25th September 2026
The Bedford Hotel has been crowned Heritage Hotel of the Year 2026 at the prestigious Georgina Campbell Irish Food & Hospitality Awards, cementing its position as one of Northern Ireland’s premier hospitality destinations.
The Bedford Hotel is the only hotel in Belfast to be included among the winners in this year’s accolades. Now in their fourth decade, the Georgina Campbell Awards are the longest-running awards of their kind in Ireland. Announced at a gala lunch at the InterContinental Dublin Hotel this week, the awards recognise hospitality excellence across Ireland through independent, year-round assessments by expert judges who book anonymously and pay their own bills.
Housed in the landmark Grade B1 listed Scottish Mutual Building on Donegall Square South, The Bedford, an 82-bedroom luxury hotel officially opened its doors in April this year, welcoming guests to a fully booked opening week.
Led by RFM Hotels, the meticulous multi-million-pound restoration carefully revived the 1904 Scottish Baronial-style landmark, preserving its grand Edwardian architectural details and ornate stonework. One of the property’s hallmark heritage achievements is the in-situ restoration of 18 original steel vault doors. Formerly safeguarding the city’s financial and legal records, these heavy-duty historic relics have been repurposed in guest rooms as entries to mini-bar spaces, seamlessly weaving Belfast’s industrial and financial lineage into modern luxury accommodation.
Mike Gatt, General Manager of The Bedford Hotel, commented: “We are delighted to receive the Heritage Hotel of the Year award. Opening in April to a fully booked week showed we had created something special, but national recognition so soon after launching is a huge milestone.”
“This award is a testament to the exceptional vision of our architects, who so carefully restored this historic building, and our interior design team, who brought Edwardian grandeur into the modern era while preserving its unique heritage features. We take immense pride in preserving the unique heritage features of this historic building while delivering the warm, personalised human hospitality and this is a huge milestone for our whole team.”
Gerry Lennon, CEO from Visit Belfast, added: “Huge congratulations to the entire team at The Bedford Hotel on this well-deserved award. Belfast’s tourism sector thrives on authentic, memorable experiences, and The Bedford Hotel perfectly highlights the beauty of our city’s rich heritage. Being the only Belfast hotel featured in this year’s Georgina Campbell Awards list is a testament to their exceptional standards and strong contribution to our local tourism economy.”
Speaking at the awards, Georgina Campbell said: “The Bedford is an exciting example of how a significant city building can be given a new life without losing sight of its past.”
“It is rightly seen as a commitment to preserving the city’s architectural heritage. It respects the generous proportions and Edwardian character of the property while celebrating Belfast’s industrial heritage – and especially the linen industry – in thoughtful details throughout. Celebrated chef Noel McMeel gives the hotel another strong local connection through its food. At The Nineteen Hundred, he makes Northern Irish produce central to the experience. Friendly, efficient staff reinforce the sense of pride in both the hotel and the place it represents.”
“Heritage hospitality is not about preserving a building in aspic. It is about allowing history to inform a living, relevant experience. The Bedford achieves that balance with confidence and imagination, making this beautifully revived Belfast landmark a very worthy Heritage Hotel of the Year.”
For more information on The Bedford Hotel or room bookings, visit: https://www.thebedfordhotelbelfast.com
