Restaurant group chief: Some eaterie awards can be bought

Some of the awards typically displayed by restaurants are bought by the owner and do not signify that the premises has been inspected, Restaurant Association of Ireland chief Adrian Cummins warned.

“There are plaques out there, you just buy them and they send you a plaque and they put it on the door and there’s no inspection. I just came from a premises in Kerry, he’s open a month and he has three plaques on his wall. He hasn’t had an inspection.”

All of the best known commercial awards firms claim inspections are carried out and no cost is associated with inclusion in guides or on websites. Plaques are made available — for a fee — to premises that have passed inspection and been recommended.