IRELAND’S FINEST HOSPITALITY CELEBRATED AS WINNERS OF THE 2026 THE SQUARE BAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS ARE REVEALED. DUBLIN, IRELAND
The premier stars of Ireland’s licensed trade were crowned on Monday 24th of August at the gala ceremony of The Square Bar of the Year Awards 2026, hosted by Anton Savage, held at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road, Dublin. Following a record-breaking year featuring over 1,000 national entries, the industry gathered to honour the extraordinary innovation, resilience, and craftsmanship defining Irish bars, hotels, craft breweries, and hospitality venues.
Led by overall headline sponsor Square, the national competition recognised gold, silver, and bronze winners across more than 30 dynamic categories.
Led by overall headline sponsor Square, the national competition recognised gold, silver, and bronze winners across more than 30 dynamic categories.
"The sheer calibre of entries we received this year was nothing short of inspiring," said Trish Murphy, Sales and Sponsorship Director at Licensing World. "Across every region, venues are setting new benchmarks and re imagining what top-tier hospitality looks like. The standard of entries highlights an industry rich in innovation, passion, and an unyielding commitment to delivering remarkable experiences."
Pig’s Lane Sweeps Top Honours as Bar Of The Year: Pig’s Lane, Co. Kerry emerged as the undisputed star of the night, taking home the overall title of Bar Of The Year. The Killarney venue proved its unmatched excellence across the board by also sweeping Gold for both Best Designed Bar / Inside Space and Cocktail Bar of the Year.
Connacht & Ulster Victories: The West and North-West made a major impact, taking home several prestigious Gold titles. Galway shone with Tom Sheridan's Bar & Restaurant (Joe O'Callaghan, Bar Manager of the Year Gold), The Kings Head (Gold - Best Live Entertainment Bar), and Sonny Molloy's Irish Whiskey Bar (Gold -Whiskey Bar of the Year). Maddens Bridge Bar & Restaurant in Donegal won Gold for Best Wine Bar of the Year, while Mayo scored Gold in Outside Space of the Year (Henehans Venue) and Staff Personality of the Year (The Porter House Westport).
Dublin's Gold Rush: The capital led the charge across multiple major categories. Highlights include The Merrion Hotel (Gold - 5 Star Hotel Bar ), The Sackville Lounge (Gold - Best Newcomer), Café en Seine (Gold - City Bar of the Year), Rascals Brewing Company (Gold - Craft Bar of the year ), The Old Spot (Gold -Gastro Bar of the year), The Collins Club at The Leinster (Gold - Hotel Cocktail Bar of the year ), The George (Gold - Late Bar/Nightclub of the year), The Laurels Clondalkin (Gold - Local Bar of the year ), 37 Dawson Street (Gold - Outstanding Customer Service of the Year), SOLE Seafood & Grill (Gold - Restaurant Bar of the Year ), The Stags Head (Gold - Traditional Bar of the Year), and Celtic Nights at The Arlington Hotel (Gold - Visitor Attraction of the Year).
Leinster Champions: The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse in Kildare claimed Gold for Innovative Bar of the Year and Silken Thomas, Co. Kildare sweeping both People's Choice Leinster and People's Choice Overall. High-concept venues across the region rounded out a powerful showing, with Silver awards for mo chara, Co. Louth (Craft Bar of the Year), McSorley's Kilkenny (Best Newcomer). Left Bank, Kilkenny (City Bar of the Year), alongside Peadars Bar Moate (Traditional Bar of the Year), The Make & Mark, Laois (Outstanding Customer Service Award), and The Terrace, Carlow (Outside Space) won Bronze.
Munster Excellence: Cork and Kerry led a massive wave of wins in the south. Beyond Pig's Lane in Kerry, Cork venues took Gold in Bar Food of the Year (Paladar), Best Bar to Watch the Match (Woolshed Baa & Grill), Cocktail Bartender of the Year (Akram Bendjeddou, Paladar), Hotel Bar of the Year (Cask), and Tourist Bar of the Year (Sin É). Cork Heritage Pubs was named Pub Group of the Year.
People's Choice Winners: Voted directly by the public across the four provinces, Silken Thomas, Co. Kildare achieved national glory by taking home both People's Choice Leinster and People's Choice Overall. Regional public favourites also included The George, Co. Dublin (People's Choice Dublin), Geary's Bar Charleville, Co. Cork (People's Choice Munster), and Mc Hughs Bar, Co. Leitrim (People's Choice Connacht/Ulster).
