It’s Good News Friday as we celebrate Walled City Brewery being “top of the hops” after being named the UK’s Taproom of the Year, with MPA Recruitment also picking up a prestigious award win!

Located at the heart of Ebrington Square, Walled City Brewery opened in 2015 and has since expanded to be one of the North West’s best bars. Founded by James and Louise Huey, the bar incorporates Derry culture and history into everything that they do, including stocking Earhart Irish Gin, a homage to Amelia Earhart’s Derry connections.

The Brewery has created and developed over 200 different varieties of beer, offering a bespoke selection to punters keen to try something new. Having won the ‘Best Pub in Country Derry’ award, the Brewery was then chosen by an expert panel to be the best of 94 county winners from across the UK at the National Bar and Pub Awards. There are estimated to be approximately 600 other taprooms across the UK, so this achievement is no mean feat.

Speaking after winning the award, James Huey, said: “We are over the moon, we still can’t believe it. Taprooms are still such a young industry in Northern Ireland, compared to the rest of the UK, so to win the national award is an incredible accolade for the Walled City Brewery, other NI craft beers and our amazing city! This is a total reflection of our superb staff led by Catherine and Aoife in the front, and Mike in the kitchen, who have worked tirelessly over the last 4 months of reopening.”

“There has been an incredible reaction to us winning the award across Northern Ireland, but especially in Derry where we have worked together with so many hospitality venues to make this city a unique destination. Hopefully this will be another reason to visit our wonderful city.”

This award comes as Walled City Brewery expands its premises. New installations at Ebrington Square have grown the business’ fantastic look, and James and Louise are planning further developments. “We are in the middle of planning a huge expansion plan”, James said, “with a standalone Taproom and Experience Centre opening in 2022, so we are really going to be shooting for the stars with that one!”

Finally, the awards have kept coming this week as MPA Recruitment have announced they have won the prestigious accolade of 2021 Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies in Ireland! This year’s programme saw the highest number of new accolades in its thirteen-year history, making MPA one of only 139 companies recognised across the island.

“Receiving this Best Managed Company recognition is a wonderful achievement for all of our teams”, Chief Executive, Paul McQue, said, “one which they ought to be extremely proud of”.

We would like to congratulate James, Louise, Paul, and the entire teams at the Walled City Brewery and MPA Recruitment on their fantastic awards. As we enter Autumn, we are confident this is the first of many award-winning Good News Fridays before the year ends.