April 2nd, 2025 – The Ulster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards took place last night, celebrating the best of the food and hospitality industry across the province.

Hosted at the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, on Tuesday, April 1st, the event recognised exceptional talent across Ulster’s hospitality sector, with county winners announced across eighteen categories.

With over 700 attendees, the night was a true showcase of the passion, creativity and hard work that define the industry. Now in its 16th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards continue to grow, with almost 165,000 public nominations submitted via The Irish Times, the official media partner of the awards.

As the regional celebrations continue, excitement is building for the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner, where both provincial and national winners will be crowned. The highly anticipated event takes place on Monday, May 19th, at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. County winners from Ulster can now secure their tickets for what promises to be a fantastic evening.

Speaking at the event, Seán Collender, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said:

“Tonight, we celebrate the passion and resilience of those who drive Ulster’s hospitality sector forward. The past year has presented challenges, but the commitment, innovation and hard work of these individuals continue to elevate our industry.”

“The Ulster Regional Awards are a testament to the talent and dedication that make this province a key player in Ireland’s food culture. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees, you are the heart of this vibrant industry.”

Please find below the list of this year’s county winners from across Ulster:  

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by San Miguel

• Antrim: OX
• Armagh: Wine and Brine
• Cavan: MacNean House & Restaurant
• Derry: Lir
• Donegal: The Lemon Tree Restaurant
• Down: Noble
• Fermanagh: 28 At The Hollow
• Tyrone: Oysters Restaurant
• Monaghan: Wild Thyme Restaurant

Best Chef – Sponsored by BWG Food Service

• Antrim: Aaron McNeice, Waterman Restaurant
• Armagh: Stephen McGloughlin, Sally McNallys
• Cavan: Keith Hutton, The Oak Room Restaurant
• Derry: Stevie McCarry, Lir
• Donegal: Ciaran Sweeney, The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box
• Down: Alex Greene, The Bucks Head
• Tyrone: Vincent Mahon, Oysters Restaurant
• Monaghan: Conor Mee, The Courthouse

Best Restaurant Manager – Sponsored by Elavon

• Antrim: Eva McCloskey, Mourne Seafood
• Armagh: Giuseppe Lonigro, Zio
• Cavan: Laura Connolly, The Oak Room Restaurant
• Derry: Ian Jarvis, Brown Bond Hills
• Donegal: Claire Williamson, BRAAI
• Down: Saul McConnell, Noble
• Fermanagh: Mario Breban-McDonald, Tully Mill Restaurant
• Tyrone: Shane Breslin, The Banks Restaurant
• Monaghan: Aprilanna Barker, Taste of Tuscany

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by Frylite

• Antrim: The Bushmills Inn
• Armagh: Gullion at Killeavy Castle
• Cavan: The Courtroom Restaurant at Cabra Castle
• Derry: Ardtara Country House
• Donegal: The Restaurant at Harvey’s Point
• Down: Newforge House
• Fermanagh: Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Tyrone: The Carleton Restaurant at Corick House Hotel
• Monaghan: Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate

Best Use of Social Media

• Antrim: Flout!
• Armagh: Seagoe Hotel
• Cavan: Luso
• Derry: Coupe
• Donegal: Sonder
• Down: Underground Dining
• Fermanagh: 28 At The Hollow
• Tyrone: Wee Buns
• Monaghan: Screaming Bean Cafe

Employee Excellence Award – Sponsored by Peninsula

• Antrim: Jack Lyons, Follow Coast
• Armagh: Liam McKenna, Armagh City Hotel
• Cavan: Padraig Reilly, Shades Bar and Grill
• Derry: Julie Alcorn, The Pickled Duck
• Donegal: Tatjana Erinc, The Restaurant at Harvey’s Point Hotel
• Down: Curtis Hunter, The Dirty Duck Alehouse
• Fermanagh: Sylwia Nitecka, 28 At The Hollow
• Tyrone: Simon Boyd, Corick House Hotel & Spa
• Monaghan: Jamie Hughes, Barley and Bean

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace

• Antrim: Yügo
• Armagh: Keegan’s Bar & Restaurant
• Cavan: Chapter Cavan
• Derry: Walled City Brewery
• Donegal: Snugborough
• Down: Frae
• Fermanagh: Dollakis
• Tyrone: Deli on the Green
• Monaghan: The Batch Loaf

Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Paynt

• Antrim: The Morning Star
• Armagh: Digby’s Bar & Restaurant
• Cavan: Murph’s Gastro Pub
• Derry: Blackbird
• Donegal: Whoriskey’s
• Down: The Poacher’s Pocket
• Fermanagh: The Dog and Duck Inn
• Tyrone: The Brewer’s House
• Monaghan: Andy’s Bar & Restaurant

