The Ulster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023  took place in the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan Tuesday 21^st of March.  

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. 

Speaking at the Ulster Regional Awards President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said; “Now in their 14^th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record breaking number of public nominations (over 130,000). This sheer number of votes highlight the support & appreciation by the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it. 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. The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. We are delighted to be here in Limerick for the first of the Regional Events for 2023 and look forward to welcoming all winners in Ulster to the All Ireland Awards on 15^th May.”   

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Sustainable Practices, 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 2023 Innovator of the Year. 

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 15^th May in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4. The winners on the night were: 

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times 

• Antrim – Phil Ervine, Taste and Tour 
• Armagh – John & Sarah Murray, Embers 

• Cavan – Imelda Mullen, The Cottage Market 
• Derry –  Kevin Pyke, Pykes “N” Pommes 
• Donegal –  Chris Molloy, The Lemon Tree 
• Down –  Peter Hannan, Hannan Meats 
• 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  

• Antrim – Academy Restaurant, Ulster University 
• Armagh – Killeavy Castle Estate 
• Cavan –  Cabra Castle Hotel 
• Derry –  The City Hotel Derry 
• Donegal –  Rathmullan House 

• Down –   Slieve Donard Hotel 
• Fermanagh –  Manor House Country Hotel 
• Tyrone –  Corick House Hotel & Spa 
• Monaghan –  The Hillgrove Hotel  

Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo  

• Antrim – Flout Belfast 
• Armagh – The Corner House Bar 
• Cavan –  Blossoms Tea Rooms & Garden Centre 
• Derry – Brøn Cafe Bar and Restaurant 

• Donegal –  The Bluestack Shack 
• Down –  Frae 
• Fermanagh –  The Giddy Box 
• Tyrone –  The Millstonebar and Restaurant 
• Monaghan –  The Hive  

Free From  

• Antrim – Home 
• Armagh – The Portmor 
• Cavan – Chapter One Food & Living 

• Derry – Cedar Restaurant 
• Donegal –  Chandpur Restaurant 
• Down –  The Smugglers Table 
• Fermanagh –  Milly’s Restaurant 
• Tyrone –  The Tailor’s House 

• Monaghan –  The Hive 

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance 

• Antrim –  Blank 
• Armagh – Clenaghans Restaurant 

• Cavan – People’s Restaurant 
• Derry –  The Sooty Olive 
• Donegal –  Narrow Quarter 
• Down –  The Cuan 
• Fermanagh –  Finn Lough 

• Tyrone –   The Banks Restaurant 
• Monaghan –  Wild Thyme Restaurant 

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group 

• Antrim – Alain Kerloc’h, OX 

• Armagh – James Scott, The Bawn Pantry 
• Cavan – Ola Kavanagh, The Oak Room Restaurant 
• Derry – James McKee, District 45 
• Donegal –  Orhan Enric, Harveys Point 
• Down –  Saul McConnell, Noble 

• 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 

• Antrim –  La Bottega 
• Armagh –  Wine and Brine 
• Cavan – The Olde Post Inn 
• Derry – Artis Restaurant by Phelim O’Hagan 
• Donegal –  Fisk 

• Down –  Noble 
• Fermanagh –  28 At The Hollow 
• Tyrone –  The Wine Rack 
• Monaghan –  Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate 

Best Café Sponsored by Illy 

• Antrim – Neighbourhood 
• Armagh – Caife Mhacha  
• Cavan – Tillie’s Tea Romms 

• Derry – The Pickled Duck 
• Donegal –  Thyme Out 
• Down –  The Bearded Goat 
• Fermanagh – The Toastery 
• Tyrone –  Moy Larder 

• Monaghan –   Screaming Bean Café 

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino 

• Antrim – Bo Tree 
• Armagh – Shapla 

• Cavan – Chilli Lounge 
• Derry – Mekong 
• Donegal –  Bella Dona 
• Down –  Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro 
• Fermanagh – Taco Loco 

