Irish Pub of Year is ‘Paris Texas’!
Pat Crotty points out his winning pub from Kilkenny in Paris Texas.
The Kilkenny High Street pub was crowned national champion after having won the Innovative Pub of the Year category, one of nine categories which attracted 1,700 entries and which were announced at the Gala Awards ceremony in the Concert Hall, RDS, Dublin 4.
Ever since it was set up in 1996 by Pat Crotty, Paris Texas has set out to be significantly different from its competitors. It offers a new concept in food, along with entertainment most evenings and serves an extensive range of beer and spirits to challenge its customers’ taste buds. Since 2006, continuous development of the outlet has included redevelopment of the premises, the introduction of innovative new products, technology systems and significant investment to ensure environmental sustainability.
In accepting the Pub of the Year Award Paris Texas proprietor Pat Crotty thanked his “team” at the outlet and emphasised their contribution to the win, while at the same time he expressed himself honoured “to be so acknowledged by my peers in the industry”.
The Irish Pub Awards nine category winners across five counties are:
Best Food Pub sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace: Murph’s Gastro Pub at Derragarra Inn, Butlers Bridge, County Cavan
Best Tourist Pub sponsored by Molson Coors: Malzards Pub, Stoneyford, County Kilkenny
Innovative Pub of the Year sponsored by Bank of Ireland Payment Acceptance: Paris Texas, Kilkenny
Best Local Pub sponsored by Diageo: Harry Byrne’s Pub, Clontarf, Dublin 3
Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Heineken: Aunty Lena’s and Adare Court House, Adare, County Limerick
Best Music Pub sponsored by IMRO: Kavanagh’s Bar and Venue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers: The Courtyard on Sober Lane, Sullivan’s Quay, Cork.
Best Newcomer sponsored by Edward Dillon: The Rusty Mackerel, Teelin, Co Donegal
Best Late Night Bar sponsored by Irish Distillers-Pernod Ricard: Café en Seine, Dublin 2.
The Irish Pub Awards are jointly presented by Vintners Federation of Ireland and The Licensed Vintners Association.
Now in their third year, the number of entries for the Awards has trebled since their introduction, indicating that this programme is being recognised by publicans around the country as a valuable way to promote their business.
Speaking at the Awards VFI President Padraic McGann congratulated all the finalists stating, “Paris Texas and all tonight’s winners and finalists represent the very best in Irish pubs around the country.
“Irish pubs are the hub of any community – a warm destination to meet friends where they can enjoy good food and drink, music and entertainment and where tourists can mingle with locals to experience an Irish atmosphere at its best. These awards reflect the diversity and high quality of our pubs across Ireland, their ongoing investment in raising standards and their importance as community centres.”
However rural pubs were undoubtedly under severe pressure, he continued. He himself had noted a 15% drop in sales in his own pub where the lack of a taxi service was among the many factors affecting rural trade.
LVA Chairman Ronan Lynch added, “The Irish Pub Awards have clearly established themselves as the definitive awards programme within the pub industry by trebling the number of entries in this its third year to over 1,700.
“The programme has been acknowledged for the excellent national and local media coverage attained along with the in-depth management training that all finalists have received that’s beneficial to their business. We’re very pleased with the growth and success of the Awards in such a short time and it has now become a great vehicle to highlight the vital contribution that pubs make to Irish business, community and tourism.”
The Irish Independent is Media Partner to the Irish Pub of the Year Awards and Drinks Industry Ireland magazine is Trade Media Partner.
