The former education director of the celebrated Dead Rabbit bar in New York is helping McKeever Hotels bring a new level in hospitality to the city of Armagh ahead of the much-anticipated opening of its new cocktail-led destination bar.
Greg Buda, who has achieved ‘guru’ status across the drinks industry, has been closely involved in the development of The Meridian, part of the Armagh City Hotel, which is due to open at the start of November.
Working alongside the award-winning team at Drinksology, Greg has helped to shape The Meridian offering, creating a bespoke cocktail bar experience and service level which aims to set it apart as a hospitality destination.
At the heart of The Meridian is its bespoke cocktail menu, developed under Greg’s guidance, which features carefully selected local spirits and ingredients. Each cocktail draws inspiration from the city’s rich connections to astronomy, navigation and timekeeping.
The team has also collaborated with Armagh Planetarium to help name the cocktails, creating another authentic local connection that further strengthens the venue’s sense of place.
Greg has also played a key role in developing and mentoring the team who will be responsible for The Meridian experience. This includes delivering an in-person training programme to equip staff with the knowledge, confidence and ‘curiosity’ required to ensure a distinctive guest experience.
He will also share his expertise with bar managers and staff from across the wider McKeever Hotels group, extending the benefits of the programme beyond Armagh.
At the heart of Greg’s approach is a belief that exceptional hospitality starts with people.
“Skills can be developed, but what I look for first is curiosity and attitude,” says Greg. “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.”
Greg’s approach has been shaped by a career spent developing drinks programmes, training hospitality teams and helping bring ambitious concepts to life.
A defining chapter was his time at The Dead Rabbit, founded by Belfast hospitality figures Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon. The venue became internationally renowned for combining Irish pub culture, storytelling and an innovative cocktail programme, earning recognition including the title of World’s Best Bar.
Describing his time there as a ‘career changer’ Greg said:
“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. 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, Greg has established his own consultancy to help other hospitality businesses strengthen their offering. He has also opened his own bar, Bisou Bisou, in Montreal.
Greg’s involvement with The Meridian represents an opportunity to put his experience to work in a setting with a strong sense of identity and place.
Inspired by Armagh’s heritage in astronomy, timekeeping and navigation, the venue takes its name from the historic Meridian Line and its connection with the Armagh Observatory.
“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.
“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.”
Greg believes the McKeever family’s investment in The Meridian is indicative of the region’s wider tourism and hospitality offering.
“There has been a real step forward in hospitality in Northern Ireland. 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.”
The Meridian represents a £600,000 investment by McKeever Hotels and forms part of a wider £4 million capital investment programme at Armagh City Hotel, aimed at strengthening the hotel’s appeal as an all-island tourism and conference destination.
Commenting on Greg’s contribution, Eddie McKeever, Managing Director of McKeever Hotels said:
“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.
“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.”