Major national award for Mayo pub
Pictured at the awards ceremony were, from left: Laura Moriarty, Chair, LVA; Barry Sheehan, Managing Director, Bulmers Ireland; Aoife and Tom Bourke, The Towers Bar & Restaurant, Westport; and John Clendennen, President, VFI Picture: Conor McCabe Photography
The Towers Bar and Restaurant in Westport has been named 'Best Outdoor Space' at the Irish Pub Awards 2023.
Aunty Lena’s, Adare, Co. Limerick was named National Pub of the Year. The Limerick pub was crowned national champion from a field of 63 regional winners at a Gala Awards Ceremony in The Round Room at The Mansion House, Dublin.
The Irish Pub Awards are jointly presented by Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and the Licenced Vintners Association (LVA). With over 900 entries from all over Ireland, the awards programme continues to be recognised by publicans around Ireland as a valuable way to promote their business.
The Irish Pub Awards nine category winners were - Best Food Pub sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace: The Merrion Inn, Dublin 4; Best Tourist Pub sponsored by Fáilte Ireland: Tallons – Dying Cow, Tinahely, Wicklow; Innovative Pub of the Year sponsored by BOI Payment Acceptance: Lock 13 Brewpub, Sallins, Kildare; Best Local Pub sponsored by Diageo Ireland: Vine Cottage Bar, New Ross, Wexford; Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Edward Dillon: Jimmy Briens Bar, Killarney, Kerry; Best Music Pub sponsored by IMRO: Dolan's, Limerick City; Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers: The Towers Bar and Restaurant, Westport; Best Digital Innovator sponsored by Heineken: Costigan's Pub, Cork City; Best Late-Night Bar sponsored by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard: Bad Bobs Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
John Clendennen, VFI President, said the quality of pubs who entered this year’s awards is outstanding: “Every year the standard of pubs entering the Irish Pub Awards improves to the point that the 2023 entries set a new benchmark for excellence in pubs across Ireland. The quality is so high that to win one of tonight’s category awards is an exceptional achievement. Our pubs are rightly celebrated around the world so it’s important we have a prestigious awards ceremony that captures the unique qualities of Irish bars. The level of innovation and excellence on display in our winning pubs should act as an inspiration to publicans thinking about entering next year’s Irish Pub Awards.”
LVA Chair, Laura Moriarty said: “The Irish Pub Awards have clearly established themselves as the definitive awards programme within the pub industry by trebling the number of entries since their inception. 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 is so beneficial to their businesses. We are 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.”
