Savoury Fare marks 30 years in business

A business partnership which flourished from a college friendship is celebrating a significant anniversary this month.

Savoury Fare restaurant and café has maintained a prominent and popular business presence in Athlone since it originally opened on June 4, 1995, and as it continues to flourish, with two further eateries in Monksland West and Fernhill Garden Centre.

Co-owners, Des Hennelly and Rory Currid and staff last week celebrated three decades in the local hospitality industry.

Serving a wide selection of breakfast and lunch main dishes, paninis, wraps, bagels, pastries and desserts, Savoury Fare continues to offer exceptional quality in food, catering for all dietary requirements at its three Athlone-based businesses. The business also provides off-site catering services throughout the Midlands.

"We first met in the 1980s in Killybegs catering college while training to be chefs before continuing our hotel and catering management studies in Galway. We then went our separate ways for a period before reconnecting with the aim of opening a restaurant together," Des said.

Prior to opening Savoury Fare, Des worked as Catering Manager with Ericsson while Rory established a restaurant at Foxford Woollen Mills in County Mayo.

"We both came to Athlone in the mid-1990s and were looking for a suitable premises to open our business and finally found a property on Sean Costello Street welcoming our first customers on June 4, 1995," Des said.

As the popularity of the business continued to soar, both Des and Rory decided to relocate to increase footfall capacity and in 1999 opened Savoury Fare at its current location on John Broderick Street Irishtown Central.

Embracing the 'quality homemade produce' ethos, Des and Rory continue to place a focus on customer service, a strong combination of both features which have allowed the business to thrive this past three decades.

"We take extreme pride in the food we prepare and serve. Our aim is to present the best food produce on a daily basis and thankfully, our customers have remained loyal to us through the years," Rory said.

The co-owners have high praise for all members of staff who have been an integral part of the business' success, most notably Lorraine Kelly and Michelle Redmond who they both describe as the "faces of the business".

"Between our three businesses we employ 75 staff members, but Lorraine and Michelle have given three decades of dedicated service to Savoury Fare. They are always on hand with a friendly welcome for all our customers and they are one of the main reasons why Savoury Fare has been so successful to date," Des said.

In 2007 Des and Rory extended their business tentacles to the west side of Athlone when they opened Savoury Fare in Monksland.

"The country was in recession but we took the opportunity to open our second business in Monksland and thankfully it has been busy from day one.

“ It has complemented the success of Savoury Fare in Irishtown Central and we are grateful to our customers from the local community who have stayed loyal to us since we opened in Monksland," Des said.

A third Savoury Fare restaurant and café opened in Fernhill Garden Centre 2010, a business relationship forged with proprietors, the Reid family, which continues to flourish.

"We are now open 15 years in Fernhill Garden Centre and the restaurant continues to exceed our expectations," Rory said.

With a seating capacity of 120, inclusive of outdoor dining space, the restaurant and café's location being just off the motorway has brought a surge in popularity with customers travelling from outside of Athlone to sample the fare on offer.

"Weekends are particularly busy with breakfast now proving to be a more popular dining out experience for families," Rory said.

The co-owners paid tribute to their extensive customer base who continue to remain loyal to their three eateries in Athlone.

"Athlone has been very good to both Rory and I and it is a great town in which to do business. We are extremely grateful for all the support we have received over the past 30 years and look forward to growing the business into the future," Des said.