Feeding hearts and minds in Swanlinbar
MEET THE FINALISTS: BEST IN HOSPITALITY
For the past four years, mother and daughter duo Trish and Katelyn O’Reilly have been feeding the village of Swanlinbar and surrounding areas in K&T’s Kitchen.
Operating initially out of Trivia House, where the Cuilcagh Cafe social enterprise previously ran, the restaurant was busy and eventually outgrew the premises.
“Ironically,” the former Welcome Inn; one of many old pubs in the border village, became available - where Trish used to work as a teenager, and they moved in. She initially thought that it was going to be “too big” but now sometimes feels like they “still mightn’t have enough room.”
This month, they will have been in their new premises for two years. Local people have been a “good support” to the restaurant, and they are also glad to get good passing trade from neighbouring counties, which has been bolstered by their prominent position on the main street.
“We wouldn’t be where we are without our loyal staff and customers,” Trish says.
Their menu includes everything from daily specials to hot dinners and baked goods, and they can cater for small parties and takeaway orders.
As the only restaurant in the village, K&T’s Kitchen is of great benefit to people living in the rural area, particularly those who may have “nowhere else to go”.
“We could have people coming in here, like an aged man - he could sit here for two or three hours, chatting to different ones throughout the day that he wouldn’t see if he was at home,” Trish explains.
The success of the business is also down to the “good staff”, who are mostly from the local area, and are familiar with regular customers. They employ two full-time staff and a further 10-12 part-time staff - all girls, “not because we don’t want boys,” Trish assures. A true family-run business, a lot of the staff are either related to Trish and Katelyn or to other members of staff.
FIND US
K & T’s Kitchen is open from Thursday to Sunday. For further information, follow ‘K & T’s Kitchen’ on Facebook and Instagram.
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FULL LIST OF FINALISTS
Read about the other three finalists in this category by visiting the stories below.