Our story

Polly’s container café (or Polly’s @Platform 77 to be exact) is the brainchild of the Kent family, owners of the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, where the café is located.

With the hotel closed as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, the Kent family needed to do something to service the increasing numbers of people accessing the beautiful Abbeyleix Bog boardwalk, the entrance of which is situated in the carpark of the hotel.

And so Polly’s was born! Originally established in a retro Airstream trailer, Alex, April and Jenny Kent began serving coffee, homemade cakes, toasties and, at the weekends, incredible Neapolitan style wood-fired pizzas for takeaway.

Today the menu has expanded to include breakfast, salads and, at the weekends, gourmet burgers for takeaway.

Outdoor seating is available in the terrace area called Platform 77, a nod to the old Abbeyleix railway line that used to run straight past our door! Our new retractable roof and glass sides mean that no matter the weather you can catch up with friends in comfort at Polly’s.

So why not pop down, get some fresh air, maybe meet a friend you haven’t seen in a while and treat yourselves to something delicious at Polly’s?

And who is Polly? Well, it’s April’s nickname, from the old nursery rhyme Polly Put the Kettle on!