Charlie’s Bar went viral last December when it released a short online video via its social media accounts featuring an elderly widower making friends with a young couple in a bid to raise awareness for loneliness around the festive time.
The advert went international with Charlie’s owners and the advert’s stars featured in interviews with CNN and around the world. Thousands of pub-goers decided on Fermanagh to visit the famous pub, with the owners also receiving gifts from fellow-Christmas-themed advert pioneers John Lewis.
The bar has served the residents of Enniskillen since 1944 and has stayed in the same family for that time. It’s now managed by Una Burns who turned the attention into a good cause, raising funds for several age-related charities by selling themed merchandise based on the pub’s advert.
Charlie’s Bar will now join five other bars from each of Northern Ireland’s counties in competing in the 2024 National Pub & Bar Awards, which each year crown nearly one hundred county winners from across England, Wales and Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland.
The other pubs named for the awards are Hearth in east Belfast Co Antrim, Keegan’s in Armagh, The Dirty Duck Alehouse in Holywood, Co Down, Blackbird in Londonderry and Tomneys in Moy, Co Tyrone.
The pubs have been recognised as pioneering hospitality operators who have demonstrated “excellence across a number of elements” that affect the customer journey, including design, service, style of offer, marketing and investment, according to the National Pub & Bar Awards, which is run by the Pub & Bar magazine.
Watch: Northern Irish pub goes viral with heartwarming Christmas advert
Over the next two months, the pubs have the chance to trade following their win for their county, before the National Pub & Bar Awards grand final takes place on June 26.
Taking place in London, the final will see all 94 county winners come together to celebrate their achievements before a regional winner is chosen.
The awards night will also crown the Pub Group of the Year, Bar Group of the Year, The Tyrrells Tyrrellbly Good Taste Award and, finally, the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year.
“The fact that we had record entries for the 2024 National Pub & Bar Awards tells us two things,” says Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine.
“One is how highly the industry regards these accolades, which is fantastic. But, also, it shows that more operators are in need of really positive and strong publicity to help drive business at the moment. Pubs and bars are facing some of the biggest challenges in recent history, so if the National Pub & Bar Awards can help by lifting sales across these venues, then we’re delighted to play our part.”
The National Pub & Bar Awards 2024 is sponsored by Tyrrells, ICRTouch, Kerrymaid, Panasonic, Santa Maria and Sky Business.
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
