The Northern Rivers’ best bartender is loved by customers and staff

Who is the Northern Rivers best bartender? The results are in, and there was a clear winner ‒ a man who arrives hours before his shift and remembers every patron’s name and preferred drink.

The Northern Rivers’ favourite bartender has been revealed.

Pulling beers and mixing drinks behind the bar at Ballina’s Cherry Street Sports Club seems like the best job in the world if you watch Paul “Bluey” McDermott.

He’s always smiling, chatting with patrons, joking with co-workers and impressing his boss, the club’s general manager Tere Sheehan, just by being himself.

Bluey has been voted in as the Northern Rivers’ best bartender, and there couldn’t be a more deserving winner, Mr Sheehan said.

Cherry Street Sports Club's Paul "Bluey" McDermott has been named the Northern Rivers' best bartender.

“He’s the bloke who is rostered on to start at 8am but turns up at 5.30am because he wants to get a start on things,” he said.

“He’s been at the club for 17 or 18 years and he’s very loyal; I’d love to think he’ll stay here with us until he retires.

“Bluey is just one of a kind.

“The customers love him … everybody knows him and he remembers everyone’s name and what they drink.

Bluey at his favourite place – behind the bar at Cherry Street Sports Club.

“He’s just someone who really loves his job and it shows.”

When Bluey heard he was in the running to take out the title of the Northern Rivers’ best bartender, he was true to form and very humble.

“He just kept saying, ‘Oh no, this is a team effort, it’s all about Team Cherry, everyone contributes to the great work we do here’,” Mr Sheehan said.

He always gives 110 per cent to his workplace.

“Everyone wants to work their shifts with Bluey, you can’t truly appreciate what he gives until you’ve worked alongside him.

“We know we are very blessed.

“Whenever Bluey’s around, he just lifts everyone’s spirits 100 per cent.”

He’s a perfectionist, but the patrons (and his boss) love him for it.