18 Laois winners at Leinster Restaurant Awards

LAOIS venues are celebrating sweet success, after scooping 18 titles in the Leinster finals of the Irish Restaurant Awards.

The cream of the county’s hospitality sector was represented at the awards ceremony in the Killashee Hotel on 11 March, which was attended by more than 1,000 people from across the region.

Individual county winners in 18 categories were announced from 11 of the Leinster counties, as Dublin is a region on its own.

World-famous Ballyfin Demesne led the way in Laois with three awards, while two awards each went to Bramley in Abbeyleix, Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant in The Heath and The Hare’s Corner in Mountmellick.

Bramley was named the county’s best restaurant, while Morrissey’s across the street in Abbeyleix won Pub of the Year. Treacy’s took the best gastro pub title, while Richard Picard-Edwards of Ballyfin Demesne was named best chef.

Now in their 16th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards received nearly 165,000 public nominations this year, submitted through official media partner The Irish Times.

The winning venues in Laois will go on to represent the county at the All-Ireland Awards, which will be announced at a gala dinner on 19 May at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin.

Speaking at the Leinster ceremony, Restaurants Association of Ireland president Seán Collender said: “Tonight is about recognising the outstanding efforts of those who bring Ireland’s culinary reputation to life every day. In a challenging business environment, it is more important than ever to honour the people whose hard work, passion and creativity shape our hospitality sector.” 

Laois winners:

Best Restaurant – Bramley Abbeyleix 

Best Chef – Richard Picard-Edwards, Ballyfin Demesne 

Best Restaurant Manager – Kasia Urban, Bramley Abbeyleix 

Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant – Ballyfin Demesne 

Best Use of Social Media – Make & Mark 

Employee Excellence Award – Colm Dunne, Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant 

Best Casual Dining – Bowe’s Foodhall and Café 

Best Gastro Pub – Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant 

Best Café – The Wandering Elk 

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine – The Hare’s Corner 

Best Newcomer – La Vie en Rose 

Pub of the Year – Morrissey’s 

Best Wine Experience – Ballyfin Demesne 

Best Customer Service – Batonis 

Best World Cuisine – Mayur Restaurant 

Best Sustainable Practices – Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery 

Innovator of the Year – The Hare’s Corner 

Local Food Hero – Aymar Gourdet, Le Skinny Chef