Headfort Arms Hotel and Catering Review Gold Medal Winner

Headfort Arms Hotel Scoops Gold

Kells Hotel Wins Top Three Star Award

THE HEADFORT ARMS HOTEL, the Kells three star hotel owned and operated by Vincent and Olivia Duff, has been awarded one of the Irish hospitality industry’s top awards, the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Three Star Hotels, sponsored by Tourism Ireland.

The Headfort Arms won the coveted hotel award at the 22^nd Annual Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards, held in The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin on 20 September, beating off stiff competition from its peers in the Irish three star hotel market to scoop the prestigious title.

Organised by Hotel & Catering Review, the leading magazine for the Irish hospitality industry, the Gold Medal Awards are recognised as the industry's most rigorous and competitive independent awards programme. A total of 14 category awards were presented at this year's gala black tie ceremony, which was attended by over 350 leading hoteliers, restaurateurs and caterers from across Ireland. (See Editors Note for full list of award winners.)

‘The Headfort Arms Hotel represents the best of Irish hospitality,’ says Sarah Grennan, editor of Hotel & Catering Review and chair of the Gold Medal Awards Jury. ‘Offering a "home from home" for guests, this family-run hotel surpasses all expectations, providing winning service, great food and a warm atmosphere to Royal County visitors, and loyal locals.’

With 45 bedrooms, conference suites, banqueting for up to 500, the Vanilla Pod restaurant, Café Therese, The Kelltic Bar, Vibe Nightclub and The Headfort Spa Rooms, there is something for everyone in The Headfort Arms, which has been lovingly run by the Duff family since 1972.

Celebrating 22 years this year, the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards are recognised as the leading independent awards programme for the Irish hospitality industry. Competition for the awards is intense, with a record number of entries in 2010. Entrants hailed from the four corners of Ireland and underwent a rigorous assessment process conducted by the Gold Medal Awards team of 14 expert industry judges, who travelled more than 27,500 kilometres across the island this summer to search for the Ireland’s best hotels, restaurants, caterers and hotel groups.

The 14 category award winners were chosen from the 67 finalists nominated by the Gold Medal Awards Jury, and from the elite 14 winners, the supreme winner of the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Excellence was selected by judges. This year the top award was presented to Gregan’s Castle Hotel, the country house hotel in Ballyvaughan, Co Clare owned and operated by husband and wife team Simon Haden and Frederieke McMurray.