Louth has three winners at Irish Restaurant Awards

There were three Louth winners at the All-Ireland Final of the 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards which took place at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road on Monday 

Over 1,000 of the country’s top hospitality professionals, which included owners, chefs, managers and staff, gathered to celebrate the finest establishments in Irish food and drink.

In Louth, Stranfield House in Ballymacscanlon was awarded both Best Café in Leinster and in Ireland. Other Louth winners were the Valley Inn in Dunleer and the Glyde Inn in Annagassan who won Best Casual Dining and Best Gastro pub in Leinster respectively. 

Now in its 16th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards received a record breaking 165,000 public nominations for restaurants, cafés and venues across the country – the highest in the Awards’ history. Entries were submitted by the public via The Irish Times website, media partner of the Awards.

In the lead-up to the national final, regional awards ceremonies were hosted in Kildare, Cork, Sligo and Monaghan, where county-level winners were revealed across a range of categories. The national winners were selected from these regional champions.

Each year, funds are raised for chosen charity causes at the All-Ireland final of the Irish Restaurant Awards. This year, substantial funds were raised for both Friends of the Elderly & Tourist SOS.

Speaking on the night, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Seán Collender, said:

“At a time when our industry continues to face significant challenges, it’s more important than ever to come together and celebrate the strength of Ireland’s food and hospitality sector. These Awards are about acknowledging the incredible talent and tireless work of those in our restaurants, cafés and kitchens across the country.”

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“They shine a light on the resilience and creativity that define our industry. Behind every meal served is a team of passionate professionals dedicated to delivering unforgettable experiences.”

“This year’s Awards have once again highlighted the extraordinary standard of culinary talent across every region. I want to extend heartfelt congratulations to all of our winners and nominees, your commitment and passion inspire us all.”