Staff pictured outside Thyme Restaurant in Athlone.

Local restaurant wins four accolades in prestigious Irish Restaurant Awards

Kayley Hardiman

Published: Wed 17 Aug 2022, 5:33 PM

Last updated: Wed 17 Aug 2022, 6:10 PM

Athlone's Thyme Restaurant is celebrating this week after scooping four accolades at the Leinster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2022.

Thyme won the 'Best Restaurant' award for Westmeath, while its chef John Coffey won the title of the county's 'Best Chef'.

The Custume Place restaurant also took the Westmeath honours for 'Best Emerging Irish Cuisine' and 'Best Wine Experience'.

Several other businesses in Athlone and Glasson were also recognised for the quality of their offering at the awards night, with all of the county winners now going on to compete for regional and national awards at the the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final in Dublin on September 19.

Bastion Kitchen in Athlone won three county awards, for 'Best 'Free From' Restaurant', 'Best Sustainable Practices', and 'Best Café'.

Kash Caleecharrun of the Wineport Lodge in Athlone was named 'Best Restaurant Manager' in Westmeath, while Savoury Fare in Athlone won the 'Best Customer Service' award.

Poppy Fields Cafe in Athlone won the county's 'Best Casual Dining' accolade, while the 'Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant' was Bonnie's Restaurant at the Glasson Lakehouse.

Praline Chocolatiers in Athlone won a 'Best Newcomer' award, while Nuts Corner in the town won the 'Pub of the Year' title for Westmeath.

The Villager Bar And Restaurant in Glasson, meanwhile, was named as the 'Best Gastro Pub' in Westmeath.

The Leinster Regional Awards took place in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Meath last night (Tuesday).

Speaking at the event, the CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins, said the awards, now in their 13th year, were "an opportunity to celebrate the existing and up and coming talent in the sector, and a reminder that hospitality is nothing without the dedicated and passionate staff in the industry."

Other Westmeath winners at the event included Lough Owel Organic Farm in Mullingar, Joe Brady for 'Local Food Hero' and Lalla Mullingar for 'Best World Cuisine'.