October's ATF Insider giveaways are here! This month we've got not one but TWO hotel stays, restaurants vouchers from some of our favourites, a prize that will keep you in takeaways for weeks, a hamper from some of the country's best food businesses and loads more. Our ATF Insider subscription service is how we operate independently, ad and invite free - everything you see featured on ATF is paid for by us and experienced on our own time - so if you're not already signed up and get value from our content, we would appreciate your support as always.
Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on the 17th October will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on the 18th October. Here's what you could be winning this month...
1) An overnight stay with breakfast in The Harrison Chambers of Distinction Belfast, with tickets to Burnt Out
The Harrison Chambers of Distinction, a boutique hotel in a series of restored, landmark, Victorian merchants' residences in Belfast, is giving one ATF Insider a night away from it all. Located at Queen's University, you'll be firmly in the cultural heart of the city, and they're throwing in two tickets to see Burnt Out by Gary Mitchell in the Lyric Theatre too. If you're looking to grab a pre-show bite you will be spoilt for options - Belfast's food scene has exploded in recent years - and we'll be on hand with a shortlist for you.
2) An overnight stay at Knockranny House Hotel & Spa, with dinner at La Fougère
We'll be sending another lucky ATF Insider off to Westport for a mid-week getaway to one of Ireland's best four-star hotels - Knockranny House Hotel & Spa. You'll also be treated to dinner in La Fougère, the hotel's restaurant, who grow their own fruit and vegetables on the grounds, and bring in fresh fish from the Atlantic Coast each morning. Situated on a hillside overlooking Westport, with views of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick, the hotel's Salveo Spa is ideal for some unwinding, or if you want a bit more activity it's perfectly located for day trips along the West Coast.
3) A €250 voucher for UberEats
Do you love a takeaway? This could be your lucky month, because UberEats have given us a massive €250 voucher to be used on deliveries from your favourite Dublin restaurants, including Okky, ViCE Pizza and Wings, Chimac, Baan Thai, Uno Pizza, Duck, Kale + Coco and loads more. Who would say no to more midweek pick me ups and weekend indulgences with food delivered directly to your door? See who's delivering to your area here.
4) Lunch for two with wine at Volpe Nera, Blackrock
Barry Sun first gained restaurant notoriety with his cooking at Etto on Merrion Row, so when he made the move out to Blackrock to open his own restaurant Volpe Nera, we were hot on his trail to try it out. Four years on and it's better than ever (we recently trekked across the capital twice in two weeks to eat there - it's really that good), and their €38, three-course lunch menu from 13:00-15:00 on Fridays and Saturdays might make it a hat-trick. We've got lunch for two and a bottle of wine to give away to one lucky subscriber this month,
5) Tuesday night dinner for two at Big Fan with drinks
The team at Big Fan have been on a tear since opening just before Covid hit in early 2020, and are now open Tuesdays - meaning you can now eat some of the best Asian food in Dublin seven days a week. To celebrate, they're giving one of our Insiders a Tuesday night dinner for two, with drinks, bao buns, dumplings (including their new squid xiao long bao with minced langoustine, pork, truffle and langoustine broth), xiao chi ('small eats'), a side, and dessert. If you're not sure what to order, feel free to take inspiration from our once over. We've also heard rumours about new menu items coming soon, and you should be excited.
6) A FoodWorks hamper worth over €100
FoodWorks is Ireland's accelerator for food and drink start ups, run by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc. They've given us a hamper to give away this month featuring some of the successful businesses from this year's program, including the first Irish made ginger beer, Zingibeer; mala black garlic peanut chilli rayu from EAST by Kwanghi Chan; Bananitas from Cream of the Crop; Wexbury Spirits Strawberry Cream Liqueur and loads more. If you or someone you know is working on a category-disrupting food or drink business, FoodWorks are currently taking applications for 2024.
7) Limited edition Halloween cocktails from Irish Craft Cocktails
We're fast entering spooky season, and in the spirit of all things Halloween, Irish Craft Cocktails have given us some of their limited edition Hallowe'en cocktails to give away. They've launched two new ones this month - ‘The Kraken’s Trick’ (Kraken Black Spiced Rum, chocolate, caramel, charcoal, and lime), and 'The Kraken’s Treat’ (Kraken Black Spiced Rum, cherry, vanilla, lemon), and we've got a small and large bottle of each of them to give away. Hand-mixed and bottled in Dublin 7 from the same deft hands behind Bar 1661, instant cocktails of this quality at home has been a godsend since lockdown, and we're hoping they're going nowhere.
8) A €100 voucher for Greenville Deli
Greenville Deli have been expanding across the South Dublin suburbs in the last year, recently opening their newest location in Monkstown, and they've given us a €100 voucher for one lucky reader to celebrate, which can be used in Inchicore, Rathmines or Monkstown. Greenville gained a stellar reputation for stunning sandwiches since they moved from their original Tara Street location over to Dublin 8, with specials on deck every week - we're particularly partial to their beef brisket. They also stock a Bread 41 pastries and overnight oats if you're in at breakfast time, and salads if you're going for lunch.
9) Two tickets for the Samhain Festival of Food & Culture
Boyne Valley Flavours - a group of local food producers and hospitality providers - organise the brilliant Samhain Festival of Food & Culture to celebrate the ancient Irish holiday, from the 2nd - 5th November. They've given us two tickets to some of the festival's top experiences this year, kicking off on Saturday 4th with a Boyne Valley Food Safari to three local producers - Boyne Valley Cheese, The Cider Mill, and Martry Mill. You'll then be taken back to Kells, where Graham Herterich will present a trio of his famous bracks, and the evening will be rounded out with a cocktail masterclass showcasing flavours from the Boyne Valley. You'll also be given ingredients to recreate them to take home with you. Do Saturdays get any better?
Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for October (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here before midnight on the 17th October to be in with a chance of winning. You'll be supporting independent content in Dublin and beyond, and be able to get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.
