The rising popularity of Irish and Welsh cuisines
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) and St. David’s Day (March 1) provide the perfect occasion to showcase traditional Irish and Welsh dishes. Research shows that interest in these cuisines is on the rise, with 43% of consumers expressing a desire to try them, and 36% already enjoying them.
This growing demand highlights the importance of incorporating these flavours into your menu, and there’s no better time than now.
Whether you choose to offer limited-time specials for a few days or celebrate the entire month, these celebrations present an exciting opportunity to draw in customers, giving them a compelling reason to choose your establishment over others.
Below are several tips to help you position your restaurant or venue as an expert in Irish and Welsh cuisine. By doing so, you can elevate your dining experience, showcase quality offerings, and provide added value—all of which are key areas that businesses should focus on.
To dive deeper into why these are important in a challenging market, be sure to check our blog: 2025 out of home sector: is it a case of survive or thrive?
1. Serve hearty, authentic dishes from these cuisines
Irish and Welsh cuisine is all about hearty, comforting meals, perfect for the colder months. Classic dishes like Irish Coddle, a rich stew made with leftover meat, and Welsh Cawl, a flavourful combination of leeks and lamb, are sure to bring warmth and a sense of tradition to your menu.
Many traditional dishes, such as stews and soups, lend themselves well to batch cooking and can be prepared in advance. By focusing on these types of dishes, you can streamline your kitchen operations, reduce labour demands, and maintain a high standard of service.


2. Tailor Irish and Welsh dishes for every sector
Irish and Welsh dishes are versatile and can be tailored to suit any type of venue:
- Hotels could offer a St. Patrick’s or St. David’s Day-themed afternoon tea, featuring Welsh cakes, that appeal to 50% of consumers*
- Schools might serve Boxty – a traditional potato pancake or Welsh Glamorgan sausages – both appealing to roughly a third of consumers*
- Pubs could serve all of the above, as well as classic Irish stew, accompanied by soda bread and a pint of Guinness. They can also offer themed events such as Irish whiskey tastings or food pairings to attract the “experience-led” consumer**
- Travel and leisure providers can offer grab-and-go meals like the Welsh Oggie, giving visitors a taste of these regions on the move
3. Enhance the dining experience with engaging menu descriptions for Irish and Welsh dishes
These Irish and Welsh dishes, often associated with comfort and tradition, create a memorable experience by giving your customers something special to celebrate. To enhance this experience, consider highlighting the cultural significance of ingredients like leeks, a national emblem of Wales, or potato farls, a staple of Irish cuisine.
These small touches will not only enhance the dining experience but also builds a deeper connection with customers.
4. Highlight locally sourced and quality ingredients
To truly showcase your expertise in Irish and Welsh cuisine, emphasise the use of locally sourced ingredients. This not only reinforces the authenticity of your offerings but also appeals to around half of consumers who are proud to support local Scottish, Welsh or Irish produce.*
Leverage the ingredients that are in season (such as leeks) to ensure that you’re working with high-quality ingredients that are fresh, abundant and less likely to spoil, which will reduce food waste.
5. Adapt for all dayparts – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even on-the-go!
- Breakfast: Offer an Irish-style breakfast featuring soda bread or Boxty. Consider a Welsh spin by incorporating laverbread (seaweed) to a full English.
- Lunch: Serve familiar formats like the Welsh Oggie (that resembles a pasty) or Irish Dingle pie. These dishes are gaining popularity, in addition to 53% of consumers expressing interest in rarebit—a traditional Welsh dish.* To stand out, elevate the classic rarebit by combining Irish and Welsh flavours with our chef’s inspired “Guinness rarebit served on colcannon potato scones.” You can find the full recipe here.
- Grab-and-go: Add Irish spice bags to your menu. This street food Chinese-inspired dish, popular in Ireland, features deep-fried salt and chili chips, chili chicken, peppers, and onions—a flavourful, social media-worthy dish that’s sure to attract attention.
- Dinner: Offer a classic Welsh lamb dish with baby potatoes, a traditional choice that brings simplicity in the kitchen and is sure to please diners.
- Dessert: For a sweet finish, consider offering a traditional jelly-style carrageen pudding or indulgent Guinness-infused chocolate brownies— which has already made an appearance on menus and makes for a delightful addition to any dessert selection.
Steps to make an Irish Boxty:
Boxty is a traditional Irish dish commonly referred to as potato pancakes made with a blend of mashed and grated potatoes, flour, eggs, milk, and seasonings, shaped into patties and fried until crisp. It can be eaten as part of an English breakfast, or as a side dish for all day parts.

4 easy steps:
Toss grated potatoes with flour, then combine this with mashed potatoes.
Whisk the wet ingredients together (eggs/milk).
Then mix them into the potato mixture, and season to taste (with salt and pepper).
Pour the mixture into the pan, shape it into a patty, and fry on both sides until golden brown.
Source: All Recipes
For more Irish, Welsh and Scottish recipes, check out our closer to home webpage: Food trends UK 2025.
Seize the opportunity
With 43% of consumers eager to try traditional Irish, Scottish and Welsh dishes in 2025*, St. Patrick’s and St. David’s Days are prime opportunities to make your menu stand out. By incorporating authentic dishes and demonstrating your knowledge of these cuisines, you can create a menu that resonates with customers.
Whether you operate a restaurant, pub, hotel, or leisure provider, there’s immense potential to drive success while offering customers an authentic taste of the British Isles with Irish and Welsh dishes.
Still interested in more? For further inspiration on Irish, Welsh and Scottish cuisine – check out the ‘closer to home’ trend: Food trends UK 2025.
Sources:
*CGA by NielsenIQ and Bidfood 2025 Food and Drink Trends consumer survey, sample size 2,000 (UK adults); data collected May 2024.
**Lumina Intelligence, UK Menu and Food Trends 2024