The Ulster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2022 took place in the Slieve Russell Hotel, County Cavan on Tuesday 23rd  August 2022.

Over 500 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.

Speaking at the Ulster Regional Awards CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins, said; “Now in their 13^th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns after the 2020 Awards were cut short. 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 the dedicated and passionate staff in the industry. The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. We are delighted to be here in Cavan for the second of the Regional Events and look forward to welcoming all winners in Ulster to the All Ireland Awards on 19th September.”

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and finally a new award category for 2022 Best Sustainable Practices.

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 19th September 2022 in the Convention Centre Dublin(CCD).

The winners on the night were:

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times

• Antrim – Mikes Fancy Cheese Belfast, Michael Thomson 
• Armagh – Yellow Door Deli, Simon Dougan 
• Derry – Native Seafood, Stevie And Rebecca McCarry  
• Donegal – Quay West Restaurant Donegal, Jo Daly  
• Down – Indie Fude, Laura Bradley 
• Fermanagh – Taste Experience Enniskillen, Mark Edwards  
• Monaghan – Blasta Street Kitchen Monaghan, Seany Mc Cleary  
• Tyrone – Symphonia Gin – Woodlab Distillery, Ric Dyer 
• Cavan – Corleggy Cheeses, Silke Cropp 

Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland​

• Antrim – Babushka Kitchen Cafe Portrush 
• Armagh – Sally McNallys 
• Derry – Native Seafood  
• Donegal – Sonder Letterkenny 
• Down – No. 14 at The Georgian House 
• Fermanagh – Tully Mill Restaurant 
• Monaghan – Andy’s Bar & Restaurant 
• Tyrone – Chapter V (five) Restaurant 
• Cavan – Olde Post Inn 

Free From Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro

• Antrim – Jumon Belfast 
• Armagh – Zio Restaurant 
• Derry – Hidden City Cafe Derry 
• Donegal – Chandpur Restaurant Donegal 
• Down – New Quays Portavogie 
• Fermanagh – Tullana on the Green 
• Monaghan – The Hive 
• Tyrone – The Kitchen 
• Cavan – Shades Bar & Grill 

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD

• Antrim – A Peculiar Tea Belfast 
• Armagh  -Clenaghans Restaurant 
• Derry – Sooty Olive 
• Donegal  -Fisk Seafood Bar Downings 
• Down – Frae Holywood 
• Fermanagh  -Finn Lough Dining 
• Monaghan  -Neighbourhood Monaghan 
• Tyrone – No47 Restaurant Cookstown 
• Cavan  -The Olde Post Inn Cavan 

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by AIB Merchant Services

• Antrim – Shu Restaurant Belfast, Julian Henry 
• Armagh – Sally McNallys, Matthew Bird 
• Derry – Ocho Tapas Bistro Portstewart, Natalia Polo Mullan  
• Donegal  -Andersons Boathouse Restaurant And Accommodation, Mairead Anderson  
• Down  -Noble, Saul Mcconnel  
• Fermanagh  -28 At The Hollow Enniskillen, Zara McHugh 
• Monaghan  -Courthouse Restaurant Carrickmacross, Charlotte Carr  
• Tyrone  -Oysters Restaurant Strabane, Caroline Clarke  
• Cavan – People’s Restaurant, Lubomir Kosturik 

Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland

• Antrim – Ox Cave Belfast 
• Armagh  -Wine & Brine  
• Derry  -Artis Restaurant By Phelim O Hagan Derry 
• Donegal  -Harvey’s Point 
• Down  -Noble 
• Fermanagh  -Saddlers Bistro 
• Monaghan – Castle Leslie Estate Glaslough 
• Tyrone – The Wine Rack 
• Cavan – The Olde Post Inn Cavan 

Best Café Sponsored by Illy

• Antrim – Ursa Minor Bakehouse 
• Armagh – McCrums Coffee & Bistro 
• Derry – Brøn Cafe Bar and Restaurant 
• Donegal – Ahoy Cafe Killybegs 
• Down – Hillsborough Castle and Gardens 
• Fermanagh – The Jolly Sandwich Bar 
• Monaghan – Roberto’s Coffee Shop 
• Tyrone – Piece of Cake Omagh 
• Cavan – Hard Boiled Egg Cafe 

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino

• Antrim – Ora Wine And Tapas Belfast City 
• Armagh – Shapla Indian Restaurant 
• Derry – Mekong Street Food Derry 
• Donegal – Chandpur Restaurant Donegal 
• Down – Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro Newtownards 
• Fermanagh – Kamal Mahal 
• Monaghan – Eastern Balti House 
• Tyrone – Masala Strabane  
• Cavan – Chilli Lounge 

Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square

• Antrim – Banh Boy Antrim 
• Armagh – Hungry Goat 
• Derry – Artis Restaurant By Phelim O Hagan Derry 
• Donegal – Snugborough 
• Down – Frae, Holywood 
• Fermanagh – Between The Bridges Enniskillen 
• Monaghan – Fro & Co 
• Tyrone – No47 Restaurant Cookstown 
• Cavan – Súil Eile  

Pub of the Year Sponsored by Jameson

• Antrim – Sunflower Public House 
• Armagh – Hole in the Wall 
• Derry – Sandinos 
• Donegal – Harbour Bar 
• Down – The Hillside 
• Fermanagh – Charlie’s Bar, Enniskillen 
• Monaghan – The Coachhouse & Olde Bar 
• Tyrone – Farmers Home 
• Cavan – The Anglers Rest Ballyconnell 

Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace

• Antrim – Mourne’s Seafood Bar 
• Armagh – Digby’s Bar & Restaurant 
• Derry – Native Seafood  
• Donegal – Andersons Boathouse Restaurant And Accommodation 
• Down – Underground Dining 
• Fermanagh – Dollakis Enniskillen 
• Monaghan – Andy’s Bar & Restaurant 
• Tyrone – The Copper Tap & 1806 
• Cavan – Oak Room Restaurant 

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite

• Antrim – Grand Central Hotel, Belfast 
• Armagh – Newforge House 
• Derry – Ardtara Country House 
• Donegal – Harvey’s Point 
• Down – The Cuan 
• Fermanagh – Lough Erne Resort, Catalina 
• Monaghan – Castle Leslie Estate Glaslough 
• Tyrone – Corick House Hotel & Spa 
• Cavan – McNean House And Restaurant Blacklion  

Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen

• Antrim – Bushmills Inn 
• Armagh – Newforge House 
• Derry – Artis Restaurant By Phelim O Hagan Derry 
• Donegal – Rathmullan House Hotel Rathmullan 
• Down – Noble  
• Fermanagh – Franco’s Restaurant 
• Monaghan – Neighbourhood Monaghan 
• Tyrone – Oysters Restaurant Strabane 
• Cavan – Oak Room Restaurant 

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS

• Antrim – The Morning Star 
• Armagh – The Head O The Road 
• Derry – Walled City Brewery 
• Donegal – The Rusty Mackerel 
• Down – The Dirty Duck 
• Fermanagh – The TapHouse Enniskillen 
• Monaghan – The Squealing Pig Bar & Restaurant 
• Tyrone – The Brewer’s House 
• Cavan – Murph’s Gastro Pub 

Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Foodservice

• Antrim – Deanes Eipic Belfast, Alex Greene 
• Armagh – Wine & Brine, Chris McGowan 
• Derry – Scarpello And Co, Derek Creagh  
• Donegal – The Olde Glen Bar, Ciaran Sweeney  
• Down – Frae, Shaun Tinman 
• Fermanagh – Lough Erne Resort, Stephen Holland  
• Monaghan – Courthouse Restaurant, Conor Mee  
• Tyrone – No47 Restaurant, James Devine  
• Cavan – McNean House And Restaurant, Carmel McGirr  

Best Restaurant Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants

• Antrim – Deanes Eipic Belfast 
• Armagh – Wine & Brine  
• Derry – Brown’s Bonds Hill 
• Donegal – The Lemon Tree Restaurant 
• Down – Noble 
• Fermanagh – 28 At The Hollow 
• Monaghan – The Courthouse Carrickmacross 
• Tyrone – Chapter V Restaurant 
• Cavan – McNean House And Restaurant 

Sponsors of this Year’s Irish Restaurant Awards:

• Tindal Wine Merchants
• BWG Food Service
• AIB MS
• Frylite
• Jameson
• Musgrave Marketplace
• Worldpay from FIS
• FBD Insurance
• Square
• Bibendum Ireland
• Restaurant-insurance.ie provided by Dolmen 
• Illy
• San Pellegrino
• Peroni Nastro Azzurro
• Gas Networks Ireland
• Irish Times
• Monin
• Wild Irish Game
• IMRO
• Peninsula
• Outmin
• Stephens Catering Equipment 
• Pudu

More information on the Irish Restaurant Awards: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/faqs/ 

All Images Credit: Paul Sherwood Photographer

Contact events@rai.ie

Phone: (01)6779901