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Lavery’s Pub
This is one of Belfast’s most illustrious pubs and boasts a long lineage of publicans in this city.
Previously known as Kinahan’s, the Lavery family bought it in 1918 from the Kinahan brothers. As well as selling spirits and being a grocer’s, this was a stage coach stop for the Belfast-Dublin line.
At this time the Lavery family owned 30-40 bars mostly bought over for their stock due to the shortages created by the First World War. After the war only five bars remained operational and four brothers, Tom, Patsy, Charlie and Donal ran them.1
This corner on the ground floor is a little photographic museum. A collection of family photos show the long line of Lavery’s from childhood to their historic connections as publicans. This is Patsy one of the current owners while John is shown here in the next framed photo outside his first pub in Dromara called The Stove. On top of his publican duties John was also a magistrate, a farmer and an undertaker.
Incidentally, it was John’s son Thomas who established the first pub in Belfast after a very long walk from his native home in County Down.
Next door, which can be accessed through the pub is the Off-Licence.
In 1947 Lavery Ltd was formed by four of Pat’s sons Tom, Patsy, Charlie and Donal. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all plain sailing from here as the family suffered many setbacks over the following decades. After losing most of their pubs for one reason or another they experienced greater hardship at the beginning of the Troubles.
In 1972 Lavery’s was burnt out; nearly killing Tom who lived in the flat above the bar. By this time the bar was jointly owned by Tom and Patsy and was rebuilt in 1973.2
At the back here was the old Cobbles bar aptly named after the cobbled lined entry behind the pub. It’s a slightly more relaxed atmosphere here but also more importantly, historically speaking, this was where the original stables were located. Fresh horses would be changed at Kinahan’s allowing the travellers time for a little tipple or two before going on their way once more.
In keeping with tradition too, this beer garden lacks for nothing here either since a canopy and tv will insure punters won’t miss a trick.
The stairwells reveal another slice of recent history for this bar. Hundreds of posters line the walls of live acts and groups who performed here in the past.
An extension during the 1980’s and the last one in February 2007 meant that this Middle Bar was rebuilt and the Attic Bar extended out over the top of the Back Bar subsequently adding new offices, a bigger kitchen and space for 20 pool tables. As a result, overall capacity on all floors increased to 1500 people.
To date though, Lavery’s is now undergoing probably it’s most expensive and dramatic facelifts. This work in progress on the top floor will create a more engaging and modern social atmosphere than its local counterparts. Furthermore, the balcony being designed here will surely guarantee Lavery’s success well into the future.
References
1 http://www.laverysbelfast.com/history.asp
2 As above.
External Links
http://www.laverysbelfast.com/
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