• Tyrone –  Tusk 
• Monaghan –   Eastern Balti 

Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square 

• Antrim – Roam 

• Armagh – Sojourn Coffee 
• Cavan – Fika 33  
• Derry – Coupe 
• Donegal –  Curry Cottage 
• Down –  Joxer Holywood 

• Fermanagh –  The Dog and Duck Inn 
• Tyrone –  The Banks Restaurant 
• Monaghan –   The Castle Bar & Restaurant 

Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni  

• Antrim – John Hewitt 
• Armagh – Hole in the Wall 
• Cavan – White’s Bar 
• Derry – Sandinos 
• Donegal –   The Forge 

• Down – Maghera Inn 
• Fermanagh – Devenish Bar 
• Tyrone – Tomneys Bar 
• Monaghan – The Coachhouse & Olde Bar 

Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace 

• Antrim – Edo 
• Armagh – Sally McNally’s 
• Cavan – The Oak Room Restaurant 

• Derry – El Tapas Grá 
• Donegal – Andersons Boathouse Restaurant and Accommodation 
• Down – Frae 
• Fermanagh – Dollakis 
• Tyrone – Salleys Restaurant 

• Monaghan – The Batch Loaf 

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite 

• Antrim – River Room Restaurant at Galgorm 

• Armagh – Newforge House 
• Cavan – MacNean House and Restaurant 
• Derry – The Gown, Bishops Gate Hotel 
• Donegal –  Harveys Point 
• Down –  The Salty Dog Hotel & Bistro 

• 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 

• Antrim – Blank  
• Armagh – Newforge House 
• Cavan – MacNean House and Restaurant 
• Derry – Shipquay Restaurant 

• Donegal –  Rathmullan House 
• Down – Brunel’s  
• Fermanagh – Francos  
• Tyrone – Oysters Restaurant  
• Monaghan – Neighbourhood    

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS 

• Antrim –  Deer’s Head  
• Armagh – Digby’s Bar & Restaurant 

• Cavan – Murph’s Gastro Pub 
• Derry – Walled City Brewery 
• Donegal –  Olde Castle Bar 
• Down –  The Dirty Duck 
• Fermanagh –  Granny Annies 

• Tyrone –  The Brewer’s House 
• Monaghan –  Andy’s Bar & Restaurant  

Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Food Service 

• Antrim – Gareth McCaughey, The Muddlers Club 
• Armagh – Chris McGowan, Wine and Brine 
• Cavan – Carmel McGirr MacNean House and Restaurant 
• Derry –  Ian Orr, Browns Bonds Hill 

• Donegal –  Ciaran Sweeney, The Olde Glen Bar 
• Down –  Pearson Morris, Noble 
• Fermanagh –  Glen Wheeler, 28 At The Hollow 
• Tyrone –  Conor McCabrey, Chapter V 
• Monaghan –   Conor Mee, Courthouse Restaurant  

Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel 

• Antrim – OX 
• Armagh – Wine and Brine 

• Cavan – MacNean House and Restaurant 
• Derry – Browns Bonds Hill 
• Donegal –  The Olde Glen Bar 
• Down –  Noble 
• Fermanagh –  28 At The Hollow 

• Tyrone –  Chapter V 
• Monaghan –  Courthouse Restaurant 

Sponsors of this Year’s Irish Restaurant Awards: 

• Avonmore  

• Bibendum Ireland  
• BWG Foodservice  
• Diageo   
• FBD Insurance  
• Frylite  

• Gas Networks Ireland  
• Halcyon Group  
• Illy  
• IMRO  
• Irish Times  

• Monin  
• Musgrave Marketplace  
• Peninsula  
• Peroni Nastro Azzurro  
• Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet   

• Restaurant-insurance.ie provided by Dolmen   
• San Miguel   
• San Pellegrino  
• Square  
• Wild Irish Game  

• Worldpay from FIS 

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

Official Photographs from the Ulster Regional Awards: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/official-photos-ulster-regional-awards-2023/

 All Images Credit: Paul Sherwood 

Contact events@rai.ie     Phone: (01)6779901