Once part of Florence Court Estate, this picturesque restaurant is atmospherically located in a former corn mill overlooking the mill pond and the Larganess River - and it has the original mill wheel (recently restored by a local historical group) adding to the natural charm of the building.
Owner-managed by local chef John Roche since 2012, it has become a go-to place for discerning locals who like to enjoy a quality casual dining outing with an emphasis on seasonally sourced produce - signature dishes showcasing local ingredients include a pretty starter of Boatyard Gin & Beetroot Cured Irish Salmon and a handsome main course of Bourbon Roasted O’Doherty’s Fine Meats Pork Belly. They feature, respectively, the excellent Boatyard Distillery gin produced at Tullybay Marina just north of Enniskillen, and the famous island-reared pork from O'Doherty's Fine Meats in Ennikillen town - and with free range pork so hard to find these days, the roasted pork belly is especially welcome. Desserts give a nice nod to seasonal produce too, with wholesome Orchard apple and walnut crumble with crème anglaise a traditional favourite, but also more delicate prettily presented choices such as Lemon Tiramisu with Limoncello offered for a lighter finale.
With its lofty height, rough hewn walls, the old mill wheel, and bistro-style table settings, the place itself is a treat to visit - and the good cooking and tasteful food presentation match the surroundings well, being very enjoyable but without any showing off. And then there's the caring service from hands-on owner and a well trained team of warmly welcoming and efficient staff led by restaurant manager, Mario Breban-Mcdonald, which adds a lot to the pleasure of an outing here.
Although only open over the weekend, it's a well thought out offering and there's plenty of variety to keep things fresh for regulars - Friday is tapas night and popular for its tempting range of small plates, while the Saturday evening and Sunday lunch menus are more structured, but all have a true Taste of Fermanagh at their heart - and they're very well supported by drinks menus that include not only a good, fairly priced wine list sourced from smaller wineries around the world, but also a Gin Menu, where Boatyard and Drumshanbo Gunpowder (the latter from The Shed Distillery by PJ Rigney, in nearby Co Leitrim) feature among a choice of eight served in interesting ways (each £5.50), while the bespoke Cocktail Menu offers plenty of choices from seven classic and seven signature cocktails, all at £10. O’Hara’s Craft beer and Long Meadow Cider are also among the Irish bottled drinks offered, plus Heineken & Birra Moretti on draught.
And it's not all about the weekend restaurant at Tully Mill. They also host family and corporate events - and, uniquely, they offer a very special dining experience in the Formal Dining Room at Florence Court, where they host up to 16 guests for a 5-course dinner with wine pairing - now wouldn't that be quite the get-together?
Then there's accommodation as well, in five self-catering cottages within the complex. Each sleeps six, but the interlocking cottages allow for accommodating groups of up to 12, and they are pet-friendly too (by arrangement). So it's worth allowing time to explore this wonderful area - with Benaughlin and the Cuilcagh Mountain range on the doorstep, along with the magical Fermanagh Lakelands and its myriad lslands, and attractions like Marble Arch Caves and Belleek Pottery nearby too, what's not to love.
