Michelin guide boost for Thyme restaurant in Athlone

It was announced this week that Thyme, the highly-regarded Athlone restaurant, had retained its Michelin Bib Gourmand status in the new 2021 Michelin guide for Great Britain and Ireland.

Thyme's proprietor, John Coffey, said the news had come as a welcome boost, but he believes it could be May or June before the eatery at Custume Place is allowed to reopen to the public.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, John said retaining the prestigious Bib Gourmand - which recognises eateries offering exceptional food at moderate prices - was a tribute to the staff at the restaurant.

"It's really down to the hard work of all the staff. It's been a very different year for them, and they've never worked as hard as they did over the last year," he commented.

It was first announced in October 2019 that Thyme was being given the Bib Gourmand status for 2020, but John said the disruption to the hospitality sector last year meant it was difficult to gauge the Michelin recommendation's impact on trade.

"We had been looking forward to a busy year, having received a Bib Gourmand, but it didn't really materialise as it would in 'normal' times," he said.

Unfortunately, he believes the reopening of restaurants is still quite a distance away.

"From reading between the lines, I'd imagine it will be May or June by the time we open. You would hope that when we do reopen it will be the last time that we have to reopen," he said.

"I was actually a bit shocked that we were open at Christmas at all, because it didn't really benefit anybody. In hindsight, it wasn't the best of plans. Because we were only open for three weeks, we didn't get that run-in to Christmas that you'd normally get.

"There was more of a feeling of joy last summer, when people were delighted to be out, whereas this time it was a lot more inevitable that (the reopening) wouldn't be for long.

"There wasn't quite the same atmosphere in the restaurant as there would have been in the summertime. People knew we were going to be in lockdown again in January, so there wasn't that air of optimism or joie de vivre.

"I would imagine that hospitality will be the last to reopen, so realistically we're thinking it will be May or June, but, if it happens before that, then great. You prepare for the worst and hope for the best," he commented.

Thyme was one of just 18 Irish restaurants to receive the Bib Gourmand accolade in this year's Michelin guide. A further 18 restaurants were awarded Michelin Stars.