2026 Award Winners BEST SUPPORTER OF IRISH FOOD & DRINK PRODUCERS 2026

The Station House Hotel Kilmessan

 You won’t find stronger supporters of Irish food and drink producers than at The Station House Hotel, where an old railway junction that’s been closed since 1963 has been transformed by the Slattery family into one of County Meath’s most characterful places to stay and eat. It’s an ever-evolving story and always a pleasure to visit. Set among mature gardens, the old railway buildings give the hotel a unique sense of place – and the food extends that connection to the surrounding countryside. The Station House has always had a well-earned reputation for good food, since Chris and Thelma Slattery opened the hotel in 1984. Especially ardent supporters of local producers in the Boyne Valley area, they host occasional residential tasting dinners, when seasonal fare from the region is showcased with pride, and go to great lengths to share the local food story through their menus and website, as well as hands-on interactions with well-trained staff. At Signal Restaurant and throughout the hotel’s food offering, Irish ingredients are not just decorative name-checks but the foundation of the kitchen. Supporting producers is about more than buying locally when convenient. It means building relationships, recognising quality, communicating provenance and giving small businesses the consistency that allows them to flourish. The Station House does this while remaining warmly accessible: a family-run hotel where weddings, celebrations, short breaks and everyday meals all become opportunities to showcase Irish food and drink. That sustained commitment makes The Station House Hotel a particularly deserving recipient of the Best Supporter of Irish Food & Drink Producers Award 2026, sponsored by Bord Bia