There was double delight for Pembroke Kilkenny at the recent Gold Medal Awards when it was awarded Gold for Ireland’s Boutique Hotel of the Year and Silver for Ireland’s Breakfast Experience.
The recognition highlights the hotel’s commitment to excellence and offering an unrivalled guest experience. The Gold Medal Awards are widely regarded as the pinnacle of excellence in Irish hospitality, honouring the very best in the industry. No stranger to winning prestigious accolades, Pembroke Kilkenny is a 4-star boutique hotel located right in the heart of a city rich in medieval heritage and vibrant arts culture. It not only stands out among Kilkenny hotels, but hotels across the region.
“Winning Gold for Best Boutique Hotel in Ireland and Silver for Best Hotel Breakfast means a lot to our team. These awards are industry-recognised, judged by peers, and not something you can buy your way into, so to be acknowledged at that level is a real honour,” Pembroke Kilkenny General Manager Paul Broderick enthuses.
“The Boutique Hotel award reflects the full experience we offer from the welcome at reception to the comfort of the rooms, quality of the food, and the genuine care from our team. It’s validation that we’re doing things right.
“The Breakfast award is especially meaningful because it speaks for consistency. Breakfast is the first impression of the day, it sets the tone. For our kitchen and front-of-house teams to be recognised for that is a big boost. With Kilkenny having some amazing places to eat, we decided about 10 years ago to focus on our breakfast offering which allows our guests to sample delicious high-quality, farm-to-fork local produce before they explore the city.
“Ultimately, it’s not about the trophies. It’s about pride. The team works hard, and these awards give them that moment to stop, smile and see their work appreciated on a national level.”
The Gold Medal Awards are the latest in a long list of accolades Pembroke Kilkenny has won over the years. Previous successes include: Best Value Hotel – Irish Hospitality Awards 2012; Customer Service Excellence – Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce 2012; Student of the Year MDP – CK Management Development Program 2012; Excellence in Hospitality – Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce 2013; Employee of the Year – Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce 2014; Green Energy Award – SEAI Better Energy Communities 2014; Business Development Award – Kilkenny Business Network 2014.
Employee of the Year & Investment in Skills – Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce 2015; European Business Excellence Star Award – European Foundation for Quality Accreditation 4 Management (EFQM) 2015; Certificate of Excellence / Hall of Fame – Tripadvisor 2019; 5* Client Experience Award – Phorest 2019-2024; Travel Choice Award – Tripadvisor 2020; Loved by Guests – Hotels.com 2020; Traveller Review Award – Booking.com 2020; Ireland’s Leading Aesthetic Clinic – RSVP 2021; Accreditation Mint – All Star Business Foundation 2021-2024; Best Hotel Breakfast – Georgina Campbell 2022; Leinster Best Casual Dining & Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Irish Restaurant Awards 2022.
Best Medispa – RSVP 2022-2023; Great Place to Work 2022-2024; Mint, Investment in Skills – Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce 2023; Carbon Offset Award – Pure Oil 2023; Fab 50 Ireland’s Best Places to Stay – Irish Independent 2024; Gold Medal for Outstanding Employer – Failte Ireland 2023-2024; Certificate of Excellence – Tripadvisor 2014-2024; Travel Choice Award – Tripadvisor 2024; Best in Hospitality – GPTW 2024; Leinster Best Contemporary Cuisine – Irish Restaurant Awards 2024.
“We pride ourselves on our team’s genuine care for the guest experience,” Paul points out.
“Nothing here is overcomplicated; we focus on doing the basics really well with people who want to be part of the journey to build something special.
“It’s not about grand gestures. It’s the genuine welcome at reception, the coffee that’s always hot, the impeccably clean room, and the breakfast worth getting up for. Those small things build trust, which keeps people coming back.
“We also take pride in creating an environment where our team can do their best work. When people feel supported and respected, it shows in how they treat guests. There are some notable team success stories to mention.
“Grace Morrissey joined us as a qualified hairdresser looking for a new direction. She started at reception and worked her way up to Front Office Manager, now leading one of the most polished and capable front desk teams you’ll come across.
“Lucie Dowling, now our People & Culture Director, also began her journey in reception. And then there’s Aisling, our Executive Housekeeper. She started in reception, moved into a senior food and beverage role, and has now found real fulfilment leading our housekeeping team, bringing precision and care to every corner of the hotel.
“There are more stories like this. We’re proud of how our people grow here.”
