Ireland's hotel of the year named at Georgina Campbell Awards

The recently refurbished five-star (read our Adare Manor review here) was described as "a stunning destination" that, for all its finery, "retains its original familial warmth".

The Co Limerick resort was acquired by JP McManus and family for a reported €30m in 2014, re-opening last November after a multi-million euro restoration Campbell described as "a love letter to architecture and virtuosity".

"Just as every capital city needs its great restaurants, every country needs its grand hotels," she said, hailing the family's purchase as "a good day for Ireland".

The 2019 awards, held today at Bord Bia in Dublin, also saw The Strawberry Tree at Brooklodge and Macreddin Village  named Restaurant of the Year, while James Coffey of the Park Hotel Kenmare was revealed as Ireland's Chef of the Year.

Full list of 2019 award winners:

• Hotel of the Year: Adare Manor, Adare, Co. Limerick
• Restaurant of the Year: The Strawberry Tree, BrookLodge & Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow
• Chef of the Year: James Coffey, Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry
• Outstanding Guest Experience: Tig Congaile, Inis Meain, Co Galway
• Host of the Year: John Edward Joyce, The Mustard Seed, Ballingarry, Co Limerick
• Business Hotel of the Year: The Marker, Dublin
• Newcomer of the Year: The Foyle Hotel, Moville, Co Donegal
• Country House of the Year: Clonganny House, Ballygarrett, Co Wexford
• Guesthouse of the Year: Blackwell House, Scarva, Co Armagh
• B&B of the Year: The Castle, Castletownshend, Co Cork
• Hospitality Heroes: Ronan & Jennie Sweeney, Balloo Inns, Killinchy, Co Down
• Bord Bia 'Just Ask' Restaurant of the Year: Hooked, Sligo, Co Sligo
• Taste of the Waterways Award: Barrows Keep, Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny
• Seafood Restaurant of the Year: The Seafood Café, Temple Bar, Dublin
• Wine Award of the Year: Whelehans Wines, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin
• Pub and Atmospheric Venue: Pot Duggans, Ennistymon, Co Clare
• Family Friendly Restauratn: Michael’s, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin
• Pet-friendly Hotel of the Year: 360 Cookhouse, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
• Hideaway of the Year: Dunnanelly Country House, Crossgar, Co Down
• Atmospheric Restaurant of the Year: Walled City Brewery, Derry
• Ethnic Restaurant of the Year: Ichigo Ichie, Cork
• Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year: Nash 19, Cork
• Cafe of the Year: Jack Fenn’s Courtyard Café, Belleek Castle, Ballina, Co Mayo
• Natural Food Award: Drumanilra Farm Kitchen, Boyle, Co Roscommon
• Street Food Award: Misunderstood Heron, Killary Harbour, Co Galway

A special 'Hospitality Hero' award was given to Ronan & Jennie Sweeney of Balloo Inns in Killinchy, Co Down, while a new, Spirit of the European Region of Gastronomy Award saw The Twelve Hotel in Barna, Beechlawn Organic Farm in Ballinasloe and Gannet Fishmongers in Galway City given nods (Galway, West of Ireland is the European Region of Gastronomy 2018).

In another awards coup, Adare Manor was named 'Supreme Winner 2018' at the Hotel & Catering Review's Gold Medal Awards, held on the same day.

Now in their 20th year as independently-branded (and assessed) awards, Campbell's annual selection is considered a marker of Irish hospitality trends, and a deep dive into the state of the industry.

Announcing the winners, she noted the pace of change in Irish food, drink and hospitality, a crowded marketplace and "competition from new kids on the block that often motivates established businesses to up their game".

Although casual dining continues to grow in popularity, "there is no sign of fine dining disappearing," Campbell said. Seafood, ethnic dining and vegetarian and vegan offerings are all on the up in Ireland, she added.

As is her custom, Campbell also offered constructive criticism, noting "far too many disappointments in all areas and all kinds of establishment, including restaurants where (oddly) badly-judged seasoning has spoilt many a good dish this year."

"Our least satisfactory experiences have again tended to be in four and five-star hotels (some of which would be better in lower categories), and problems are often down to simple things that could easily be fixed, plus a lack of hospitality (which often means lack of a host) and poor staff training."

“Rising hotel prices are worrying, especially in Dublin," she added.

Read more: