Brasserie One wins the Georgina Campbell Wine Award for 2012

News & Upcoming Events @ No.1

DATE: Wednesday 12th October, 2011

Ireland’s longest-running hospitality accolades, the Georgina Campbell Awards are completely independent. Unlike most other award schemes, they are not commercially driven and in no way affiliated with trade associations or marketing groups; there is no charge to establishments for recommendation or any element of the awards process. It is this independence which has earned them special respect in the industry, and public trust. In yet another challenging year for the hospitality sector, accolades from a respected independent guide are not only a source of encouragement - and very good for winners’ business - but also set a benchmark for others in the industry who are determined to achieve a similar level of excellence. Although most closely associated with good food, the Guide’s accommodation recommendations are equally respected, and it should be noted that the Guide does not support unregistered accommodation; only Approved (Failte Ireland) accommodation is considered for recommendation.

Every year Georgina Campbell and her team of experienced assessors comb the country’s hotels, country houses, guesthouses, restaurants, pubs and cafés, seeking out the best consumer experiences for readers of The Guide (‘the glovebox bible’) and, increasingly, for followers of the very successful website, www.ireland-guide.com. A new printed Guide, to accompany the website, is planned; meanwhile, Ms Campbell emphasised that “We have maintained our rigorous programme of anonymous assessment visits throughout the season as usual and, with ‘the harvest in’, the reports are gradually going through directly to the website, Ireland-guide.com. As always, we’ve kept a sharp eye out for those exceptional establishments which are right on top of their game and going the extra mile for customers – and we have found a surprising number of new establishments worthy of recommendation this year.”

Commenting on the Awards, Georgina Campbell said, “The economic crisis is really biting now and the twin pressures, of non-functioning banks and unrelenting consumer demand for unrealistically low prices, are driving many viable long-established businesses to the wall. But at least the hospitality industry – and its vital underpinning foundation, agriculture - is now being given the credit that is long overdue, and it’s predicted that ‘tourism and food’ will be key to renewed growth. And the crisis has acted as a catalyst, separating the many who have opted for the ‘race to the bottom’ from the (relatively) few who have chosen the hard road of sticking to their principles of quality, and making superhuman efforts to give their customers real value at a fair price. They – and the farmers, fishermen, growers and artisan producers who supply their kitchens – represent the best of Irish hospitality, and its future, and they are the giants of the hospitality industry who are represented here today. These awards are not just a random selection of outstanding establishments; as a group they are of the highest calibre, and offer a snapshot of the very best of hospitality across the country, demonstrating its strengths and showing how good food and hospitality can lead the way forward to a better future for all.”

Top award winners on the day included: Ballynahinch Castle Hotel Recess Co Galway (Hotel of the Year); Restaurant FortyOne at Residence Dublin (Restaurant of the Year); Aidan McGrath Wild Honey Inn Lisdoonvarna Co Clare (Chef of the Year); Mary Ann’s Bar & Restaurant Castletownshend Co Cork (Pub of the Year); and Neven Maguire MacNean House & Restaurant Blacklion Co Cavan (Georgina Campbell Award, for special contribution to Irish hospitality).

WINE AWARD OF THE YEAR 2012

No. 1 Pery Square Limerick

This is the only category of our awards for which we invite applications – interested establishments are asked to submit their wine lists for consideration, and they are then judged together with other aspects of the wine experience. In relation to this year’s award, both the restaurant wine list and the wine service during dinner impressed during this establishment’s annual assessment visit - and it is obvious that there is a particular focus on interesting customers in wine that goes well beyond the usual restaurant experience. There’s an attractive little wine shop in the hotel, for example, where the wines sold include carefully sourced bottles from small independent winemakers, and there’s a range of wine hampers etc for gifts. Diners can buy wine here for their meal in the restaurant (corkage €10, champagne €15), and the shop is also used for private dining, wine tasting evenings and wine classes. Importantly, all of this relates well to the overall offering of the hotel and restaurant, and the head chef is closely involved with the wine experience as well as the (excellent) food. Prices are reasonable and every aspect of the wine experience here encourages customers to be more adventurous in their choices - all round it’s a great asset to the city and a rewarding place for any wine lover to stay or dine.

Kitchen Garden Open Day »

DATE: Saturday 24th September, 2011

One Pery Square Hotel opens it's kitchen garden to the public Sept 24th 3pm

The award winning boutique hotel One Pery Square has been busy this
summer developing it's...
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Limerick Grand Prix Weekend on Pery Square »

DATE: Sunday 4th September, 2011

In association with the organisers of Limericks Grand Prix 2011 , No.1 Pery Square shall host a Mini Harvest Market from 11.30am - 4.00pm on Sunday , following the race laps.

To...
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