Showing posts with label Woolshed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Woolshed. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Cork City newcomer Paladar is Bar of the Year!

 

2023 Bar of the Year Awards Winners Announced!
Paladar in Co. Cork was named Bar of the Year at this year's prestigious Bar of The Year Awards ceremony which took place in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road.
Celebration time for Paladar and Cask


Amongst the galaxy of contenders, the most exceptional bars have been recognized and celebrated for their extraordinary contributions to the hospitality industry. These establishments have elevated the art of mixology, ambiance, and service, captivating patrons with unforgettable experiences.


After rigorous evaluation and deliberation by an esteemed panel of industry experts only the best in the industry were crowned winners. Amongst many other winners on the night, Bar No 23. at The Merrion Hotel in Co.Dublin took home Gold for "Five Star Hotel Bar of the Year" Sponsored by London Essence, while BAR 1661 took home Gold for "Innovative Bar of the Year", Sponsored by Istil 38.

The winners were announced on Monday, the 21st of August at a gala awards ceremony hosted by Anton Savage at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road.
Montenotte's Ray Kelleher has an even bigger smile than usual!




Bar of the Year 2023 Winners
5 Star Hotel Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - Bar No 23. at The Merrion Hotel, Co.Dublin
Silver Winner - The Courtyard Bar at Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, Co.Kildare
Bronze Winner - The Sidecar Bar at The Westbury, Co.Dublin
Sponsored by London Essence
Bar Food of the Year
Gold Winner - Blake's Bar Galway, Co.Galway
Silver Winner- The Blue Haven Kinsale, Co.Cork
Bronze Winner - The Hideout, Co. Kildare
Best Bar To Watch The Match
Gold Winner - Woolshed Baa & Grill Cork, Co.Cork
Silver Winner - Dignam’s Bar, Co. Monaghan
Bronze Winner - Buskers On The Ball, Co. Dublin
Sponsored by Sky Business
Best Designed Bar / Inside Space
Gold Winner - The Montenotte Hotel, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - The Gables, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Paladar, Co. Cork
Best Live Entertainment Bar
Gold Winner - The Porter House, Co. Mayo
Silver Winner - The Blue Haven Kinsale, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - O’Donoghue Public House, Co. Kerry
Best Newcomer
Gold Winner - Paladar, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - Kodiak, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - The Gables, Co. Dublin
Best Value Pub
Gold Winner - Oasis Bar, Co. Donegal
Silver Winner - The Black Forge Inn, Co. Dublin
City Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - Left Bank, Co. Kilkenny
Silver Winner - Lemon & Duke, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - The Front Door Pub, Co. Galway
Sponsored by Schweppes
Cocktail Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Paladar, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - 9 Below, Co. Dublin
Sponsored by Maker's Mark
Craft Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - Caribou, Co. Galway
Silver Winner - Lock 13 Brewpub, Co. Kildare
Bronze Winner - Impala, Co. Cork
Gastro Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse, Co. Kildare
Silver Winner - Monks, Co. Clare
Bronze Winner - Russells Seafood Bar, Doolin, Co. Clare
Sponsored by Classic Drinks
Gin Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - Andy’s Bar Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
Silver Winner - Tigh Nora, Co. Galway
Bronze Winner - HYDE Bar & Gin Parlour, Co. Galway
Sponsored by Xin Gin
Hotel Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - HYDE Bar, Co. Galway
Silver Winner - The Montenotte Hotel, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - Dunes Bar & Bistro at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Co. Cork
Sponsored by Tia Maria
Innovative Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Nevins Newfield Inn, Co. Mayo
Bronze Winner - Cask, Co. Cork
Sponsored by Istil 38
Late Bar / Nightclub of the Year
Gold Winner - 37 Dawson Street, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - r.i.o.t. Dublin, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - 1314 at Jerry Flannerys, Co. Limerick
Local Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - Dignam’s Bar, Co. Monaghan
Silver Winner - Peadars Bar Moate, Co. Westmeath
Bronze Winner - The Railway Tavern, Fahan, Co. Donegal
Sponsored by New Payment Innovation Limited
Outside Space of the Year
Gold Winner - House Dublin, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Kenny’s of Lucan, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Nevins Newfield Inn, Co. Mayo
Outstanding Customer Service Award
Gold Winner - The Landmark, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Russell’s Saloon Gin Emporium, Co. Louth
Bronze Winner - Harrigan’s Bar & Grill, Co. Kildare
Sponsored by Cointreau
Restaurant Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - FIRE Steakhouse & Bar, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - The Club At Goffs, Co. Kildare
Bronze Winner - Mama Yo, Co. Dublin
Sponsored by Coole Swan
Tourist Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - The Brazen Head, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - The Locke, Co. Limerick
Bronze Winner - Brass Fox Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
Sponsored by QuickTips
Traditional Bar of the Year
Gold Winner - The Stag’s Head, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Gracie’s Bar, Co. Sligo
Bronze Winner - The Brazen Head, Co. Dublin
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold Winner - Roe & Co Distillery, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Lock 13 Brewpub, Co. Kildare
Bronze Winner - The Black Forge Inn, Co. Dublin
Sponsored by Excel Recruitment
Whiskey Bar Of The Year
Gold Winner - The Shelbourne Bar Cork, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - Sonny Molloy’s Irish Whiskey Bar, Co. Galway
Bronze Winner - Costigan’s Pub, Co. Cork
Sponsored by Roe & Co
Pub Group of the Year
Gold Winner - Nola Clan
Sponsored by Alliance Ireland
Staff Personality of the Year
Ian Murray
Bar Manager of the Year
Conor Moloney
People's Choice Award
Dublin - The Black Forge, Co.Dublin
Leinster - The Hideout, Co.Kildare
Munster - The Locke, Co.Limerick
Connacht / Ulster - McHughs Bar, Co.Leitrim
Overall Winner - The Locke, Co.Limerick
Judges Choice
Winner - Jimmy Rabbittes
Gail Cotter Special Recognition Award
Winner - Mary Kerrigan, Clayton Hotel Burlington Road
Bar of the Year
Winner - Paladar
Sponsored by Licensing World

