On Friday of last week the Licensed Vintners Association celebrated 200 years in existence. At the end of the ‘Hooley in the House’ there was a presentation for ‘Best pub in Dublin’.
The award was presented by Deirdre Devitt and the children of the late Oliver Hughes, who operated the Porterhouse Group and passed away last year.
The awards were voted for by all the members of the LVA, so this award was really all the publicans of Dublin voting on which pub they thought was best run and generally embodied what it is that makes Dublin pubs great.
The winner was Kehoes on South Anne Street, which is owned by the Louis Fitzgerald Group.
Kehoes has been around since 1803, and it’s the retention of the old rustic look that gives it it’s character. It’s one of the 16 or so remaining Victorian era pubs of Dublin, in that it retains the characteristics of that era of design.
The pub provides many spaces in which to enjoy it, from the snug at the door, to the long main bar, to the cosy fire place room upstairs. Sunny days sees huge gatherings outside and in the adjoining lane. It’s a superb pub with a diverse crowd that typifies the allure of a Dublin pub of character.
