When you visit Kilkenny, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to dining. We have a huge variety of restaurants, cafes, delis, shops, bars and kiosks selling what is widely thought of as the best quality of food in the world. Ireland, and particularly Kilkenny, prides itself on the dairy, meat, veggies and other produce we grow on our green isles and many restaurants like to use local produce to create dishes unrivalled by any other city. The same goes for us in Statham’s by Pembroke. Read on for the history of our beautiful bar & restaurant and how we got our reputation for serving one of Kilkenny’s best breakfasts.
The History of Statham’s
Did you know that between 1929 and 1931 there were three successful Irish International Grand Prix races held in Dublin’s Phoenix Park? Interest in car racing grew hugely around this time, leading to many street races taking place across the country. Not many people could afford a custom or purpose-built racing car in Ireland in the 30s, leading to many people designing their own ‘Special’ – a customised racing car specially built for the racer.
One of the most famous Specials was the Statham-Ford Special built in the garage of the same name, which just happens to be the location of our bar and restaurant. The Statham-Ford was powered by a Ford V-8 engine and originally driven by the owner and designer George Statham. The car and its driver had huge successes including winning at the 1934 Phoenix Park Senior Race, setting a new speed record. The biggest success came in the 1935 Limerick Grand Prix where it placed 7th against some of the world’s finest racing cars, built by legendary producers of the time like ERA, MG and Bugatti.
In memory of the family that made this award-winning car and put Kilkenny on the map in the Irish racing scene, our bar and restaurant are named in honour of Statham’s Garage. We have lovingly restored the Statham-Ford Special and it is on display at the hotel. We also offer a driving route brochure in our bar, along with some fascinating history of the car, in case you’d like to drive in the tire tracks of this legendary car.
Dining in Statham’s
The menus in our busy restaurant reflect the very best of Kilkenny’s produce, freshly prepared by our team of talented chefs and kitchen staff to give you the perfect plate every time. We offer a very special Céad Míle Fáilte and the laid back atmosphere you’ll enjoy is created by our friendly, experienced staff. We invite guests of the hotel and the passing public to join us for a meal from our all-day menus.
Start your day off well with a hearty meal from our breakfast menu, regarded by many as the best breakfast in Kilkenny. If you’re a late diner, you might enjoy our brunch or lunch menus with plenty of filling options to get you through the day. Our dinner offering is where we really shine. Our casual dining menus offer starters, mains and desserts showing the talent of our team. Only the highest quality ingredients pass the watchful eye of our chefs meaning that every plate you enjoy is nothing but the best. We also offer excellent group menus and cater for parties or special occasions.
Statham’s Bar
Not only can you dine well in Statham’s, you can also drink well in our bar. Our experienced wait and bar staff are experts at recommending wines to accompany your meal and our extensive collection of wines from around the world gives you plenty of choice. After your meal, or before you hit the town, pop into our bar to enjoy an excellent selection of wines, beer, cider and spirits. We are proud to serve Kilkenny’s own multi award-winning Ballykeefe Distillery gin, vodka and poitin – a must try when visiting the city! We also have a wide selection of freshly-shaken cocktails, curated seasonally by award-winning mixologist Darren Geraghty and brought to life by our talented bar staff. We are the official hospitality partner to the National Design & Craft Gallery and offer unique, bespoke cocktails to reflect the latest exhibition.
If you’d like to make a reservation in Statham’s Bar & Restaurant or Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny, you can contact our friendly team any time by phone or email. Alternatively, you can use our online booking system to secure your table. We look forward to welcoming you and wowing you with our excellent food and even better service.