Retail option for bar

SHOP or pub? That’s the option facing Killarney’s O’Riains High Street bar.

Last sold back in 1999 when it was called Courtneys and was picture postcard pretty but in need of work, it has since been fully re-built at considerable expense.

Last time around it made over £700,000/1 million or so, now in its new guise it is likely to fetch over the E2 million mark, possibly closer to E2.25 million.

But, although it is successfully trading as a bar at ground and first floor level, its future use may now well switch to retail, suggests John Huhes of CBRE Gunne who is to sell by auction on May 19.

Because of the High Street setting in Killarney, he anticipates "keen interest from publicans, retailers and investors."

He notes its location "on the principal shopping street of this bustling and renowned tourist town."

Killarney gets both national and international visitors throughout the year case in point, the CIF and the country's house-builders who are due to descend on the town on May 6 and 7, and who may well have some members keen to splash some of their cash on a spot like O'Riains though all the hard graft work is done.

O'Riain's was taken back to front facade and gutted to the rear four years ago, and re-built to a high standard, and is well appointed throughout, says CBRE Gunne's Mr Hughes.

It has frontage to High Street and return frontage to Pawnbrokers Lane with about 1,80 sq ft of licensed area, with bay window, bar, lounge, catering kitchen, staff area and service room, stores and toilets.

Vendors are Michael and Fiona Ryan.

Details: CB Richard Ellis Gunne, 01-6185500