Landmark pub on the market
ASKING PRICE €375K for Con J. Smith’s
One of Cavan’s landmark pubs has been placed on the market with an asking price of €375,000.
Con J. Smith’s Bar & Lounge in the heart of Butlersbridge village is listed with Sherry FitzGerald Declan Woods.
It’s being presented as “a rare opportunity to acquire a landmark licensed premises, which may appeal to existing publicans, new entrants, or investors seeking a development opportunity”.
The long-established licensed premises also includes residential accommodation including five bedrooms. The entire property extends to 375 sq metres.
In 1936 Danny and Margaret Smith, Con J. Smith’s parents, purchased the original pub, which they rebuilt in 1949. When his father passed away in 1965, Con took over and with his wife Agatha, and they added the lounge in 1973. Con passed away in 1990 and Agatha continued to run the business until recently.
The property was synonymous with the sporting community and in particular the GAA as Con was a renowned footballer who played for Butlersbridge and Cavan Gaels. He won Ulster Senior Football Championships with Cavan in 1959, 1960, 1962. Many a match was recalled in the bar.
The pub also became a meeting hub for greyhound racing and coursing fraternity, both North and South, with family connections having great success in 2003 winning the Irish greyhound derby.
Con J. Smith’s Bar is a traditional style double fronted licensed premises occupying a commanding corner trading position at the junction of Butlersbridge onto the N3, close to the award-winning Murph’s Gastro Pub at the Derragarra Inn.
The property features a separate public bar and retail off licence, lounge, ladies and gents toilets, storage and service facilities on the ground floor. The remainder of the ground floor comprises the residential element presented as kitchen/dining/living room and sitting room. On the first floor, there are five bedrooms, a dressing room/study and bathroom. Outside there is an enclosed utility yard with storage and an excellent enclosed tarmacadam carpark.
The auctioneer says: “The property is presented throughout in turn-key condition enjoying a traditional style fit-out requiring little capital expenditure having been extremely well maintained by the operator.”