The best bar none

KINSALE is on the up, say Angela and Kieran Dwane, and after ten years behind the counter in the Hole in the Wall in the town, the couple say they are ready for other projects.

"We feel it's a good time to move," says Angela, "the pub is going very well and we haven't maxed out its full potential yet."

In the early Nineties, the couple were taking a chance when they settled on the Hole in the Wall as a prospective purchase. The Hole in the Wall had been through two owners and was a little rundown it was also closed.

Gamble or not, they stuck to their guns and bought the premises with a hefty mortgage, which meant they only had a few bob left over for a lick of paint and a refresh, before they opened the doors.

Angela trained as a chef at Cathal Brugha Street and Kieran's training was at Rockwell with a number of stints abroad; and their relationship began over the pots a steamy affair indeed.

Despite being green to the pub trade, the couple made a fist of things and by 1998 invested in a large extension which took in part of a rear yard and gave an extra 70% of space to the original premises. At the time, their solicitor suggested they license not only the patio area to the rear, but also the famous courtyard, which is one of the HITW's biggest attractions on a sunny summer days.

Quite fortuitously, the Dwane's had everything in place for the smoking ban last year: their turnover has actually increased since then, they say. Theirs is a thriving local trade, with the cream provided by the summer tourist industry, but most of all, by the Kinsale Sevens week in June.

They've kept the food end of the business quite tight, with a lunchtime menu only, but do say there's room for expansion on that; in fact, there's a large commercial kitchen off the main bar which is up to the relevant regulations.

Also, the premises comes with an overhead apartment which could convert to a small restaurant, or continue to be let out. In all, the Hole in the Wall has a surprising 7,000 square feet of licensed space with about 2,500 sq foot making up the built area.

The property is for sale by private treaty through Maurice Cohalan of Cohalan Downing who declined to name a price, but it's expected a property at this level of turnover could make in the region of E2 million.

The same agent is also thought to be close to a deal on the Folk House, another Kinsale landmark for a sum close to the asking price of E3 million.

Details: Cohalan Downing 021 4277717