2021 Award Winners OUTDOOR DINING AWARD 2021

OUTDOOR DINING AWARD 2021

HISTORIC HOUSE: Butler House & Garden Kilkenny Co Kilkenny

An oasis in the centre of Kilkenny city, this handsome townhouse is the former Dower House of Kilkenny Castle and closely associated with the Butler family - Dukes and Earls of Ormonde - who owned Kilkenny Castle for five centuries, until it was famously sold to the people of Kilkenny for £50 in 1967. The castle and related buildings are now owned by Kilkenny Civic Trust, who opened the Georgian-era Butler House as a guesthouse and conference centre in1989. It has a beautiful walled back garden with direct access to the castle that has recently been developed to include a lovely summer outdoor dining space, The Orangerie, featuring pretty pergolas that provide a link to the history of growing exotics in great houses. Although seasonal, it’s a charming addition to the indoor dining options at this peerless destination – where some bedrooms have recently been redesigned too, in a “return to a more authentic design approach to the sophistication of a Georgian townhouse”. Simply gorgeous.

GUESTHOUSE: Gleesons Roscommon Co Roscommon

Overlooking the square, Gleeson’s is a handsome old cut stone townhouse that provides just what every visitor hopes to find: a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and first-class food. The Gleesons - Mary and Eamonn, along with their daughter Cáit, who is General Manager - place great emphasis on food, offering wholesome fare in their popular coffee shop and the Manse Restaurant – and in two spacious outside eating areas in the sheltered courtyard in front of the house. It’s an attractive set up and has proved very popular – partly, no doubt, because they took the unusual (and environmentally responsible) step of installing heated seating instead of using space heaters. They buy local where possible, including produce from the weekly farmers' market which is held next door, and take pride in offering house specialities such as their famous chowder, and the region's great meats - in the signature dish for example, their renowned version of the classic Irish Stew, which is proudly based on organically produced lamb from the family farm.

RESTAURANT: Old Street Restaurant Malahide Co Dublin

Two beautifully reimagined old cottages in Malahide village are home to an exciting neighbourhood restaurant. From a super stylish interior, delicious modern comfort food by Chef Mario Simic and brilliant service from manager Jamie O'Connor's team, dining at Old Street is always a treat. Specialities include in-house dry aged Irish Beef and house made Charcuterie, with an excellent wine list to accompany the good food served. Old Street attracts diners from well beyond Malahide, many of whom have been very taken with the sturdy and exceptionally comfortable outdoor seating area and who come to make the most of the brilliant Artisan Shop that has also resulted from the pandemic. It's a treasure trove of in-house products including wonderful smoked and cured charcuterie and dry-aged beef as well as pastries and other baked goods that fly off the shelves each morning, plus many more items made in-house or sourced from artisan producers. Happy customers are hoping that it will become a permanent feature after the dining scene goes back to normal