Latest news with #AlanAndrews
Sunday World
09-05-2025
- General
- Sunday World
Deirdre Reynolds: Ignore the mummy mafia - child-free coffee shops have their place
It seems many mams and dads also have no issue with having to leave the little ones at home from time to time That's exactly what one café in Tipperary is offering – though not everyone is happy about it. The Old Barracks Coffee Roastery in Birdhill hit headlines last week for selling what is surely Ireland's most expensive cup of coffee at €15. But that wasn't what outraged some javaphiles as the artisan roastery's child-free rule also came to light. Speaking about the adults-only policy on Ireland AM last Wednesday, one female journalist went so far as to describe the 'absolutely horrendous' position as 'anti-woman', with another adding she 'would hate it to become normalised' in Ireland. Have they heard of Insomnia, Costa, or any of the hundreds of independent coffee shops all over the country where parents with young children are perfectly welcome. Many of them often look like a Bugaboo warehouse with the amount of prams that are scattered around the place, while some even host parent and baby groups or sell 'babyccinos' designed for kids – and that's completely fine. From where I'm sitting, and at the risk of incurring the wrath of the mummy mafia, Ireland has too few child-free spaces – not too many. Based on the replies to the morning TV segment on social media, it seems many mams and dads also have no issue with having to leave the little ones at home from time to time, with one mother saying she'd 'love to go to a child-free place for a cuppa every now and then'. Another '100pc' agreed: 'I have three kids and if I'm out for the day with friends the last thing you want to look [at]/listen to is someone else's kids'. While a third viewer added: 'There are many women who might enjoy this space.' As a childless woman, you could call me biased, but I'm certainly one of them. And I'd love more business owners here to have the backbone of Alan Andrews, himself a father, who in the face of criticism remained 'unapologetic' about welcoming dogs, but not children, to The Old Barracks, while revealing plans to open another child-free coffee shop in Limerick. Not for a minute am I suggesting families should be restricted to chains like McDonalds. Or, indeed, that members of Generation Alpha are any worse behaved than some grown-ups in social settings. In an age of supposed inclusivity however, that inclusivity should also stretch to the adults who don't necessarily want to have to go to the pub in order to avoid feeling like we've wandered into a creche. Why, when the most recent census showed a dramatic 11pc increase in the number of families in Ireland without children, should daytime spaces revolve around them? Corendon Dutch Airlines previously sparked debate after announcing it was taking the trend to new heights by launching an adults-only area on some of its flights, but the very fact that it made news shows just how few and far between such initiatives still are in a world still heavily skewed towards the traditional 'cereal packet' family. So while it might be a long way to Tipperary, as the storm in a coffee cup settles, it's a journey I'm happy to make.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ireland's only coffee festival to return to Tipperary
Ireland's only destination coffee festival is back, and it's bigger and better than ever, say organisers. This event will take place at The Old Barracks Coffee Roastery in Birdhill, Tipperary, from Friday to Sunday, June 27 – 29, bringing together the best in specialty coffee, culture, and community in one place. Following the success of last year's inaugural event, this year's adult-only festival which will also celebrate ten years of speciality coffee at The Old Barracks, promises a coffee-fuelled line-up of exhibitors, interactive workshops, live barista competitions, guest speakers, educational masterclasses, brewing demos and exclusive tastings of the finest brews from Ireland and beyond. An extra day has been added on Friday, June 27, for a BBQ dinner celebrating the tenth birthday of The Old Barracks in Birdhill along with a Wine Portfolio Tasting. 'Whether you're an espresso aficionado or simply someone who loves a good cup of joe, this festival offers something for everyone,' said a spokesperson. 'It's the perfect blend of coffee education for those who want to make great coffee at home, and immersive experiences designed to awaken your senses while drawing international attention to Ireland's growing reputation as a specialty coffee hub.' Festival founder and owner of The Old Barracks Coffee Roastery, Alan Andrews said: 'This festival is the ultimate destination for coffee lovers, and we're thrilled to offer a bigger and more dynamic experience for the 2025 event. 'It's an opportunity to bring together anyone who brews coffee, whether you brew at home or work in the industry or simply for those who want a great day out experiencing excellent coffee and learning more about coffee origins and different tastes and flavour profiles. 'We want to join together the whole coffee community so we can all learn from each other while showcasing the best talents of roasters and baristas from all over the country.' The festival is at the heart of Ireland's thriving coffee scene. New for the 2025 event is The Roasting Village - an outdoor tent in the beautiful surrounds of The Old Barracks with guest roasters showcasing their coffees every day and a coffee tasting class every hour on the hour. There will be live roasting sessions from guest roasters including Daniel Horbat from Sumo Coffee Roasters, Wojczeck Tylser from Blind Monkey Coffee Roasters and Mark Ashbridge from Established Coffee Roasters and Café. Demos will feature The Old Barracks Team, managed by Tomas Luczak, who will host a range of roasting demonstrations, coffee tastings and brewing classes throughout the weekend, where the coffee-curious can learn about green coffee beans from different single origins farms around the world. ADVERTISEMENT They will demonstrate how various processes affect the final flavour profile of a variety of beans, and attendees can try the roasting process themselves. In the main marquee coffee machine experts from Sage Espresso will be on hand to demonstrate how to get the best from your coffee machine and showcase the latest equipment for your home. In The Boozy Brew Bar, enjoy coffee cocktails, Irish coffees, and fine wines and get hands-on experience making the perfect espresso martini. Head to the Brewing Station and taste the different flavours as the barista team brew a wide selection single origin roasts. The Milk Masterswill teach visitors how to create amazing-looking lattes and latte art masterpieces from flowers and hearts to swans, teddy bears and smiley faces, while the Oatrageous Latte Art Throwdown is an open invitation to baristas across the country to test their latte art skills and free pour their best coffee art masterpieces in front of a panel of judges to vie for a host of prizes. Guest speakers range from sommeliers and industry leaders to local entrepreneurs - expand your knowledge as the experts share their stories of how they made it in their field. SISU - venture towards the SISU Wellness Area for fuel of a different sort. SISU will serve a range of wellness shots, organic Kombucha and cold-pressed juices, and Elizabeth Walsh will host a gentle morning Yoga Flow in the Park on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Enjoy Braw Chocolates – Chocolate Making Demo and education sessions with chocolate and coffee pairing tastings. Early bird tickets are available now, while the pre-festival barbecue on June 27 are €35 per person, and festival day tickets are €20 per person. Birdhill Coffee Festival will take place in the 300-year-old Old Barracks Roastery and gardens in Birdhill, County Tipperary. The roastery overlooks Lough Derg and Mount Moylussa, just off the M7.
Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Times
Inside the child-free café charging €15 a coffee but allowing dogs
A Tipperary coffee shop with a 'no children' policy is charging €15 for a single cup of coffee. The Old Barracks Coffee Roastery in Birdhill is part of a portfolio of hospitality businesses operated by Dubliner and father of two Alan Andrews, who told The Sunday Times Ireland that he was soon to open a second no-children café, in Limerick. Andrews said his speciality coffee pricing and shop policies had raised eyebrows and even ire from some customers, especially parents arriving with children and hoping for a bending of the rules. The Old Barracks Roastery is, however, a dog-friendly cafe. 'The roastery is a destination for adults — and for dogs — and I'm unapologetic about it,' he said. 'I don't understand it when people
