New £600,000 cocktail bar set to open in Armagh City Hotel

The Meridian, which is scheduled to welcome its first customers in early November, forms part of the hotel's wider £4 million capital investment programme aimed at strengthening its appeal as a tourism, hospitality and conference destination.

Internationally recognised hospitality consultant Greg Buda has been working with the hotel team ahead of the launch. Mr Buda previously served as education director at The Dead Rabbit in New York, the award-winning bar founded by Belfast natives Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon.

Working alongside drinks consultancy Drinksology, Mr Buda helped create a bespoke cocktail menu inspired by Armagh's heritage in astronomy, navigation and timekeeping. Local spirits and ingredients feature throughout the menu, while Armagh Planetarium contributed to the naming of several cocktails.

The venue takes its name from the historic Armagh Meridian Line and aims to reflect the city's longstanding association with scientific discovery through Armagh Observatory and Armagh Planetarium.

Mr Buda has also been delivering training to staff who will work at The Meridian and sharing his expertise with bar managers and employees from across the wider McKeever Hotels group.

At the heart of his approach is a belief that exceptional hospitality starts with people.

“Skills can be developed, but what I look for first is curiosity and attitude,” said Mr Buda. “You need people who are passionate about what they do and genuinely interested in learning. My job is to give them the tools, systems and strategies to succeed, and to create that sense of excitement across the team.”

He said his philosophy had been shaped by a career spent developing drinks programmes, training hospitality teams and helping bring hospitality concepts to life.

Speaking about his time at The Dead Rabbit, Mr Buda described it as a “career changer”.

“Jack and Sean knew exactly what they wanted The Dead Rabbit to be. They had a vision, and were determined to bring it to life,” he said.

“What made it particularly exciting was that they gave people across the team the opportunity to push themselves and take things forward.

“That experience taught me the importance of culture, systems and investing in people, which is very much in keeping with the McKeever philosophy. It reinforced for me how important it is to give people the confidence and opportunity to achieve more.”

Since leaving The Dead Rabbit, Mr Buda has established his own consultancy business and opened his own bar, Bisou Bisou, in Montreal.

He said working on The Meridian offered an opportunity to create a venue rooted in Armagh's unique identity.

“Part of what excites me about The Meridian is being able to immerse myself in Irish culture, explore the stories that make Armagh distinctive and use it as inspiration for something people can experience and enjoy,” he said.

“The best hospitality concepts have a strong identity, but they also make people feel welcome. The story behind The Meridian gives the team something interesting to share with guests, and the cocktails allow them to bring that story to life in a very tangible way.”

Mr Buda said Northern Ireland's hospitality sector had developed significantly in recent years.

“There has been a real step forward in hospitality in Northern Ireland,” he said. “There is great talent here, and I think the ambition and the quality of what people are doing have grown considerably. It all comes down to investing in people, giving them the right training and creating an environment where they are encouraged to keep improving.”

McKeever Hotels managing director Eddie McKeever said the company had sought industry-leading expertise in developing the new venue.

“In bringing The Meridian to life we wanted to work with those considered best in field. Greg's reputation speaks for itself and he has really helped us to set this venue apart,” he said.

“Armagh has a distinctive story to tell and we believe The Meridian will be part of the narrative. By helping to position the area as a destination it will give people from outside the city another reason to visit, while also offering local people something genuinely different on their doorstep.

“It's an exciting time and we very much look forward to opening the doors and welcoming guests to experience The Meridian for themselves.”

The Meridian is expected to welcome its first customers in early November.