Pembroke Kilkenny has developed its own internal framework, The Pembroke Way, which is built around creating a seamless linkage from ‘what we want to become’ to ‘making it happen’. The five pillars of The Pembroke Way are People, Sales, Customers, Systems and Sustainability. Systems, for example, create clarity, consistency and confidence so the team can focus on what matters – the guest experience. This also makes the work itself fulfilling and rewarding.
“Our focus on values and daily guiding behaviours is at the centre of what makes Pembroke different,” the affable General Manager continues.
“They’re not posters or slogans; they’re lived. They shape how we treat each other, lead, and show up for our guests and team. Without them, it’s just a process, and we become like everyone else! With them, it becomes leadership in action.
“The Pembroke Way isn’t a rulebook. It’s how we operate. To support it, we’ve built a practical leadership playbook and workbook that helps managers focus on what’s important. We are also just about to launch our team playbook, which guides all team members through their contribution to running a great hotel.
“We use the Great Places to Work surveys in detail to improve our employee experience, and we sweat the details on every customer journey to ensure it’s on point! As a result, our team knows what’s expected, they feel supporters and they’re trusted to bring their strengths to the table, all of which gives you happy, loyal customers.
“We don’t chase trends or overcomplicate things. We do the fundamentals well with the right mindset and attention to detail. Our culture is what sets us apart. Having a growth mindset is also core to our culture.”
Approaching 20 years in business, the hotel sits on a landmark site in one of Kilkenny’s most ideal locations. But long before it became home to a 4-star boutique hotel, this was the site of a Ford garage that made Irish motor racing history.
In the 1930s, motor racing captured Ireland’s imagination. For those without factory-built cars, enthusiasts built their own ‘Specials’. One of the most successful was the Statham-Ford Special, built on the same site by George Statham. Powered by a Ford V8 engine, it competed against racing giants like Bugatti and ERA, even placing seventh in the 1935 Limerick Grand Prix.
Today, Pembroke Kilkenny honours that spirit of innovation. Its bar and restaurant, Stathams, carry the name and legacy of the garage. The restored Statham-Ford Special sits proudly on display in the hotel, a reminder of the creativity and ambition that once roared from this very spot.
Acquired by John Ryan in 2006, Pembroke Hotel has undergone a remarkable transformation since then and has grown into one of Kilkenny’s leading independent hotels, offering stylish rooms, a dynamic events space, a strong business hub, and award-winning food and drink. The hotel employs 80 people, including a leadership team consisting of John Ryan, Paul Broderick and Lucie Dowling. The three directors have worked together for over 15 years, during which they’ve guided the hotel through significant challenges, including a recession and a global pandemic, while staying focused on long-term growth.
“Our ambition is to become an iconic hotel where guests love to stay and our team love to work,” Paul says.
The recent addition of 11 luxury suites on a new top floor has boosted the number of bedrooms from 73 to 84. The suites offer unique and amazing views of the city, including Kilkenny Castle and Ireland’s Medieval Mile.
“We’re proud to be in one of Kilkenny’s most ideal locations, right in the middle of everything the city has to offer. Our existing bedrooms were already bright, airy and spacious, so the goal with this project was to build on that and take it up a level.
“We felt there was a gap in the market for a truly high-end room product in Kilkenny. There are some great hotels in the city, but we saw an opportunity to create a new floor of luxury suites that bring something different. Each suite offers a uniquely elevated view of Kilkenny, sightlines that haven’t been seen before, including Ireland’s Medieval Mile, Kilkenny Castle, Butler House & Gardens and Kilkenny Design.
“The design is warm and modern, with natural materials and local craftsmanship throughout. We worked with Kilkenny-based architects Brian Dunlop and O’Donnell O’Neill Design to reflect a strong sense of place, while keeping the experience effortless for the guest.
“The result is something we’re genuinely proud of: a comfortable, considered space that offers guests something a little special when they stay in Kilkenny.”
Pembroke Kilkenny is a welcoming hotel and events venue with a comfortable ambience and friendly team that puts your needs first. With traditional hospitality and a relaxed atmosphere, Statham’s Bar & Restaurant is a great place to wine, dine and unwind. It is also a fantastic private events venue in Kilkenny perfect for celebrations with family and friends.
Furthermore, Pembroke Kilkenny is also home to Mint, its very own medispa. Whether you want laser treatments, serious skincare or a touch of pampering with a massage, facial, body treatment, and signature packages, it has just the thing for you. The hotel also boasts bespoke corporate and conference facilities, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, high speed broadband and exceptional standards of personal service. Bespoke corporate packages and services are available.
Pembroke Kilkenny
Patrick Street,
Kilkenny,
R95 E40W.
Telephone: +353 (0)56 778 3500
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Hotel & Tourism Magazine, Summer 2025, Vol 1 No 1
