Prawn Cocktail at The Spinnaker Bar Dunmore East
The prawn cocktail at The Spinnaker Bar, Lower Village, Dunmore East is €12 and it's the proper classic. Fresh Atlantic prawns on shredded iceberg, Marie Rose sauce, brown bread. No messing. Peter runs the kitchen himself and sources his seafood from the day-boats tied up thirty metres from the front door. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 to book a table or walk in most days.
What You Get in the Prawn Cocktail
The prawn cocktail at The Spinnaker is served in a tall glass, prawns piled on shredded iceberg lettuce, Marie Rose sauce (mayo, ketchup, Worcestershire, lemon, dash of Tabasco), wedge of lemon on the side. Brown bread comes with it. The prawns are cold-water Atlantic, firm texture, sweet flavour. No filler, no padding with cheap salad. This is the version you remember from the 1980s done right with quality prawns.
Peter preps the Marie Rose fresh every service. It's tangy, creamy, bit of heat from the Tabasco. The brown bread is good for mopping up the sauce at the bottom. Portion size is generous for a starter at €12. You can also order it as a light lunch on its own if you're not after a full meal.
Why the Seafood is This Good in Dunmore East
Dunmore East is a working fishing village at the mouth of Waterford Harbour where the River Suir meets the Celtic Sea. The boats you see tied up in the harbour land mackerel, herring, crab, lobster, prawns. The Spinnaker Bar sits on the harbour in the Lower Village. Peter buys his prawns and seafood from the boats that dock outside his door. Day-boat fresh means landed that morning, in the kitchen by afternoon.
This isn't a marketing story. Walk down to the harbour at dawn and you'll see the trawlers coming in. The prawns in your cocktail were swimming in the Celtic Sea twenty-four hours ago. That's why the texture is firm and the flavour is clean. You can't fake proximity to the source.
Other Starters and Seafood at The Spinnaker
If you want more seafood, Peter does mussels for €14 (chorizo, sherry, cream, garlic bread on the side), seafood chowder for €13.50 (prawns, white fish, salmon, creamy broth, brown bread), and beer battered fish for €22.50 as a main (cod or haddock, chips, tartar sauce, mushy peas). The seafood pie is €23 (prawns, salmon, white fish, mash top, vegetables).
Non-seafood starters include wings for €14 (buffalo or BBQ, celery, blue cheese dip) and Greek salad for €11 (feta, olives, tomato, cucumber, red onion, olive oil). The prawn cocktail at €12 sits in the middle price-wise and it's the most traditional choice. Email Peter at spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com if you want to check what's on this week.
Booking a Table at The Spinnaker Bar
Walk-ins are welcome most days at The Spinnaker Bar. If you're coming Friday evening, Sunday evening, or you're a group of six or more, ring Peter on (051) 383 133 to book. Peter runs the bar and the kitchen himself so the phone goes straight to him. He'll tell you if he has space and what time works.
Food times and opening hours change week to week depending on weather, bookings, and what Peter has planned. He posts this week's hours on Facebook so check there before you drive over. Message Peter on Facebook if you can't get through on the phone. The address is Lower Village, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. Park in the village and walk down to the harbour.
What Else Happens at The Spinnaker
The Spinnaker is a working harbour pub. Cold pints, live music on the deck at weekends (Ash and Laura play sometimes, check Facebook for current acts), every Premier League and GAA match on the big screen. The deck overlooks the harbour and the fishing boats. Sunday roast is on the day, whatever Peter is cooking that week.
Dunmore East itself is worth the trip. Thatched cottages, pastel-painted houses, the Doneraile cliff walk, Counsellor's Strand beach, the lifeboat station. It's twelve kilometres south-east of Waterford City. Population around 1,500. The prawn cocktail is a good reason to come but the village and the harbour are the real draw. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 and come down for lunch or dinner.
Book a table — go straight to Peter
Peter is the new owner of The Spinnaker Bar in Dunmore East. He runs the kitchen and the bar himself, so booking goes direct to him — no app, no fee, no middleman.
Or message Peter on the Spinnaker Facebook page — he checks it daily.
Quick questions
How much is the prawn cocktail at The Spinnaker Bar?
The prawn cocktail at The Spinnaker Bar is €12. Fresh Atlantic prawns, shredded iceberg lettuce, Marie Rose sauce, brown bread. Peter preps the sauce fresh every service. The prawns come from day-boats in Dunmore East harbour. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 to book or walk in most days.
Where does The Spinnaker get its prawns?
Peter buys his prawns and seafood from the fishing boats that dock in Dunmore East harbour, thirty metres from The Spinnaker Bar. Day-boat fresh means landed that morning, in the kitchen by afternoon. Dunmore East is a working fishing village at the mouth of Waterford Harbour where the River Suir meets the Celtic Sea. The prawns are cold-water Atlantic, firm texture, sweet flavour.
Do I need to book a table at The Spinnaker Bar?
Walk-ins are welcome most days. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 if you're coming Friday evening, Sunday evening, or if you're a group of six or more. Peter runs the bar and kitchen himself so the phone goes straight to him. Food times and opening hours are posted each week on Facebook. Message Peter on Facebook if you can't reach him by phone.
What other seafood starters are at The Spinnaker?
Peter does seafood chowder for €13.50 (prawns, white fish, salmon, creamy broth, brown bread) and mussels for €14 (chorizo, sherry, cream, garlic bread). The prawn cocktail is €12. All seafood comes from day-boats in Dunmore East. Email Peter at spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com or check Facebook for this week's menu. The Spinnaker Bar is in the Lower Village, on the harbour.