The Leinster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2022 took place in the Knightsbrook Hotel, County Meath on Tuesday 16th August 2022.

Over 900 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Leinster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Speaking at the awards Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins, said; “Now in their 13th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns after the 2020 Awards were cut short. The Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing and up and coming talent in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without the dedicated and passionate staff in the industry. The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. With well over 100,000 nominations received from the public this year, the standard for the judging process was higher than ever.”

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and finally a new award category for 2022 Best Sustainable Practices.

All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday 19th September 2022 in the Convention Centre Dublin.

The Wicklow winners on the night were:

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times

Wicklow Way Wines, Pamela Walsh and Brett Stephenson

Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland

The Strawberry Tree Restaurant, Macreddin Village, Aughrim

Best Free From Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Vital Health Café, Wicklow Town

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD

Hollywood Inn

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by AIB Merchant Services

The Old Ship, John Condren, Arklow

Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland