The Ulster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards took place in the Slieve Russell Hotel tonight where the top restaurants in each county for 2020 were announced.

Over 600 restaurant owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Ulster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Speaking at the awards early this evening Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins, said; “Now in their 12^th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, pubs and restaurants of Ireland, as well as recognising the teams behind these establishments and the hard work and dedication that they put in. With well over 100,000 nominations received from the public this year, the standard for the judging process was higher than ever.

Ireland may be a small country, but it boasts everything from fine dining to high quality gastropubs, from the comfort of traditional Irish food to exploring the world though exotic world cuisine, the Irish restaurant industry has much to offer. We have an appreciation for what we eat and where our food comes from, as well as the dedication of those working in the food industry”.

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Best Customer Service, Best Café, Best Gastro Pub, Best ‘Free From’, Best Casual Dining, Best World Cuisine, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Chef, Best Restaurant, Best Wine Experience, Pub of the Year, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Kids Size Me, Local Food Hero, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine and Best Newcomer.

All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards. These will be held in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin on Monday 18^th May, 2020.

The winners on the night were:

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants

• Antrim – OX Belfast
• Armagh – Wine and Brine
• Cavan – MacNean House and Restaurant
• Derry – Brown’s Bonds Hill
• Donegal – Danny Minnies Country House
• Down – Noble.
• Fermanagh – 28 Darling St
• Monaghan – Courthouse Restaurant
• Tyrone – Chapter V Restaurant

Best Chef – Sponsored by BWG Foodservice

• Antrim – Stevie Toman of OX Belfast
• Armagh – Chris McGowan of Wine & Brine
• Cavan – Gearóid Lynch of The Olde Post Inn
• Derry – Sean Harrigan of The Sooty Olive
• Donegal – Colin McKee of Harvey’s Point
• Down – Pearson Morris of Noble.
• Fermanagh – Glen Wheeler of 28 Darling St
• Monaghan – Conor Mee of Courthouse Restaurant
• Tyrone – Brian McMonagle of The Gables Bar and Restaurant

Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Monin

• Antrim – Orá Wine and Tapas
• Armagh – Chapman’s Little Gem
• Cavan – La Piazza
• Derry – Sixteen22 Gastro Pub at Beech Hill Country House
• Donegal – Boathouse Restaurant Killybegs
• Down – Copper
• Fermanagh – FOLK Expresso & Boulangerie
• Monaghan – Pocono Glaslough
• Tyrone – The Cheeky Fox Restaurant

Best Restaurant Manager – AIB Merchant Services

• Antrim – Cristina Higginson of Square Bistro
• Armagh – Davina McGowan of Wine and Brine
• Cavan – Blaithin McCabe of MacNean House and Restaurant
• Derry – Zara Adair of The Sooty Olive
• Donegal – Jo Roarty of Quay West
• Down – Saul McConnell of Noble.
• Fermanagh – Charlie Oldcroft of The Moorings
• Monaghan – Charlotte Carr of Courthouse Restaurant
• Tyrone – Ann Marie McMenamin of The Red Pepper

Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by Frylite

• Antrim – Taylor and Clay Grill at Bullitt Hotel
• Armagh – Newforge House
• Cavan – The Courtroom Restaurant at Cabra Castle
• Derry – Bishop’s Gate Hotel Derry
• Donegal – The Foyle Hotel Eatery and Wine Bar
• Down – The Starfish at Cairn Bay Lodge
• Fermanagh – Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Monaghan – Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie
• Tyrone – Mellon Country Hotel

Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Dolmen Insurance Brokers

• Antrim – Holohan’s Pantry
• Armagh – Zio
• Cavan – Oak Room Restaurant
• Derry – The Gown Restaurant at Bishop’s Gate Hotel
• Donegal – Harvey’s Point
• Down – Primrose
• Fermanagh – Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Monaghan – Monaghan Spice
• Tyrone – The Brewer’s House

Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Elavon

• Antrim – Sweet Afton Bar and Kitchen
• Armagh – Digby’s Bar and Restaurant
• Cavan – Murph’s Gastro Pub at the Derragarra Inn
• Derry – Walled City Brewery
• Donegal – The Rusty Mackerel
• Down – The Poacher’s Pocket
• Fermanagh – The TapHouse
• Monaghan – Andy’s Bar and Restaurant
• Tyrone – The Brewer’s House

Best Café – Sponsored by Illy

• Antrim – Five Percent Café
• Armagh – McCrum’s Motorcycles Coffee & Bistro
• Cavan – The Hard Boiled Egg Café
• Derry – The Green Cat Bakery
• Donegal – Benny and Co. Coffee Bar and Restaurant
• Down – The Café at Montalto Estate
• Fermanagh – The Jolly Sandwich Bar
• Monaghan – Eileen’s Tea Rooms
• Tyrone – Café No.47

Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Jameson

• Antrim – The Jeggy Nettle Pub
• Armagh – The Corner House
• Cavan – McCauls Bar & Guesthouse
• Derry – Blackbird
• Donegal – The Forge
• Down – The Maypole
• Fermanagh – Linnet Inn
• Monaghan – McCague’s Bar
• Tyrone – The Bottle of Benburb

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Gilbeys with Bibendum

• Antrim – OX Belfast
• Armagh – Clenaghans
• Cavan – MacNean House and Restaurant
• Derry – Brown’s Bonds Hill
• Donegal – Harvey’s Point
• Down – Noble.
• Fermanagh – The Moorings
• Monaghan – Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie
• Tyrone – Oysters Restaurant

Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by Stafford Lynch – San Pellegrino

• Antrim – Bia Rebel Ramen
• Armagh – Babu’s Indian Spice
• Cavan – Chilli Lounge
• Derry – Mekong Street Food
• Donegal – Chandpur Indian Restaurant
• Down – Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro
• Fermanagh – Dollakis Greek Restaurant
• Monaghan – Eastern Balti
• Tyrone – Riverside Chinese Restaurant

Best “Free From” – Sponsored by Peroni Libera

• Antrim – Jumon
• Armagh – Digby’s Bar & Restaurant
• Cavan – Chapter 1 Living & Food
• Derry – Hidden City Café
• Donegal – Sonder Café
• Down – The Dirty Duck Alehouse
• Fermanagh – Tully Mill Restaurant
• Monaghan – Caroline’s Café
• Tyrone – Oysters Restaurant

Best Kids Size Me

• Antrim – Neill’s Hill
• Armagh – Zio
• Cavan – People’s Restaurant
• Derry – Pyke ‘N’ Pommes
• Donegal – The Edge Restaurant at Redcastle Hotel
• Down – The Salty Dog Hotel & Bistro
• Fermanagh – Taco Loco
• Monaghan – The Fiddlers Elbow
• Tyrone – Salley’s Restaurant

Best Local Food Hero – Sponsored by The Irish Times

• Antrim – Charlie Cole of Broughgammon Farm
• Armagh – Kenny & Jennifer Gracey of Forthill Farm
• Cavan – Kieron & Claire Moran of Moran’s Mega Jam
• Derry – James Huey of Walled City Brewery
• Donegal – Kieron Doherty of Nancy’s Barn
• Down – Laura Bradley & Johnny McDowell of Indie Füde
• Fermanagh – Declan O’Donoghue of Erne Larder Preserves
• Monaghan – Meredith & Glennys Pollock of Pollock Pickles
• Tyrone – Johnny Cuddy of Ispini Charcuterie

Ulster Regional Local Food Hero – Sponsored by The Irish Times

• Tyrone – Johnny Cuddy of Ispini Charcuterie

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by Manor Farm

• Antrim – Cyprus Avenue
• Armagh – Sinton’s at the Bridge
• Cavan – The Olde Post Inn
• Derry – Soda & Starch
• Donegal – The Lemon Tree Restaurant
• Down – Brunel’s Restaurant
• Fermanagh – 28 Darling St
• Monaghan – The Squealing Pig
• Tyrone – Chapter V Restaurant

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Just Eat

• Antrim – Yügo
• Armagh – Groucho’s on the Square
• Cavan – Oak Room Restaurant
• Derry – Nonnas Wood Fired Pizzas
• Donegal – Fisk at the Harbour Bar
• Down – Underground Dining
• Fermanagh – Tully Mill Restaurant
• Monaghan – The Old Coach Inn
• Tyrone – The Gables Bar & Restaurant

The Restaurants Association of Ireland would like to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors of this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards:

The Irish Times, Tindal Wine Merchants, BWG Foodservice, Elavon, Dolmen Insurance Brokers, Frylite, Just Eat, Jameson, Monin, Stafford Lynch – San Pellegrino, Peroni Libera, Illy, Gilbeys with Bibendum, AIB Merchant Services and Manor Farm.