Best Café

• Antrim: Ursa Minor
• Armagh: The Bawn Pantry
• Cavan: Wild Oak Brew & Bake
• Derry: The Pickled Duck
• Donegal: Hatch’d
• Down: Lynchpin Holywood
• Fermanagh: The Jolly Sandwich Bar
• Tyrone: No. 47
• Monaghan: Pocono

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by FBD Insurance

• Antrim: The Muddlers Club
• Armagh: Wine and Brine
• Cavan: The Olde Post Inn
• Derry: Artis
• Donegal: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box
• Down: No 14 Georgian House
• Fermanagh: 28 At The Hollow
• Tyrone: The Tailor’s House
• Monaghan: The Courthouse

Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Square

• Antrim: Amelia Hall
• Armagh: Dantes Deli
• Cavan: Wild Oak Brew & Bake
• Derry: Stitch and Weave
• Donegal: No. 9 Market Square
• Down: The Posh Pig
• Fermanagh: Cobbler’s Gastropub & Pizzeria
• Tyrone: The Thirsty Filly @ The Old Schoolhouse
• Monaghan: Greenmount Restaurant

Pub of the Year – Sponsored by istil.38

• Antrim: Ulster Sports Club
• Armagh: McConville’s Bar
• Cavan: The Whistle Stop
• Derry: O’Loughlin’s Irish House
• Donegal: The Reel Inn
• Down: The Cable Bar
• Fermanagh: Charlie’s Bar
• Tyrone: Tomney’s Bar
• Monaghan: The Coachhouse & Olde Bar

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Bibendum

• Antrim: OX
• Armagh: Uluru Bar & Grill
• Cavan: Wine Goose Cellar Bar at Farnham Estate
• Derry: El Tapas Grá
• Donegal: Castle Grove Country House
• Down: Holywood Wine Bar
• Fermanagh: Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Tyrone: The Tasting Room at The Wine Rack
• Monaghan: Wild Thyme Restaurant

Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Restaurant-insurance.ie provided by Dolmen

• Antrim: The Dairy
• Armagh: Armagh City Hotel
• Cavan: Deerpark Inn
• Derry: Pyke ‘N’ Pommes
• Donegal: The Red Door Country House
• Down: Noble
• Fermanagh: The Toastery
• Tyrone: Grants of Omagh
• Monaghan: The Squealing Pig Bar & Restaurant

Best World Cuisine

• Antrim: Bo Tree Kitchen
• Armagh: Viet By Vee
• Cavan: Chilli Lounge
• Derry: Cedar Restaurant
• Donegal: Chandpur Restaurant
• Down: Kamakura
• Fermanagh: The Street Kitchen
• Tyrone: Bengal Spice Indian Restaurant & Takeaway
• Monaghan: Eastern Balti House

Best Sustainable Practices – Sponsored by Findlater Group

• Antrim: Broughgammon Farm
• Armagh: Gullion at Killeavy Castle
• Cavan: The Cottage Market
• Derry: Lir
• Donegal: Simple Simon’s
• Down: Fodder at Finnebrogue Woods
• Fermanagh: Tully Mill Restaurant
• Tyrone: Natur & Co
• Monaghan: Neighbourhood

Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by Diageo

• Antrim: LUNA
• Armagh: The Head O The Road
• Cavan: Datsé’s Café & Cakes
• Derry: Notorious Street Food
• Donegal: Foam
• Down: The Café at Camphill Community Mourne Grange
• Fermanagh: Charlie’s Bar, Enniskillen
• Tyrone: The Tailor’s House
• Monaghan: The Tavern Bar & Restaurant @ Westenra Arms Hotel

Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Sugar Snap

• Antrim: Caroline Wilson, Belfast Food Tour
• Armagh: Simon Dougan, Yellow Door Deli
• Cavan: Carl Rennicks, The Backyard Bakery
• Derry: Kevin Pyke, Pyke ‘N’ Pommes
• Donegal: Martin Anderson, Sonder
• Down: Johnny McDowell, Indie Fude
• Fermanagh: Joe McGirr, The Boatyard Distillery
• Tyrone: Jonny Cuddy, Ispini Charcuterie
• Monaghan: Seamus McMahon, Brehon Brewhouse

Notes to the editor  

For more information on the Irish Restaurant Awards 2025 visit: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/faqs/  

Official Photographs from the 2025 Ulster Awards: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/official-photos-ulster-regional-awards-2025/

Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood https://sherwood.ie/   

For media queries contact liam@rai.ie or (01) 677 9901.