Food and drink fit for a King in Arthurstown
FAMILY is at the heart of everything the King’s Bay Inn offers its customers and as soon as you walk through the doors of the pub and cafes, you feel right at home, relaxed and well looked after.
Ever since it opened last year the King’s Bay Inn in Arthurstown has been a social hub for the community; a place where excellent service and food is a given.
Owner Mary Lawlor always dreamed of opening a cafe and when the King’s Bay Inn pub – located at a landmark location on the corner of the Ballyhack, Duncannon, New Ross roads became available – she saw her opportunity.
Mary wanted a place where friends, neighbours and characters could meet; a place where all the other old Irish traditions that are slowly dying could come to life again.
On July 7, 2017 Mary opened the pub with the expertise and assistance of manager Simon Cummins. Many tradespeople in the locality gave their time and their skills free of charge to get the doors open at the time.
A year later, they live that same dream alongside their work colleagues locally known as the KBI Family (Kings Bay Inn Family).
Mary said ‘it’s a privilage to work with her collegues around the area who make the King’s Bay Inn.’
The local, traditional pub is an exact replica of the previous pub which closed in 2012 under Brendan Palmer.
Stepping into the pub today you feel transported back in time to an Ireland of warm welcomes and friendly faces, but with a much expanded drink’s menu, including over 20 gin brands.
The pub was painted back to the original colours and there is a wonderful snug to while away hours in and plenty of nooks and crannies all located within a characterful building which is a joy to explore.
Mary and Simon got a fantastic reception from the local residents when they opened their doors, the pub having brought life back to the village.
In keeping with Mary’s mission to always put the customer first they involved the locals from the get go, and on the opening day all local residents were all invited to afternoon tea, drinks in the bar, all complimentary.
Simon quickly set about organising music on Saturday nights and the King’s Bay Folk Group play Wednesday nights setting the atmosphere whereby people are welcome to join in.
The cafe started serving food earlier this year, from filling breakfasts and lunches, to amazing fish and chips and mouth watering, homemade desserts. Specialising in fresh homely produce at affordable prices, there is always something tempting on the menu. During the summer children were presented with a free whipped ice cream after a meal.
The food is sourced fresh from the locality and the inn is renowned for its fish and chips, the fish being caught locally and supplied by multi-award winning Ballyhack Smokehouse, owned by Michael Walsh. On occasions when fish sells out they can have fresh fish within half an hour.
Everything is sourced locally as Mary wants to support the locals, who, in turn, have been very supportive of her
No corners are ever cut at the King’s Bay Inn, where staff go above and beyond for customers.
There are two cafes, one homely and the other a tea room with a marine blue and silver decor and views of the sea. Food is served on Nicholas Mosse pottery.
There is an excellent range of food including breakfast featuring the usual staples along with Ballyhack smoked salmon, fish and chips, vol au vents and daily specials for lunch, followed by home-baked desserts, scones and Bewley’s coffee.
The team of three chefs and bar staff have been in place since
the early days. Most of the KBI Family are there since the day they opened and they even take a yearly holiday together.
The cafe is ideal for Communions, Confirmations, birthday and Christmas Parties and all family functions. Up to four course meals featuring the best of local produce can be enjoyed.
The cafe can comfortably seat 20, with special gold logo plates, providing very dressy tables for that perfect family occasion. To book yours contact 051 596991.
Beautiful prints by artist Stephanie O’Neill featuring Passage East, Ballyhack and Arthurstown are for sale for €10 from the cafe with all money going to the RNLI.
The bar hosted the going away party for the Wexford Rose Saoirse Walsh in August and has hosted numerous birthday parties.
The cafes are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. in the summer and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the autumn, winter and spring, with the full menu available in the pub until 8 p.m.
During the summer crowds gathered every evening under an awning erected outside the front of the eye-catching red and white painted inn, bringing a real sense of vibrancy to the village.
The bar is open from 4 p.m. throughout the autumn, winter and spring. A cocktail night is coming up next month introducing patrons to an new range of freshly made cocktails. Gin goblets and wine glasses have all been inscribed with a picture of the pub because as with all things King’s Bay Inn, it all comes down to the detail.
There are even two courtesy cars so customers are never stuck for a lift home, as there are no taxis on the village or public transport late at night.
Nobody gets left behind and everybody who needs it, gets a lift home.
The King’s Bay Inn has been a labour of love for Mary who has loving restored the premises with the help of numerous tradespeople. Patrons have a treat in store when the beer garden opens next year. A wall has just been erected in the beer garden through their ‘Buy A Brick’ campaign where all monies will go to Ballyhack NS.
Mary and Simon want to thank their customers and the residents for supporting them from the beginning and look forward to a fantastic year ahead with plenty of new offerings for their loyal customers.
They are launching a Golden Ticket give-away on Saturday, September 29. Ten people will win a pair of tickets over the coming ten weeks right up until December 14 when the special prizes will be revealed. Between now and then every Saturday night there will be one raffle tickets given to anybody who buys food or drink on the premises.
So for that homely, welcoming pub and cafe experience there is nowhere quite like the King’s Bay Inn by the sea in amazing Arthurstown.