17 pubs down to just four in late September. The overall winner will be announced in January 2025.
