The Snailbox Bar & Restaurant Ashbourne

Welcome to The Snailbox Bar & Gastro Restaurant in Ashbourne Co Meath. They hang down from the ceiling — over 4,500 of them — in neat rows, looking for all the world like multi-coloured bats. Hats from the locality, hats from around Ireland, hats from across the globe. Each one has been donated by customers, who have heard of this strange but compelling gathering — a gathering of hats that aims to, one day, win a Guinness World Record gong for the most hats in a public place. Having won the Best Welcome & Customer Service Award a few years ago, the Snail Box has built its reputation not just through its customer service strategy (which, frankly, comes across as less strategy and more natural friendliness) but rather through a consistency of food produce that is second to none. It’s fair to say this restaurant isn’t after the haute cuisine market;