The Eastside Awards is an exciting initiative aimed at highlighting and celebrating all that is good about East Belfast, whilst showcasing the contributions being made to the economic, social and community development of the area (which will include everything up to the Holywood Exchange roundabout, Dundonald, East side of Ravenhill Road to its Saintfield Road junction, Gilnahirk, Hillfoot and Titanic Quarter). 

​Winners were crowned at the Eastside Awards Gala Dinner on Friday 27th January 2023 at Hastings Stormont Hotel. ​

2022 Category Winners & Finalists

Awards by public nomination via:
Public nominations were made via Belfast Live. The top three in each category with the most nominations are listed below. The winner, with the most nominations, was announced at the awards ceremony on Friday 27th January 2023.
Favourite Teacher in East Belfast 
​​The finalists are:
  • Mr Pollock, Elmgrove Primary School
  • Suzanne Greenwood, Orangefield Primary School
  • Brendan Shannon, Lisnasharragh Primary School
Favourite Classroom Assistant in East Belfast *NEW
The finalists are:
  • Gary Chambers, Loughview Integrated Primary School
  • Kirstie Shaw, Ashfield Girls' High School
  • Stephanie Wilson, Ashfield Boys' High School
Favourite Eatery (Café/Restaurant) in East Belfast
The finalists are:
  • Bodega Bagels
  • Gardener's Rest at Hillmount
  • Lazy Claire Patisserie

Awards by application:

The Eastside Award for Contribution to the Arts 
This award was open to individuals or groups involved in the promotion and provision of the Arts in the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that contribute to greater involvement in Arts related activities. 
The winner & finalists are:
  • Ajendance NI
  • The Bright Umbrella Drama Company
  • The Gertrude Star Flute Band, Fifes & Fusion
The Eastside Award for Sports Initiative of the Year
This award was open to individuals or organisations involved in the promotion and provision of a sports initiative (in the past three years) that contributes to greater involvement and engagement in sporting activities in the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area.
The winner & finalists are:
  • CIYMS, Men's Hockey Club
  • Titanic Tigers Special Olympics Club 
  • Tullycarnet Boxing Club 
The Eastside Award for Excellence in Health & Wellbeing
This award was open to organisations in all sectors and all sizes within the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that can demonstrate their commitment to and the provision of services or initiatives which make a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of people working or living in the East Belfast area.
The winner & finalists are:
  • Ashfield Girls' High School
  • Helping Hands Autism Support Group
  • Jump Jiggle and Jive Limited
The Eastside Award for Tourism Experience of the Year
This Award was open to individuals, groups or businesses (of all sizes and sectors) that provide and promote a Tourist offering in the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area. 
The winner & finalists are:
  • Glentoran in the Community
  • Scott's Jazz Club
  • Titanic Hotel Belfast
The Eastside Award for Business Start-Up​
This Award was open to individuals, businesses or social enterprises from or within East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area which have been trading for no more than three years (commenced business after 28th October 2019).
The winner & finalists are:
  • Bullhouse East
  • Joob Joobs
  • Murphy & Bailey Ltd​
The Eastside Award for Business Growth
This award was open to SME businesses or social enterprises operating within the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that are able to demonstrate growth in the areas of business performance and employment over the past 3 years (since 28th October 2019) that has led to product or service excellence and sustainable improvements in business performance.
The winner & finalists are:
  • Art Loves Ltd
  • La Bella Vita 
  • Pacem
The Eastside Award for Community Impact
This award was open to organisations that can demonstrate a contribution to:
  1. a local community or;
  2. across a number of communities in East Belfast & Greater East Belfast areas
in relation to a specific community project that demonstrates community engagement, provision of services and community impact.
The winner & finalists are:
  • East Belfast Street Team 
  • EastSide Greenways
  • In This Together
The Eastside Award for Best Organisation to Work for
This award was open to organisations in all sectors and all sizes within the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that can demonstrate their commitment to and the provision of a positive working environment for their employees. 
The winner & finalists are:
  • Ashfield Girls' High School
  • Connswater
  • Pacem
The Eastside Award for Environmental Sustainability *NEW
This award was open to individuals or organisations, regardless of size or sector within the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that have introduced solutions to improve their own environmental and or Sustainability footprint, or that of their customers.
The winner & finalists are:
  • Davines
  • Pacem
  • The Wardrobe 

Awards by nomination:

The Eastside Award for Apprentice of the Year *NEW
This award was open to nomination for an apprentice from any skill or profession who is currently involved in their training programme or has completed their apprenticeship during 2021-22.
The winner & finalists are:
  • Benjamin Bennett, Horatio Todds
  • James Mallin, Totalis
  • Jordan Sloan, Titanic Hotel Belfast
The Eastside Award for Young Person of the Year
This award was open to nomination for an outstanding young person (aged 25 or under on 28th October 2022) from East Belfast and the Greater east Belfast areas. 
The winner & finalists are:
  • Lisa Jiang
  • Rachael McDowell
  • Ryan Jamison
The Eastside Award for Volunteer of the Year
This award was open to nomination for a volunteer who has demonstrated a commitment (of not less than 2 years on 28th October 2022) to an organisation or cause which contributes to the life of East Belfast or Greater East Belfast area.
The winner & finalists are:
  • Chloe O'Neill, Youth Initiatives
  • Rachael McDowell, Ashfield Girls' High School
  • Susan Gillen, Titanic Tigers Special Olympics Young Athletes Club

Awards by selection:

The Eastside Award for Outstanding Contribution
​The award for Outstanding Contribution 2022 was presented to:
Professor Emeritus Ken O'Neill