Proud of Your Staff: Kitchen Bar , Belfast

Loyalty is what the team at the Kitchen Bar in Belfast are all about.

Just over a year ago the pub was sold to Botanic Inns, much to the concern of its customers and staff who feared it would lose its special character and its staff.

Luckily for general manager Marianne Hood, her team decided to stay put. She seems thankful. "They could have left to work elsewhere, with their experience they would have been snapped up, but after meetings with the new owners all team members decided to stay on with us," she says.

"Since then each of them has continued to contribute to the fantastic standards that our customers experience."

In addition the team have played a blinder in helping raise money for the Make a Wish campaign - the pub's nominated charity. "We have nearly hit our annual target of £3,000 in three months," says Marianne. "Two of the team, Brian and Greg, bungee jumped and raised £500 between them."

For her pubs are not about the "bricks and mortar", but the people who work in them.

She adds: "Our team are true examples of what 'real' bartenders, waiting and kitchen staff should be - they are proud of what they do and it shows. What's more - we are very proud of them!"