Regional winners of the Irish Pub Awards 2023 announced!

The Awards play a big part in acknowledging the role great publicans play in employing people across Ireland

Now in its fifth year, the Irish Pub Awards, jointly presented by Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) and Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), is now acknowledged as the definitive

industry standard and has gained recognition throughout the trade as the most credible and comprehensive assessment of the best in Irish pubs. Drinks Industry Ireland and The Irish Independent are the award’s media partners.

The Irish Pub Awards is now firmly established as the pre-eminent awards for the Irish pub sector. All 63 regional winners of the Irish Pub Awards will be showcased as best in class in their region and will receive a prize package of management training to help them progress their business further. All regional winners will also avail of comprehensive media coverage, including a profile piece in a special awards supplement in The Irish Independent on the day of the National Awards presentation on 15 November next. 

John Clendennen, president, VFI , said: “I’m delighted to see so many fantastic pubs from around Ireland on the list of Irish Pub Awards regional winners. For any publican, getting on this list is a real sign your pub is one of the very best in the country. For those publicans that didn’t make it I would say to benchmark yourself against the winners and come back stronger next year.

“I’m really looking forward to the national awards night in November when we’ll find out which pubs are the best of the best and, of course, which pub is the overall national pub of the year.” 

Chair of the LVA, Laura Moriarty added: The collaboration between VFI and LVA is core to the success of the Irish Pub Awards. The Awards play a big part in acknowledging the role great publicans play in employing people across Ireland, investing in their premises and in acknowledging the wonderful contribution pubs make to their local communities, to Irish social life and to Irish tourism.

Judging for the Regional Winners of the 2023 Awards is now complete and congratulations goes to the following finalists:

Best Food Pub sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace

East Region; Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse, North East Region; PJ O’Hare’s, South East Region; Matt The Thresher, South West Region; Bobby Byrnes, Cork Region; Hayes’ Bar & Kitchen, Connaught Region; Flannery’s Bistro and Dublin Region; The Merrion Inn

Best Tourist Pub sponsored by Fáilte Ireland 

East Region; Tallons – Dying Cow, North East Region; Nancy’s Bar Ardara, South East Region; Mary Barry’s Seafood Bar & Restaurant, South West Region;  Aunty Lena’s Bar, Cork Region; Franciscan Well Brewpub, Connaught Region; Lowry’s Music & Whiskey Bar and Dublin Region; Murray’s Bar 

Best Local Pub sponsored by Diageo

East Region; O’Connells Skryne, North East Region Begley’s Bar, South East Region; Vine Cottage Bar, South West Region; Brown Joe’s Bar & Restaurant, Cork Region; The Ensign Bar, Connaught Region; Jordan’s Bar and Dublin Region; Brady’s of Shankill 

Best Music Pub sponsored by IMRO

East Region; The Central Bar, North East Region; McCafferty’s Bar, South East Region; T.Morris Bar, South West Region; Dolan’s, Cork Region; Clancys, Connaught Region; Gracie’s Bar and Dublin Region; Fibber McGees

Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Edward Dillon

East Region O’Dea’s Bar & Bistro, North East Region; Renaghan’s Bar, South East Region The Hub Bar, South West Region: Jimmy Briens Bar, Cork Region; Geary’s Bar, Connaught Region; Mellett’s Emporium and Dublin Region; Sandyford House

Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers

East Region; Chester Beatty Inn, North East Region; Peadars, South East Region; Christy’s Bar, South West Region; O’Sullivans Bar, Cork Region; Strand Bar, Connaught Region; The Towers Bar & Restaurant and Dublin Region; Kenny’s of Lucan

Innovative Pub of the Year sponsored by BOI Payment Acceptance

East Region; Lock 13 Brewpub, North East Region; Russell’s Saloon Gin Emporium, South East Region; Malzards, South West Region; Mother Macs Public House, Cork Region; The Liberty Bar x Resistance, Connaught Region; Mc Hugh’s Bar and Dublin Region; The Belfry

Best Late Night Bar sponsored by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

East Region; The Roost Maynooth, North East Region; The Phoenix Tavern, South East Region; The Reg Waterford, Cork Region; Dwyers of Cork, Connaught Region; The Quays Bar & Music Hall Galway, Dublin Region; Bad Bobs Temple Bar 

Best Digital Innovator sponsored by Heineken

East Region; Judge Roy Beans, North East Region; The Squealing Pig, South East Region; Kickham House, South West Region; The Old Quarter Pub, Café & Townhouse, Cork Region; Costigan’s Pub, Connaught Region; Dunnes Bar  and Dublin Region; Café en Seine