Winter Warmer Menu at The Spinnaker Bar, Dunmore East
Winter in Dunmore East means wind off the Celtic Sea, rain sweeping across Waterford Harbour, and the need for proper hot food. Peter runs the kitchen at The Spinnaker Bar, Lower Village, Dunmore East, and his winter menu delivers: lamb shank, seafood chowder, beef & Guinness pie, steaks, and hot desserts like crème brûlée and chocolate orange tart. Walk-ins welcome most days. For Friday or Sunday evening, or groups of six or more, ring Peter on (051) 383 133.
What's on the Winter Warmer Menu
Peter built the menu around what works when it's cold and wet outside. Start with seafood chowder €13.50 — thick, creamy, loaded with local fish and shellfish from the day-boats that tie up fifty metres from the door. Or mussels €14 in chorizo, sherry, cream, served with garlic bread for mopping.
Mains: lamb shank €27, slow-cooked until it falls off the bone, served with mash and vegetables. Seafood pie €23 — flaky pastry, white sauce, prawns, salmon, cod. 8oz striploin steak €37 if you want something straightforward and filling. Chicken korma €22 with rice and naan, or the vegetable korma €20. Beer-battered fish €22.50 stays on year-round because it's what people ask for.
Desserts: crème brûlée, cheesecake, strawberry mousse, chocolate orange tart — all €8.95. Hot, sweet, exactly what you want after a walk on Doneraile or an afternoon watching the boats come in.
Why The Spinnaker Works in Winter
The Spinnaker Bar sits on the harbour in Lower Village, Dunmore East. In winter, that means you're inside a working pub with a fire, a pint, and the smell of food coming out of the kitchen while the wind rattles the windows. The fishing boats are still going out — weather permitting — and Peter buys direct when they come back in. The seafood on your plate was swimming that morning.
It's not a gastro-pub. It's a harbour pub that happens to serve very good food because Peter runs the kitchen himself and cares about what goes out. The atmosphere is locals at the bar, families at the tables, dogs allowed, rugby or football on the big screen if there's a match. In winter, the village is quieter — tourists thin out after October — so you get the place as it actually is, not the summer version.
Sunday Roast and Live Music Weekends
Peter does a Sunday roast on the day — check his Facebook page for this week's cut and price. Beef, lamb, pork, whatever he's sourced. Roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, gravy, vegetables. It sells out most Sundays, so ring ahead if you're coming with a group or want to be sure of a table: (051) 383 133.
Weekends often mean live music on the deck — even in winter, if the weather holds. Ash & Laura play regularly. Peter posts the schedule live on Facebook, so check there Friday morning if you want to know who's on. Every Premier League match and GAA match goes on the big screen, so winter Saturdays and Sundays can get busy around kick-off time.
Booking and Walk-Ins
Walk-ins work fine most days. Peter runs the bar and the kitchen, so if it's quiet he'll find you a table. Friday evenings and Sunday evenings can fill up — locals booking for the weekend, families doing Sunday roast — so ring ahead if you're coming then: (051) 383 133. Any group of six or more, ring Peter regardless of the day. Email works too: spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com.
Peter posts this week's hours and food times on Facebook because they shift slightly week to week depending on weather, deliveries, and how busy the village is. Check there before you drive down, or ring him directly. He answers the phone himself.
Getting to Dunmore East in Winter
Dunmore East is 12 km south-east of Waterford City, at the mouth of the River Suir where it meets the Celtic Sea. Population around 1,500. In winter, the village is quieter but fully open — pubs, shops, the lifeboat station, the harbour. The cliff walk at Doneraile is spectacular in winter if you don't mind wind and the chance of rain. Counsellor's Strand is empty most days. Parking is easy.
The Spinnaker Bar is in Lower Village, right on the harbour. If you're driving in from Waterford, follow the R684 south through Passage East Road, then the R685 into the village. The pub is on the water. You'll see the fishing boats tied up outside. Park on the street or in the village car park and walk down. Two-minute walk maximum.
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
Does The Spinnaker have a set winter menu or does it change weekly?
The core winter dishes — lamb shank, seafood chowder, mussels, steaks, seafood pie, kormas — stay consistent because they're what Peter does well and what people ask for. Specials and the Sunday roast cut change week to week depending on what's fresh and what Peter sources. Check his Facebook page for this week's specials, or ring him on (051) 383 133 and ask what's on.
Do I need to book for winter weekends at The Spinnaker?
Walk-ins work most days, but Friday and Sunday evenings fill up with locals and families doing the Sunday roast. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 if you're coming those nights, or if you're a group of six or more any day. He runs the bar and kitchen himself, so he'll tell you straight if he has space or if you should book.
Is the seafood at The Spinnaker actually local in winter?
Yes. The fishing boats tie up at the harbour fifty metres from The Spinnaker's door. Peter buys direct from the day-boats when they come in — weather permitting. Winter storms mean fewer fishing days, but when the boats go out, the seafood on your plate was swimming that morning. Chowder, mussels, seafood pie, beer-battered fish — all local catch.
What are the opening hours for The Spinnaker in winter?
Peter posts this week's hours on the Facebook page because they shift slightly week to week depending on weather, deliveries, and village traffic. Check there before you drive down, or ring Peter directly on (051) 383 133. He answers the phone himself and will tell you when the kitchen is open and if there's a table free.