Pub raises a cheer with cut-price vino

THE “cheapest pub in Ireland” for pints has now come up with even more recession-busting offers – this time on wine and coffee.

Since last September, the Cork city bar has been selling all pints at €2.90 from opening time to 9pm, seven days a week.

Now An Bróg in Oliver Plunkett Street has chosen to slash its prices on glasses of wine.

The pub is offering a chilled rosé, three types of white wine and two reds, all for the knock-down price of €2.90 per glass.

Owner Niall Kearney has predicted that other pubs will have to slash their prices if they want to weather the economic downturn.

“Since we introduced the €2.90 pints, trade has been very successful and is growing all the time.

“Okay, our profit per pint is much less, but turnover is up. There is no point having an empty bar with staff hanging around being paid to do nothing,” Mr Kearney said.

The rosé wine is Earnest & Julio Gallo . The whites on offer are Chilean Sendero Sauvignon Blanc; a south-eastern Australian Richmond Gore Cellar Selection Chardonnay; and an Italian Borgo San Leo Pinot Grigio.

A Cyt Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile and a Richmond Gore Cellar Selection 2008 from Australia are the reds.

“We are finding that a lot of women are drinking the wine, but there are some men too.

“I think it will really take off, just like the pints,” he said.

And just like the pints, the €2.90 per glass offer covers seven days a week, till 9pm daily.

The average glass of wine in a city centre pub is €4.50 and a pint of lager around €4.70.

A large mug of Maher’s coffee – measuring around two-thirds of a pint – is going for a miniscule €1.50 at An Bróg.

“That’s going well enough, but I suppose being a pub the beer will always sell better,” Mr Kearney said.

“People are watching every cent they have these days and I think other pubs will have to cotton on or else they will simply have to close their doors during the day,” he added.