At the Table with Anna Haugh: WIN’s Private Dining Experience for Irish Women in London
On a wintery evening in Chelsea, the Women’s Irish Network brought together 20 Irish women in London for something truly special: an intimate private dining experience at Myrtle with Irish chef, broadcaster and restaurateur Anna Haugh. Designed exclusively for WIN members, this sold-out event merged fine dining, conversation and networking, and reminded everyone in the room what happens when Irish women take their place at the table together.
From leadership and heritage to work–life balance and the realities of hospitality, Anna’s story resonated deeply with members building careers in London. This is exactly the kind of high-impact, high-connection experience WIN membership is all about.
An intimate night at Myrtle, just for WIN members
Set in the intimate private dining room at Myrtle in Chelsea, the evening began with Anna’s signature crémant and a warm welcome from WIN Chair Yvonne Maher and board members Emily and Christine. With only 20 seats in the room, the atmosphere felt more like a gathering of friends rather than a formal event, everyone was close enough to ask questions, share stories and truly connect.
Before dinner, Anna joined WIN on the “hot seat” for a live Q&A, sharing candidly about her journey from growing up in Tallaght to running a Michelin-recognised restaurant, becoming a familiar face on British television and proudly flying the flag for Irish food culture in London.
For many members, it was a rare chance to hear the unfiltered story behind the headlines; from the early days on the kitchen line to the courage it took to open her own restaurant when the idea of Irish fine dining didn’t exist. Thanks to Anna, now it does.
Leadership, heritage and changing the story about Irish food
Throughout the conversation, Anna kept returning to two themes that felt especially relevant to our community: leadership and Irish identity.
She spoke about learning, early on, that work could be something to be proud of, not a grind to endure. That mindset shaped the way she leads her own team at Myrtle: building a fair, respectful kitchen where staff can grow, take time off when they need it and fulfil their potential. For the WIN members in the room, many of whom lead teams or aspire to, her description of leadership as “lifting others up so they can lead themselves” really landed.
Anna also reflected on how much the perception of Irish food has changed. When she first opened Myrtle as a fine-dining Irish restaurant, even Irish people laughed at the idea. Now, Irish ingredients from beef and black pudding to butter and oysters are recognised and revered around the world.
Honest conversations you don’t hear on TV
One of the biggest values of being in the room was the honesty. Anna spoke openly about:
The impact of Brexit on sourcing Irish produce and how it has reshaped the hospitality landscape
Why lasting change in the industry has to come from policy and leadership, not just individual consumer choices
Her determination to run a fair kitchen, where staff can have Saturday nights off, run marathons abroad and grow into their potential
The reality of online food culture, from “charlatan” cooking hacks to the importance of authenticity and credible advice
She also shared more personal reflections: the influence of her parents’ work ethic, the mentors who shaped her, and how she’s still working on that elusive balance between work, motherhood, social life and “time for me”.
For WIN members, it was a rare chance to ask anything about food, leadership, career choices and confidence in a room where nothing was off the table.
Why this kind of WIN event matters
For many of the women in the room, this night answered a familiar question: where can I go in London to meet ambitious, grounded Irish women and have conversations that go deeper than small talk?
At the Table with Anna Haugh delivered exactly that:
Access you can’t get elsewhere
High-quality networking without the awkwardness
A shared celebration of Irish culture
Confidence and inspiration
Want to be at the next table?
At the Table with Anna Haugh was one of WIN’s most in-demand events of the year and it sold out quickly. The small guest list, the level of access and the depth of connection simply wouldn’t have been possible any other way.
This is what WIN membership unlocks:
Members-only experiences with leading Irish voices in London
Priority access to premium cultural and networking events
A trusted community of Irish women who understand where you come from and where you’re going
If you’re an Irish woman living and working in the UK and you’d like your diary to include more evenings like this, we’d love you to join us.
Visit our Membership page to become a WIN member today and make sure you’re first to hear about our next private dining experience, cultural event or members-only gathering.
