Great Days Out for Groups - Discover Northern Ireland

HOW TO... find your perfect pubGood food and great hospitality are an importantelement of a great day out and the pubs of NorthernIreland are world famous for their unique atmosphere,friendly welcome and high quality food. So whether youare looking for a cosy traditional pub or a modern caféstylebar – Northern Ireland has it all.Visitors can enjoy the character of traditionalpubs like McHugh’s Bar in Belfast, datingback to 1711; or a modern bar and bistro likeDorman’s & The Opera, Magherafelt,the Northern Ireland Pub of the Year 2011.Or alternatively, for good food based onlocal produce try the Dirty Duck Ale Housein Holywood, idyllically overlooking the sea,and winner of Northern Ireland Food Pub ofthe Year 2011.To help you discover the best ofNorthern Ireland’s pubs and what theyhave to offer check out the Pub Finderat www.pubsofulster.org. Here you cansearch by location to find your perfectpub, or by the feature you are looking forto make your perfect experience – food,entertainment, accommodation, outdoorarea or function facilities.You’ll find pubs steeped in the historyand culture of the country with many localsbeing owned and run by the same familyfor generations, having welcomed visitorsfor hundreds of years. The Irish pub is knownthe world over for its hospitality, good natureand craic, and the Ulster pub provides aunique offering within this world famousexperience. As well as being a famous visitorattraction, local pubs are often the hub ofcommunity life and a source of identity forthe areas they serve. It’s a great way to reallyget to know a town or tourist destination,while enjoying some genuine Northern Irishhospitality and culture.So don’t miss out and make sure a visit tothe pub is a must do for any trip, whetherit’s to soak up the atmosphere or for somewell deserved rest and relaxation for wearytravellers and those feeling the exertionof an excursion.Most pubs will happily accommodate bothsmall and large groups; however it’s alwaysgood to call ahead. Some pubs will haveindividual policies on the admission ofchildren and its worth checking in advanceif there are under 18’s within your party.Pubs of UlsterHOW TO... make the mostof a hotelSee the sight and stay the night.A day away is real tonic particularly if youare heading off with a group of friends or amembership club with a common interest.These trips often revolve around visiting anhistorical site, visitor attraction or specialinterest venue. An integral part of any dayout is the social side of the experience andis important that you and your friends havean enjoyable time away. A nice cup of tea ormore substantial refreshment is all part ofthe day out. If you are arranging your day,why not consider one of Northern Ireland’smany hotels for your morning coffee,afternoon tea or evening meal. A hotel is areally great option for a group of people asthey often have private rooms in which youcan sit as a group and enjoy each other’scompany. Hotels are happy to tailor menusto suit group’s individual budgets and canoften offer additional added value withentertainment or entry to a local attraction.If you go away regularly why not extend thetrip and go for something different by stayingovernight. If you have never thought of this,perhaps this is the year to do it, as there isexceptional value at the moment. An overnighttrip is a really great way to enhance your eventcalendar allowing you to visit more than oneplace with the added bonus of bringing asocial dimension to your group’s activity.You could even consider getting in aspeaker to talk about a common interest orthe local area as part of your trip away. Hotelsare a great option for an outing like this astheir private facilities are great for dining andmeetings. This can be very cost effective andis often given for a nominal sum or no cost atall for overnight guests staying on one of thequieter nights of the week like a Sunday orMonday. If you are part of a network of groupswhy not organise a gathering of branches fromother areas and meet in a central location. Areal chance to network, swap ideas and garnernew partners. Networking opportunitiesshouldn’t be underestimated, additional timemeans you can really get to know individualgroup members and find out what makesthem tick in a more relaxed atmosphere.Hotels are all about hospitality and your localhoteliers are happy to welcome you whetherit’s for a quick cup of coffee, soup andsandwich or something more substantial.The hotels in Northern Ireland would bedelighted to see you and your membersin the coming year. If you are interested instaying at one of Northern Ireland’s manyexcellent hotels and guesthouses,please visit our website, www.nihf.co.uk,or contact us directly on (028) 9077 8835.Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF)268 269