Aunty Lena’s, Adare, Co Limerick is celebrating after being named National Pub of the Year at the Irish Pub Awards 2023. 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 this awards programme continues to be recognised by publicans around Ireland as a valuable way to promote their business.
Established in 1806 by the Chawke family Aunty Lena’s has famously served the needs of its patrons with great success keeping the bar as a focal part of the community and serving both locals and visitors from all over the world. In 2018 the pub redeveloped the abandoned Adare Courthouse, annexing it to Aunty Lena’s and completely refurbishing an historic building forgotten for over 30 years. The Adare Courthouse now has new life breathed into with a bespoke restaurant, bar, and Courthouse Museum, which can also be used as a themed function room.
The Irish Pub Awards nine category winners are:
Best Food Pub sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace: The Merrion Inn, Dublin 4
Fearghus McCormack,The Merrion Inn, Dublin, John Clendennen, VFI President
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
James Perry, Ola and Barry Flanagan, Lock 13 Brewpub, Sallins, Kildare, John Clendennen VFI President
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: Dolans, Limerick City
Sarah, Valerie and Michael Dolan, Dolans, Limerick City, John Clendennen, VFI President
Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers: The Towers Bar & Restaurant, Westport, Mayo
Aoifie and Tom Bourke, The Towers Bar & Restaurant, Westport, Mayo, John Clendennen, President, VFI Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
Best Digital Innovator sponsored by Heineken: Costigan’s Pub, Cork City
Dylan Walsh, Barry Lynch, Sarah Bennett, Colm O’Connor, Costigan’s Pub, Cork, John Clendennen, VFI President
Best Late-Night Bar sponsored by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard: Bad Bobs Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Speaking at the Irish Pub Awards, 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.”
Partners to the Irish Pub of the Year Awards are Media partner, Irish Independent and Trade Media Partner, Drinks Industry Ireland.
