The winners of Georgina Campbell’s Irish Food & Hospitality Awards have been announced for 2025
That’s according to Georgina Campbell’s Irish Food & Hospitality Awards 2025, which saw the above gongs go to Gleno Abbey, Conor Halpenny of Square Restaurant, and The House of McDonnell, respectively.
Food and hospitality writer Georgina Campbell has been running her awards since the 1990s and, as is her custom, she balanced her praise and admiration with honest feedback and words of warning for the island’s hospitality industry.
At an awards ceremony at the Intercontinental Dublin, she cautioned businesses about “cutting corners”, and expressed her shock at ongoing closures – Big Mike’s in Blackrock, Co Dublin being the latest high-profile example.
“Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”
Fern Allen, John Brennan and Georgina Campbell. Photo: Paul Sherwood
Ms Campbell’s awards celebrate “gold standard champions”, “genuinely hospitable experiences” and food that “speaks of the real Ireland”, she said.
Businesses are assessed independently by experts who book anonymously and do not accept hosted stays or meals.
Allta in Dublin was named ‘Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year’, Lahinch Coast Hotel & Suites in Co Clare ‘Family-friendly Hotel of the Year’, Gleeson’s in Roscommon ‘Pet-friendly Destination of the Year’ and Fern Allen of Ballymaloe House ‘Host of the Year’ for 2025.
Harvey’s Point in Co Donegal was named Ireland’s best four-star – fresh after taking top spot in the Irish Independent’s Hot 100 list of Ireland’s best hotels for 2025.
Select Georgina Campbell Food & Hospitality Awards winners 2025Fine dining restaurant: Allta, DublinFive-star hotel: Glenlo Abbey, GalwayFour-star hotel: Harvey’s Point, Co DonegalThree-star hotel: Killeen House Hotel, Co KerryNewcomer: Dunluce Lodge, Co AntrimTraditional pub: The House of McDonnell, Ballycastle, Co AntrimGastro-pub: The Strand Cahore, Co WexfordCountry House: Lough Inagh Lodge, Co GalwayB&B: The Mill, Dunfanaghy, Co DonegalGuesthouse: Greenmount House, Dingle, Co KerryHideaway: Ghan House, Carlingford, Co LouthFine dining hotel restaurant: Landline, Park Hotel KenmareCafe-Bar: Jacob’s Bar, Baltimore, Co CorkSustainability: Killruddery Estate & The Grain Store, Co WicklowSeafood restaurant: Caviston’s, Glasthule, Co DublinGlobal cuisines: Izz Cafe, Cork ‘Happy Place’: Café Rua, Castlebar, Co MayoAtmospheric destination: The Red Bank, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co LeitrimHotel breakfast: Granville Hotel, WaterfordBrunch destination: Greenwich, Cork 
John Brennan, Georgina Campbell and Niall Rochford. Photo: Paul Sherwood
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In terms of trends, Campbell noted Irish hospitality’s “resilience”, a rise in kitchen gardens and a continued blurring of the lines between fine and casual dining.
Referring to the Michelin Guide, she said she was not a fan “of the corpulent tyre man’s obsession” with high-end, personally ambitious dining.
While special occasion dining has its place, “personally ambitious perfectionism (together with often eye-watering prices) can be very off-putting”, she said.
Landline at the Park Kenmare
A week before Budget 2026, Ms Campbell said that a Vat reduction “or some such relief” for the food and hospitality sector was urgently needed.
However, she also noted “unnecessary disappointments” in Irish hospitality, and warned against “cutting corners” in business.
“The cold hand of the accountant is very apparent in some businesses,” she said.
“Presumably in an understandable response to rising costs, the little extras in bedrooms and bathrooms, the breakfasts showcasing local flavours, the well trained staff sharing wine knowledge, and even the time spent making guests welcome can seem to be under threat.
“It’s as if mean-minded efficiency is the rule in some places, where staff do the job but without meaningful engagement with guests.”
Campbell’s awards always include generous shout-outs for the people behind great hospitality experiences, and this year her ‘Hospitality Hero’ was Niall Rochford – long-standing general manager at Ashford Castle, Co Mayo.
A new category of rural and community awards also saw Castle Leslie Estate in Co Monaghan named ‘Rural Destination of the Year’.
For more information, see ireland-guide.com