Hi °C | Lo °C The best of Belfast is to be celebrated in a new awards ceremony - the GOngs.
Organised by GO magazine, the awards ceremony will take place at the Europa Hotel on November 2 and will showcase the best of the city's retail, tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors.
Star of Jekyll and Murphy's Law, James Nesbitt, has been lined up to compere the red carpet event, sponsored by 7Up.
Nesbitt will manage proceedings for both the main awards bash and the after- show party.
These are the first GO Awards and follow in the footsteps of Fate and Big Buzz.
The awards are voted for by the public and, already, nominations have been rolling in via the website www. gobelfastawards.com.
The top nominees will be judged by an independent panel of adjudicators who will undertake panel interviews before selecting the ultimate top GOng.
Categories include national retailer of the year, independent retailer of the year, restaurant of the year, pub of the year, hotel of the year and best visitor attraction.
Joining James will be Ivor Novello winner and ex-Snow Patrol man Iain Archer, who is currently touring with the band in Australia and New Zealand.
Iain, who comes from Bangor, will be performing songs from his latest album Magnetic North.
Adding a comic edge will be Blame Game panellist and Belfast man Jake O'Kane.
Another highlight of the awards programme will be critically-acclaimed record and events company Fierce Angel. Founder Mark Doyle and DJ colleague Steve Simpson will both deliver their inimitable Ibiza-style compilations.
Go managing director Bill Penton said: "Our 7Up GO Belfast event will be an awards ceremony with attitude as we plan to create a dynamic and glamorous event in the spirit of the Brit, MTV or Oscar awards.
" While the awards ceremony will take place in the main suite and Library Bar area of the Europa Hotel, the after-show action will all happen in the hotel's top floor Penthouse Suite.
"We believe guests will be bowled over by the eclectic mix of music and entertainment on November 2, coupled with our high-profile MC, James Nesbitt.
"The icing on the cake will be our headline act, which we hope to announce in the next few weeks."
Tickets for the awards cost £875 for a table of 10 or £95 per ticket.
Dinner is formal and the package includes champagne reception, dinner, wine and entertainment. Tickets for the after-show cost £20.
Proceeds from both will go to Barnardo's Northern Ireland.
