Irish pub in Manchester wins award for Best Chef in Europe

A Manchester pub – O’Sheas on Princess Street – has beaten off competition from around Europe to win Irish Pubs Global’s prestigious award for the Irish pub with the Best Chef in Europe. The pub was also shortlisted for the Best Cocktail Experience and the Best Food Experience Awards.

The iconic city centre bar – which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year – is operated by Dominic Winters and Paul Mackey, both from Ireland, and is part of Star Pubs & Bars leased estate.

The business partners introduced food to O’Sheas eighteen months ago and appointed Stephen Baird as head chef to deliver the new offer. The menu includes traditional Irish favourites such as its best selling Full Irish Fry – or Breakfast – which comes with Conakilty sausage, black and white pudding and homemade soda bread. Colcannon mash – made with onions and cabbage – is another traditional Irish dish proving popular with Mancunians.

O’Sheas’ drinks selection has an equally Irish flavour and a range of Irish whiskys and gins forms the basis of the pub’s cocktails.

The judging process involved nominations by members of the public with final decisions being made by an international panel of 16 judges. The team from O”Sheas received their award at a ceremony at The Galmont Hotel in Galway.

Mackey commented: “We are delighted that Stephen picked up the award for Best Chef. It’s the icing on the cake after a great 18 months since we opened the new look O’Sheas and launched our food offering. It’s much appreciated recognition for all the hard work of Stephen, his kitchen team and the front of house staff and puts O’Sheas on the map of the bustling food and drink scene in Manchester.”

David Pritchard, Star Pubs & Bars operations director for the North West said: “This award is well deserved. Paul and Dominic are superb operators and have created an authentic Irish offer that has stood the test of time.”

O’Sheas opened in Manchester in 1994 and has served over 2,000,000 pints of Guinness since then. The building was built in 1905 as a packing and shipping warehouse in the middle of a predominantly Irish area between Little Ireland and St Austins.