AN IRVINE bar has been named the best in North Ayrshire by a national awards competition.

The Carrick on the town's High Street was crowned the county champion as part of the  2024 National Pub and Bar Awards.

The awards are held annually with champions named across nearly 100 counties in the UK each year. 

The Irvine team were selected from a number of entries into the competition this year with a final decision made based on overall best practice across several operational categories.

The Carrick now takes the title from last year's award winners The Red Squirrel in Stevenston.

Irvine Times: The Carrick in Irvine has been crowned North Ayrshire's best bar.

Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub and Bar magazine, which runs the event commented: “The fact that we had record entries for the 2024 National Pub and Bar Awards tells us two things.

"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 and Bar Awards can help by lifting sales across these venues, then we’re delighted to play our part.”

Winning businesses will officially take their crown on June 26 when the awards grand final is held in London.

Here, all victorious venues will gather to not only celebrate their achievements but to discover which venues will go on to become regional winners. Scotland is divided into North and South regions with North Ayrshire falling into the South category.

The awards night will also crown the Pub Group of the Year, Bar Group of the Year, The Tyrrells Tyrrellbly Good Taste Award – presented by the event’s headline sponsor – and, finally, the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year.

Other Ayrshire winners include The Hollybush Inn, which took the East Ayrshire prize, and Vic's in Prestwick, which was named the best in South Ayrshire.