A West Cork pub is the only new Irish entry to The Michelin Eating Out In Pubs Guide 2013, which is published tomorrow.
Deasy’s Harbour Bar and Seafood Restaurant in Clonakilty is named in the guide that recognises pubs in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic for their food, character, setting or service.
Seven other pubs in Cork retained their place in the guide, making the county the real capital of pub grub. Six pubs in Northern Ireland make the list, and all of them are in Co Down.
Dublin has just two pubs on the list. Clare, Galway, Kerry and Mayo also have two pubs each featured. Having made the grade last year, JJ Gannons in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo was the only Irish pub not to be returned to the 2013 list.
This year’s guide recommends more than 550 pubs, 24 of which are in Ireland. Pub of the Year went to a traditional, eight-bedroom pub on a 1,000 acre deer park in Norwich in the UK - The Gunton Arms.
That two pubs on the list are also recipients of Michelin Stars indicates the rise in pub food standards, organisers said.
“The standard of pub cooking just keeps getting better and better,” the guide's editor Rebecca Burr said. “Pubs are often the heartbeat of the local community and it’s been exciting to see that more and more of them are specialising in their own regional ingredients.”
Counties Kildare, Leitrim, Louth, Sligo, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wexford all have one pub on the list.