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The Square Bar of the Year 2026 Winners
| Bar of the Year Sponsored by Square Winner — Pig's Lane, Co. Kerry |
| 5 Star Hotel Bar of the Year Sponsored by London Essence Winner — The Cellar Bar, The Merrion Hotel, Co. Dublin Silver — The Sidecar, The Westbury, Co. Dublin Bronze — Prince of Wales, Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo |
| Bar Food of The Year Sponsored by Coca Cola Winner — Paladar, Co. Cork Silver — The White House, Co. Cork Bronze — Blake's Bar Galway, Co. Galway |
| Bar Manager of the Year Sponsored by Aperol Spritz Winner — Joe O'Callaghan, Tom Sheridan's Bar & Restaurant, Co. Galway Silver — Samantha Brauer, r.i.o.t., Co. Dublin Bronze — Oisin Kelly, The Sidecar, The Westbury, Co. Dublin |
| Best Bar to Watch the Match Sponsored by Sky Business Winner — Woolshed Baa & Grill Cork, Co. Cork Silver — Slattery's of Beggars Bush, Co. Dublin Bronze — Rising Sons Brewery, Co. Cork |
| Best Designed Bar / Inside Space Sponsored by Peroni Winner — Pig's Lane, Co. Kerry Silver — SOLE Seafood & Grill, Co. Dublin Bronze — Flight Club, Co. Dublin |
| Best Live Entertainment Bar Winner — The Kings Head, Co. Galway Silver — disndat, Co. Dublin Bronze — The Landmark, Co. Dublin |
| Best Newcomer Winner — The Sackville Lounge, Co. Dublin Silver — McSorley’s Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny Bronze — M J Wright Pub, Co. Dublin |
| Best Wine Bar of The Year Sponsored by Classic Drinks Winner — Maddens Bridge Bar & Restaurant, Co. Donegal Silver — The Grayson, Co. Dublin Bronze — Old Town Wine Bar, Co. Dublin |
| City Bar of The Year Sponsored by Schweppes Winner — Café en Seine, Co. Dublin Silver — The Kings Head, Co. Galway Bronze — Left Bank, Co. Kilkenny |
| Cocktail Bar of the Year Sponsored by Maker's Mark Winner — Pig's Lane, Co. Kerry Silver — Cask, Co. Cork Bronze — BAR 1661, Co. Dublin |
| Cocktail Bartender of the Year Sponsored by Edward Dillon Winner — Akram Bendjeddou, Paladar, Co. Cork Silver — Stefi Fletcher, Bar 1661, Co. Dublin Bronze — Maroje Milosevic, The Sidecar, The Westbury, Co. Dublin |
| Craft Bar of the Year Winner — Rascals Brewing Company, Co. Dublin Silver — mo chara, Co. Louth Bronze — Brickyard Dundrum, Co. Dublin |
| Gail Cotter Lifetime Achievement Winner — Vivian Carroll, Judge Roy Beans, Co. Kildare |
| Gastro Bar of The Year Sponsored by Bunzl McLaughlin Winner — The Old Spot, Co. Dublin Silver — Mikey Ryan’s Bar & Kitchen, Cashel Palace, Co. Tipperary Bronze — The Eagle Glasthule, Co. Dublin |
| Hotel Bar of The Year Winner — Cask, Co. Cork Silver — The Mercantile, Co. Dublin Bronze — Fitzgerald's Bar at The Imperial Hotel, Co. Cork |
| Hotel Cocktail Bar of The Year Sponsored by Poachers Drinks Winner — The Collins Club, The Leinster , Co. Dublin Silver — The Sidecar, The Westbury, Co. Dublin Bronze — Pen & Player Cocktail Bar, The Green Hotel, Co. Dublin |
| Innovative Bar of the Year Sponsored by LUXARDO Winner — The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse, Co. Kildare Silver — Botanic Dublin, Co. Dublin Bronze — Cruises Bar Ennis, Co. Clare |
| Late Bar / Nightclub of the Year Sponsored by Red Bull Winner — The George, Co. Dublin Silver — 4 Dame Lane, Co. Dublin Bronze — Crane Lane Theatre, Co. Cork |
| Local Bar of The Year Winner — The Laurels Clondalkin, Co. Dublin Silver — The Bath Pub, Co. Dublin Bronze — Deery's Bar & Lounge, Co. Monaghan |
| Outside Space of the Year Winner — Henehans Venue, Co. Mayo Silver — Mc Hughs Bar, Co. Leitrim Bronze — The Terrace, Co. Carlow |
| Outstanding Customer Service Award Winner — 37 Dawson Street, Co. Dublin Silver — Arcadia, Co. Dublin Bronze — The Make & Mark, Co. Laois |
| People's Choice Overall — Silken Thomas, Co. Kildare Connacht / Ulster — Mc Hughs Bar, Co. Leitrim Dublin — The George, Co. Dublin Leinster — Silken Thomas, Co. Kildare Munster — Geary's Bar Charleville, Co. Cork |
| Pub Group of the Year Winner — Cork Heritage Pubs |
| Restaurant Bar of The Year Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace Winner — SOLE Seafood & Grill, Co. Dublin Silver — McSwiggans Galway, Co. Galway Bronze — The Gables Foxrock, Co. Dublin |
| Staff Personality of the Year Winner — The Porter House Westport, Co. Mayo Silver — Donnellys of Barna, Co. Galway Bronze — Soho Bar Venue & Space, Co. Dublin |
| Tourist Bar of The Year Sponsored by Sullivans Brewing Company Winner — Sin É, Co. Cork Silver — An Pucan, Co. Galway Bronze — The Quay's, Temple Bar, Co. Dublin |
| Traditional Bar of The Year Winner — The Stags Head, Co. Dublin Silver — Mother Macs Public House, Co. Limerick Bronze — Peadars Bar Moate, Co. Westmeath |
| Visitor Attraction of the Year Sponsored by Excel Recruitment Winner — Celtic Nights at The Arlington Hotel, Co. Dublin Silver — Treaty City Brewery, Co. Limerick Bronze — Franciscan Well Brewpub, Co. Cork |
| Whiskey Bar Of The Year Sponsored by Roe & Co Winner — Sonny Molloy's Irish Whiskey Bar, Co. Galway Silver — Mother Macs Public House, Co. Limerick Bronze — The Horseshoe Bar, Co. Dublin |
Thanks to our partners and sponsors
Irish Bar of the Year Awards
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Ashville Media Group
Unit 55 Park West Road
Park West Industrial Park
Dublin 12
t. +353 (0) 16401777
e. events@ashvillemediagroup.com
This email was sent to you though Prowly.com PR Software on behalf of Ashville Media Group
© Copyright 2026 - ASHVILLE MEDIA GROUP Ltd. | PRIVACY STATEMENT | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
