“Together we’ve taken what was an underused space and turned it into a thriving community, full of creativity, music and cocktail lovers.”
Late-night cocktail bar Rattlebag inside the Bulitt Hotel also took the top spot in 2025
A Belfast cocktail bar has triumphed at a top industry awards ceremony once again after being named best in Northern Ireland.
Rattlebag, the popular cocktail bar in Belfast’s Bullitt Hotel, has been named the Best Bar in Northern Ireland at the prestigious CLASS Bar Awards for the second year running.
Judged by the CLASS Collective (a group of 170 bar aficionados from across the UK), the CLASS Bar Awards recognises the talent, achievements and diversity of the UK bar scene.
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The longest-running and best-attended UK bar industry celebration, the CLASS Bar Awards took place this week at the Battersea Arts Centre in London.
The Best Bar in Northern Ireland was a new addition to the awards line-up last year and returned for 2026. Three of the four finalists came from the Beannchor group stable in the city centre : Rattlebag, The Cocktail Bar and Bert’s Jazz Bar at The Merchant Hotel, with Belfast pub, The Garrick also featured in the shortlist.
Announcing the winner, CLASS magazine said: “Part of the Bullitt hotel, this smart, red-hued bar with modern technique-driven cocktails is the bartenders’ favourite in Northern Ireland.”
Rattlebag manager, Christopher Wareing was also nominated for Bar Manager of the Year, amongst an esteemed group of managers from leading venues across the UK, but was pipped to the post by Sotiris Konomi, from The Spy Bar at Raffles London at The OWO, London.
Rattlebag manager, Chris Wareing said: “We are so proud to win this award for the second year in a row. It’s such a testament to our entire team that Rattlebag continues to be recognised on a national stage, amongst some of the UK’s most famous bars.
“Together we’ve taken what was an underused space and turned it into a thriving community, full of creativity, music and cocktail lovers.”
This is the latest in a series of accolades for Rattlebag. In 2024, Rattlebag became the first cocktail bar in Ireland to feature in the Pinnacle Guide, described as the ‘Michelin guide for bars’. It remains one of only two on the island listed, alongside The Merchant’s Cocktail Bar for esteemed company.
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