Accommodation in Northern Ireland named world's best

30 July 2009 -

A venue which provides accommodation in Northern Ireland has been recognised as the best hotel bar in the world at a glittering awards ceremony.

The Merchant Hotel in Belfast received the gong at the Spirit Awards as part of the Tales of the Cocktail Festival in New Orleans, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

According to the judges, the venue's stand-out feature is its ability to provide those staying in accommodation in Northern Ireland with some of the finest cocktails on earth.

Sean Muldoon, bar manager and mixologist at the establishment, told the publication that the award will put the city and the country as a whole on the world's hospitality map.

"To come out on top with a list of awards will bring very obvious benefits for the tourist industry and is a massive coup for Northern Ireland," he explained.

Recently, Friendship Travel stated that Belfast is a great place to enjoy a break, as it boasts some of the best pubs in Northern Ireland.