A top Birmingham bar has scooped a hat-trick of coveted trophies in a glitzy, stage show-style awards ceremony in the city.
Velvet Music Rooms won Best Bar of the Year, its general manager Steve Emmison won Best Bar Manager of the Year, and stafff member Hili Fletcher won Employee of the Year at the Wonders of Westside Awards – otherwise known as the WOWs.
The WOWs are hosted annually by Westside Business Improvement District (BID) to recognise individuals and businesses that go the extra mile for customers.
This year the awards were made on stage at The Crescent Theatre on Sheepcote Street, in Birmingham city centre.
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “Staff at Velvet have excelled themselves this year, not only emerging healthily from Covid but also successfully adapting themselves to a changing marketplace.
“As well as being a great Irish bar, Velvet has developed itself as a new magnet for culture in the city, holding two successful art exhibitions on their premises to attract a new and diverse audience.
“Velvet has also re-established itself as one of the city’s best major live music venues following the pandemic, hosting the popular Birmingham Rocks session every Sunday and Henry’s Blueshouse every Tuesday.
“The venue truly deserves its Best Bar of the Year trophy, and Steve Emmison is a very worthy winner of the Best Bar Manager award, while we were also pleased to recognise Hili Flether as Employee of the Year.”
Sisters and co-bar owners Dani Hadley and Eilis Collins enjoyed a night out to celebrate the awards with their staff.
Ms Hadley said: “We’re thrilled to have won these three top trophies and feel chuffed to have been recognised once again at the WOWs.”
Ms Collins added: “Our staff not only deserved these awards but they also very much earned their very own night out and we were delighted to party and celebrate with them.”
The awards were even more special this year with top singer-songwriter Andy Bennett, once part of Ocean Colour Scene, treating the audience to a dazzling musical performance along with local singer Lorraine Olley.
