Paris Texas, Kilkenny’s premier bar in the town’s High Street, has received the award for Ireland’s best pub in 2019.
An iconic and well-known Kilkenny pub has been named as the best pub in all of Ireland for 2019, beating stiff competition from a range of bars across the country.
The Paris Texas bar, based on Ireland’s Medieval Mile, claimed the prestigious ‘National Pub of the Year’ accolade at the 2019 Irish Pub Awards.
The Irish Pub Awards
The Irish Pub Awards, now in its third year, recognises the best pubs of class across Ireland and is jointly hosted by the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA).
This year’s awards were held in the RDS Arena in Dublin, where a record 1,700 applications were made to the competition, triple the number of applicants made in its maiden year.
This shows the Awards have “clearly established themselves as the definitive awards programme within the pub industry,” according to LVA Chairman Ronan Lynch.
Lynch elaborated: “We are very pleased with the growth and success of the Awards in such a short time and it has now become a great vehicle to highlight the vital contribution that pubs make to Irish business, community and tourism”.
The awards are a combination of nine separate categories, namely: The Best Food Pub, Best Tourist Pub, Innovative Pub, Best Local Pub, Outstanding Customer Service, Best Music Pub, Best Outdoor Space, Best Newcomer and Best Late Night Bar.
Celebrations for Paris Texas
The Paris Texas bar in Kilkenny town was crowned the most Innovative Pub of the Year, and was then crowned the overall national champion. It was nominated ahead of a select number of bars from five different counties.
Paris Texas is a bar and restaurant located on Kilkenny town’s High Street and has set out since its inception to be uniquely different from the rest of its competitors with its international outlook but homely appeal.
It is home to a wood smoking oven offering a mix of traditional American South-West flavours with the New Orleans French Qtr.
Also among its repertoire is a lively music and entertainment scene, a bustling pub Irish pub atmosphere and a significant range of cocktails, beers and spirits.
Paris Texas was established by Pat Crotty in 1996 and was redeveloped a decade later in 2006 to include an improvement in its premises, new technology systems and mechanisms to ensure environmental sustainability.
Reaction to the award
VFI President Padraic McGann said, “Paris Texas and all tonight’s winners and finalists represent the very best in Irish pubs around the country”.
“These awards,” he continued, “reflect the high quality of our pubs across Ireland, their ongoing investment in raising standards and their importance as community centres”.
Kilkenny fared extremely well on the evening, also claiming the gong for the top tourist bar. Malzards Pub of Stoneyford, Kilkenny, offers its customers the chance to learn about the history of hurling whilst listening to traditional Irish music.
