The Castle Hotel in Macroom won the national hotel title and The Elm Tree in Glounthaune took the pub accolade. The winners were unveiled by rugby player Tommy Bowe at a ceremony in Dublin’s Herbert Park Hotel.

Launched in 2010 by Unilever Food Solutions Ireland, the competition is an all-island search for Ireland’s best pub and hotel carvery. All venues had to get through what was a difficult public vote, followed by a mystery shopping stage to get through to the final shortlist.

Speaking at the final, Mark McCarthy, head judge and business development chef at Unilever, said: “This year, the standard of entry to the competition was absolutely phenomenal. The bar has been set very high in what has become a very competitive space.”

For the Elm Tree, this is its fourth win in a row in the competition. Roy O’Connell, who is general manager at the Elm Tree along with Lisa Gaitskill, put down its repeated success to the consistency and quality of ingredients and service.

“We are very proud of our carvery,” he said. “So we really work hard to defend our title. Next year will be another challenge.”

Don Buckley of Dan Buckley’s Bar in the Castle Hotel said “It is a lovely surprise and wonderful credit for our team. Not only have we retained our Munster crown, but we have gone all the way this year and secured The All Ireland Title. It will spur us on in continuing to exceed customer expectations and we will proudly wear our title as the hotel with the best carvery in Ireland.’’

Among the provincial winners in the Hotel of the Year category were Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan (Leinster); Castle Hotel, Macroom (Munster); Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill (Connacht) and the Silver Tassie Hotel, Letterkenny (Ulster).

In the Public House of the Year category, Dinn Rí Carlow (Leinster); The Elm Tree, Cork (Munster); Henry’s Bar and Restaurant, Sligo (Connacht) and The Fiddlers in Carrickmacross (Ulster) claimed the provincial titles.

Each winning venue receives PR to the value of €2,500 as well as marketing support valued at €2,000. The winners’ prize also includes a specially-commissioned wall plaque.