Local bar named best pub in Co. Derry

Derry city centre bar, Peadar O’Donnell’s was unveiled as the best bar in Co. Derry at the Ulster regional finals for the Irish Restaurant Awards 2017 at the Lough Erne Resort.

There were also awards for Brown’s Restaurant and Wine Lounge (Best Restaurant Co. Derry); Zsolt Dikter of the Walled City Brewery (Best Chef Co. Derry); the Walled City Brewery (Best Gastro Pub Co. Derry); Primrose Cafe, Carlisle Road (Best Casual Dining Co. Derry) and Beech Hill Country House Hotel (Best Hotel Restaurant Co. Derry).

Speaking at the awards, Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) said: “Now in their ninth year, the Irish Restaurant Awards continue to showcase the exquisite and admirable calibre of food available in our restaurants and pubs nationwide. Online nominations have increased from 9,000 in 2013 to over 80,000 this year and with the increase in interest comes an increase in standards, making the judging process more difficult than ever.

“Our small island boasts everything from fine dining to high quality gastropubs, from the exotic taste explosions of world cuisine to the comfort of traditional dishes. We have an appreciation for what we eat, for the journey of our food from farm to fork, and for the dedication of those working in the food industry to serve up Ireland’s finest food.”

All county winners will now compete for the Regional and All Ireland titles which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 2, on Monday May 8, 2017.