L'Ecrivain and Kelly's Hotel claim top spots in prestigious hospitality awards

THE FOOD and hospitality industry is showing signs of a recovery with exports increasing and new businesses starting up, it was claimed yesterday.

Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter said this year had seen a “significant recovery” by the food and drinks industry, when compared with last year.

He said 2009 was probably “the worst ever” in the history of the industry, but up to half of the exports which were lost last year were now being regained.

He was speaking at the announcement of the 2011 Georgina Campbell Awards.

Ms Campbell said the assessors of this year’s awards were surprised at the number of new establishments opening their doors. She said she was also hearing about increases in room occupancy rates of 8 and 9 per cent, and even 20 per cent in one case.

Ms Campbell said the theme this year might have been expected to be survival against the odds. “In fact, surprisingly, it’s more positive than that, as this year’s awards celebrate those who are bucking the trend, getting on with it, and thriving,” she said.

A number of this year’s award winners had recently reopened their doors after brief or prolonged closures.

They included China Sichuan in Dublin’s Sandyford, which won the Ethnic Restaurant of the Year award. The family-owned restaurant closed its doors not long after moving from Kilmacud to Sandyford. It reopened in Sandyford during the summer with a revamped menu and new layout.

The traditional Hargadon’s bar in Sligo, which reopened recently after a long closure won the Pub of the Year award.

This year’s Chef of the Year award, went to Henry Stone of Sha-Roe Bistro in Clonegal, Co Carlow. He was described as “an unsung hero” whose “effortlessly faultless” cooking combined the highest quality local foods with creative accompaniments.

The Restaurant of the Year award went to Derry and Sallyanne Clarke’s L’Ecrivain in Dublin, which celebrated its 21st year in business this year.

Kelly’s Resort Hotel in Rosslare won the Hotel of the Year award, as well as the Wine award of the Year and the Best Hotel Breakfast of the Year award.

Country house hoteliers Johnny and Lucy Madden of Hilton Park, Clones, Co Monaghan, won a special award for their “outstanding contribution to Irish hospitality”.

Ivyleigh House in Portlaoise won the Guesthouse of the Year award as well as the National Breakfast of the Year award and the Guesthouse Breakfast of the Year award.

Explaining the judging process, Ms Campbell said the award scheme was completely independent. All visits were made anonymously by assessors who paid like any other customer.

The awards were announced in conjunction with the launch of the online hospitality guide (ireland-guide.com).

AWARD WINNERS A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE

Chef of the year:Henry Stone, Sha-Roe Bistro, Clonegal, Co Carlow

Restaurant of the year:L'Ecrivain, Dublin

Hotel of the year:Kelly's Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford

Pub of the year:Hargadon's, Sligo

Bord Bia award for using local produce:Harry's, Bridgend, Co Donegal

Ethnic restaurant of the year:China Sichuan, Dublin

Natural food award:Boyle's of Dromore, Co Down

Hideaway of the year:Saratoga Lodge, Templemore, Co Tipperary

Taste of the waterways award:Keenan's of Tarmonbarry, Co Roscommon

Wine award of the year:Kelly's Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford

Hosts of the year:Neil and Noreen Harrington, Virginia's Guesthouse, Kenmare

Business hotel of the year:Crowne Plaza, Dublin airport

Family friendly destination of the year:Ballyvolane House, Fermoy, Co Cork

Atmospheric restaurant of the year:L'Atmosphère, Waterford

Newcomer of the year:The Fatted Calf, Glasson, Co Westmeath

Country house of the year:Marlfield House, Gorey, Co Wexford

Guesthouse of the year: Ivyleigh House, Portlaoise, Co Laois

Farmhouse of the year:Lough Bishop House, Collinstown, Co Westmeath

BB of the year: Carlingford House, Carlingford, Co Louth

Casual dining award:Miss Courtney's Tea Rooms, Killarney, Co Kerry

Green Ireland hospitality award:Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Recess, Co Galway

National breakfast of the year award:Ivyleigh House, Portlaoise, Co Laois

Best hotel breakfast:Kelly's Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford

Best farmhouse breakfast:Lough Bishop House, Collinstown, Co Westmeath

Best guesthouse breakfast: Ivyleigh House, Portlaoise, Co Laois

Best B&B breakfast:Carlingford House, Carlingford, Co Louth

Georgina Campbell award for outstanding contribution:Johnny and Lucy Madden, Hilton Park, Clones, Co Monaghan