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Wonky Donkey's Night Out With A Difference. Holy Smoke. Unholy Jokes


Wonky Donkey's Night Out With A Difference. 
Holy Smoke. Unholy Jokes 

Like some food? Drink? Lots of laughs? All under the one venue? The simple answer is to head to Mardyke Entertainment Complex, enjoy a meal at Holy Smoke, then head into the Cellar Theatre for a drink and a comedy show by Wonky Donkey. And to make it easier for you, you need just the one ticket. There are couple of combined food and show options available and you may check them out here.

Food comes first for us, of course, and we were looking forward to the Holy Smoke visit. We weren’t disappointed - far from it. There is a special Pre-Show Menu on Friday and Saturday nights (the only nights that Wonky Donkey operates - so far!). And it is a menu that contains quite a lot of choices and a good variety as well.

There are a bunch of sharing plates to start with - you don’t have to share! We got two contrasting ones, both very impressive. The Whole fire-grilled prawns in a chilli, lime and coriander butter was CL’s choice while mine was the Ox cheek with fire roasted carrot & marrow gravy. And yes, we did share!

The pork here is “handsome” and, since she likes handsome fellas, CL choose the Pulled Pork (Pork shoulder, cooked low n’ slow and smoked for 14 hours over oak, hand pulled & mixed with Holy Smoke BBQ sauce. Served with slaw and corn bread). As always, the smoked meat was full of flavour, enhanced by their own barbecue sauce.
The cheek of it

Meanwhile I was meeting up with Juicy Lucy, a 6oz beef burger with a Monterrey Jack cheese core, topped with Monterrey Jack cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, beef tomato and Alabama sauce. Sweet home Alabama! Next time I’m in, I’m going to make the acquaintance of Dirty Lucy!

By the way, if you haven’t been to Holy Smoke in a while, I'd advise you to check their general menu. There are now more choices than ever for all kinds of eaters, including vegetarian and fish. For instance, there are no less than 13 starter/small plate options. Check the general menus here 
Pull the other one

Quite a few local beers in bottle but just one, Rebel Red, on draught. That was one of our choices and the other was the Punk IPA from Brew Dog. There’s a bigger choice once you enter the Cellar for the comedy and here I switched to Franciscan Well’s Chieftain. Not too many tables in there though for your drinks and the arched rows of seats in front of the stage are close enough to one another.

There was a bit of a delay in starting the show but then it was non-stop. I don’t know how they do, up there on stage, joke after joke, funny story after funny story and not a note in sight.

Mike Morgan, one of the men behind the Wonky, introduced the show and gave us a taste of what was to come with laugh a minute routine of his own, and had us in stitches with his tales of greyhound walking and bingo playing (apparently he is the Mallow champion in both disciplines) and then there was mother-in-law or was she just a random shopper? You never know with these guys.

Ross Browne, another Wonky mainstay, was bigger and noisier than Mike. Both were well dressed though, sharp suits, shiny shoes, a bit like the Sky Sport’s soccer presenters. Irish comedy has changed a lot since Hal Roach (though he also dressed well) ruled the roost. Lots of language and not of the foreign variety, though Mike did essay a few words of French. 

And it’s kind of head on challenging. I think Dan Martin, one of the two lead stars of the “Rowan and Martin Laugh-in”, a hit comedy show of the 60s and 70s, would approve. “People are basically irreverent,” Mr. Martin said in 1968, explaining the appeal of the show. “They want to see sacred cows kicked over.” 

One of the catchphrases of Laugh-in was Sock it to me!  Browne and company do just that. He said he was looking at a crowd of turnip heads, though he seemed to include his own in that assessment of the Irish noggin. 

He probably wouldn’t go down too well in Listowel. He said nobody ever goes to that town except by accident, maybe after turning off the Sat-Nav and taking four wrong turns. I presume when he’s performing in that Kerry town, he takes the mick out of Cecilstown (ask Mike about that place).

And that was only half the show. After the interval, Micky Bartlett and Mark O’Keeffe entertained the packed house, the Wonky Donkey’s fourth sell-out in a row. There’s sure to be a big demand for tickets for next Friday and Saturday so get online now and book the food and comedy option that suits you. The line-up over the coming weekend includes Fred Cooke, Naomi McDonald, Brian Gallagher, Ross Browne and Mike Morgan.