Lenihan’s leads in Powers whiskey best snug poll

Lenihan’s pub in Trim is topping the poll in the Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey nationwide search to find Ireland’s Best Snug, with just days to go in the competition. The landmark Trim pub is hoping to win its second award in a week after being named Traditional Pub of the Year at the Irish Hospitality Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin on Monday. A total of 110 snugs in pubs around the country have been shortlisted for the competition, including James Griffins (Lenihans) in Trim and The Auld Stand in Ratoath. The competition continues until 8th November. Every person who casts a vote will be in with a chance to win a trip of lifetime to Banff in the Rocky Mountains. Powers Whiskey will announce the overall winner of Ireland’s Best Snug on 18th November. Yesterday (Tuesday), Lenihan’s had more than 1,300 votes, 300 ahead of its nearest rival. Publican Tom Lenihan is encouraging local people to vote before 8th November by visiting www.powerswhiskey.ie or texting 'Powers Griffins Meath’ to 51444. A Facebook campaign has also been launched to support the Trim pub’s bid. Traditionally small, partitioned rooms with a door and hatch access to the bar, snugs were originally created for ladies who wanted to drink without being frowned upon but became popular with all patrons, particularly those wanting privacy such as businessmen brokering deals or discussing the day’s events. Today snugs are more sociable spaces. In a survey by Powers Whiskey to mark their nationwide search, 78 per cent of respondents cited reunion with old friends as their most memorable experience in a snug, with just three per cent referring to a business deal.