The pub on Francis Street in the Liberties was named Best Local, sponsored by Diageo Ireland, at the Irish Pub Awards on Wednesday night.
The Liberty Belle team, led by owner Tom Young, thanked their own “wonderful locals” following the win.
“We did it! Best local pub in, not just Dublin, but the whole of Ireland!!! We couldn’t have done it without… you guessed it, our wonderful locals,” the pub said on Facebook.
Even having his arm in a sling couldn’t ruin Tom’s evening, joking the injury was the result of “30 odd years of throwing kegs around”.
This category rewarded the local pub “that offers its local customers an engaging customer experience in a unique way”.
“This can be through its beverage or food offering, customer service, its facilities, entertainment, or engagement with the local community.
Liberty Belle owner Tom Young with the Local Pub of the Year award
“The Best Local Pub can be traditional or contemporary and located in a rural or suburban setting.”
Last month, the Liberty Belle was named Best Local Pub in the Dublin region, something Mr Young put down to the customers and staff who make the pub a special place.
“We’re very fortunate with the customer base and our staff. You have to realise you’re in the Liberties,” he previously told the Irish Independent.
“The people who live here are the salt of the earth. They’re a great bunch of people and they’re very loyal. If you look after them, they look after you.
“That’s the customer, but the people who serve them are even more important. We have some of the best staff in the city working here, headed by George Tully and then of course my daughter Eimear, who’s also involved, thank God.
“Eimear would bring her children in, they’re two and a half to eight years old. There’s three of them, and they’d know all the local customers and the customers would know them. It is a very family orientated pub.
“From there on we have Fiona, Sabrina, Jesse, Amanda, Erica, Monica, Cyrus, Ellie, and we have Jake.
“It’s not the number of staff, it’s the number of women who are on the staff, that’s been one of our secrets. We have very loyal staff who love their job, staff who love working in the Liberties.
Tom Young, owner of the Liberty Belle on Francis Street. Pic: Frank McGrath
“There’s no secret to looking after customers, all you have to do is be polite, be courteous, and make sure their area is clean. Make sure the toilets are in good shape and the atmosphere is good.
“We have our locals who are the life of the place and the salt of the earth. Then we have our tourists who come in because of the locals.
“They would sit at the counter and talk to the locals. They get a great sense of the city,” he added.
The pub is currently selling €2 raffle tickets (or three for €5) as part of their Christmas draw, with all proceeds going towards Cystic Fibrosis.
Prizes include turkey and ham, brandy and Baileys, a case of wine, a meal for two, and the top prize – “50 pints of stout or something similar”.
The draw will be held on Sunday, December 22, and there’ll be music by Francis Howe on the big night.
