Over 30 local hospitality businesses from across Cavan and Monaghan were honoured at this year's Ulster Irish Restaurant Awards.
The Ulster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 took place in the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan on Tuesday evening last.
Almost 800 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Ulster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards. Food outlets were nominated under an array of categories including Local Food Hero, Best Sustainable Practices, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, along with many other categories.
Cabra Castle and The Hillgrove Hotel won the Best Sustainable Practices locally of the year at this year's event. White's Bar in Lough Gowna and the Coachhouse & Olde Bar in Glaslough also came out victorious from the awards night with winning the title pub of the year in Cavan and Monaghan.
Speaking at the Ulster Regional Awards President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said; "Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record breaking number of public nominations at over 130,000 people having their say. He said the awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing, and up and coming talent, in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without their dedicated and passionate staff.."
All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday 15th May in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4.
The full list of winners as follows.
Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times
Armagh – John & Sarah Murray, Embers
Cavan - Imelda Mullen, The Cottage Market
Fermanagh - Marty McAdam, The Street Kitchen Enniskillen
Tyrone - Colin McMenamin, The Red Pepper
Monaghan - Karl Breen, Wild Thyme Restaurant
Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland
Armagh - Killeavy Castle Estate
Cavan - Cabra Castle Hotel
Fermanagh - Manor House Country Hotel
Tyrone - Corick House Hotel & Spa
Monaghan - The Hillgrove Hotel
Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo
Armagh - The Corner House Bar
Cavan - Blossoms Tea Rooms & Garden Centre
Fermanagh - The Giddy Box
Tyrone - The Millstonebar and Restaurant
Monaghan - The Hive
Free From
Armagh - The Portmor
Cavan - Chapter One Food & Living
Fermanagh - Milly's Restaurant
Tyrone - The Tailor's House
Monaghan - The Hive
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance
Armagh - Clenaghans Restaurant
Cavan - People's Restaurant
Fermanagh - Finn Lough
Tyrone - The Banks Restaurant
Monaghan - Wild Thyme Restaurant
Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group
Armagh - James Scott, The Bawn Pantry
Cavan - Ola Kavanagh, The Oak Room Restaurant
Fermanagh - Mario Breban-McDonald, Tully Mill Restaurant
Tyrone - Ellen McCabrey, Chapter V
Monaghan - Emma Aughey, The Squealing Pig
Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland
Armagh - Wine and Brine
Cavan - The Olde Post Inn
Fermanagh - 28 At The Hollow
Tyrone - The Wine Rack
Monaghan - Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate
Best Café Sponsored by Illy
Armagh – Caife Mhacha
Cavan – Tillie's Tea Romms
Fermanagh - The Toastery
Tyrone - Moy Larder
Monaghan - Screaming Bean Café
Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino
Armagh - Shapla
Cavan – Chilli Lounge
Fermanagh - Taco Loco
Tyrone - Tusk
Monaghan - Eastern Balti
Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square
Armagh - Sojourn Coffee
Cavan - Fika 33
Fermanagh - The Dog and Duck Inn
Tyrone - The Banks Restaurant
Monaghan - The Castle Bar & Restaurant
Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni
Armagh - Hole in the Wall
Cavan – White’s Bar
Fermanagh - Devenish Bar
Tyrone - Tomneys Bar
Monaghan - The Coachhouse & Olde Bar
Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace
Armagh – Sally McNally’s
Cavan – The Oak Room Restaurant
Fermanagh - Dollakis
Tyrone - Salleys Restaurant
Monaghan - The Batch Loaf
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite
Armagh – Newforge House
Cavan - MacNean House and Restaurant
Fermanagh - Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne
Tyrone - The Sika 1888 @ The Cedar Country Hotel
Monaghan - Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate
Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen
Armagh - Newforge House
Cavan - MacNean House and Restaurant
Fermanagh - Francos
Tyrone - Oysters Restaurant
Monaghan - Neighbourhood
Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS
Armagh - Digby's Bar & Restaurant
Cavan – Murph's Gastro Pub
Fermanagh - Granny Annies
Tyrone - The Brewer's House
Monaghan - Andy’s Bar & Restaurant
Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Food Service
Armagh - Chris McGowan, Wine and Brine
Cavan - Carmel McGirr MacNean House and Restaurant
Fermanagh - Glen Wheeler, 28 At The Hollow
Tyrone - Conor McCabrey, Chapter V
Monaghan - Conor Mee, Courthouse Restaurant
Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel
Armagh - Wine and Brine
Cavan - MacNean House and Restaurant
Fermanagh - 28 At The Hollow
Tyrone - Chapter V
Monaghan - Courthouse Restaurant
