Some of the finest pubs in Cork City and County are celebrating following their success at the 2018 Irish Pub Awards Regional Finals, which took place in The White Horse, West Village, Ballincollig, Co. Cork yesterday evening (11th September 2018). All nine winners will now go forward to the final of the National Pub Awards at the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin 4 on Wednesday 21st November when the National Category Winners and the overall Irish Pub of the Year will be announced.
The winners in the Cork Region are:
Innovative Pub of the Year sponsored by Bank of Ireland Payment Acceptance: Geary’s Bar, Charleville, Co Cork
Best Music Pub sponsored by IMRO: The Oliver Plunkett, Cork City
Best Tourist Pub sponsored by Molson Coors: The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega, Cornmarket Street, Cork City
Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers: Franciscan Well Brew Pub, Sunday’s Well, Cork City
Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Heineken: Costigan’s Pub, Washington Street, Cork City
Best Local Pub sponsored by Diageo: The South County Bar, Douglas, Cork
Best Newcomer sponsored by Hennessy: The Tanyard, Main Street, Skibbereen, Co .Cork
Best Food sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace: Harty’s Bar, Main Street, Cloyne, Co Cork
Pub Personality of the Year sponsored by Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard: Brian Barrett, Geary’s Bar, Charleville, Co Cork.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, President of Vintner’s Federation of Ireland (VFI), Padraic McCann expressed his delight in how well the Awards are going. “Entries for this year have grown and are ahead of last year. Judging took place over the summer months and tonight we are announcing the first of our regional winners here in Cork. The winners will go forward to represent Cork in the National Final to be held in November.”
“The Awards were developed as part of our strategy to raise the profile of VFI member pubs around the country. The Irish Pub is at the heart of every town and village and it is where locals gather to meet friends and neighbours for good food and craic. It is also where tourists meet locals and enjoy Irish hospitality at its best along with being a major employment provider in our regions. These Awards are an excellent vehicle to showcase what the pub has to offer the modern customer”.
The 63 winners from seven different regions will be represented as best in class in each area. The prize package for all finalists will include a management training course to help them progress their business further. They will also avail of comprehensive media coverage at local and national level, including a feature in the special awards supplement published in the Irish Independent on the day of the Gala Awards Ceremony at the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4 on Wednesday 21st November.
Partners to Irish Pub of the Year Awards are: Febvre Wine Company; Media Partners, Independent Newspapers, Trade Media Partner, Drinks Industry Ireland and Management Development Partner, Skillnet Ireland.
