Landmark Shinrone pub on sale for €295,000

A LANDMARK public house in Shinrone is up for sale at €295,000.
Spain's, on Main Street, has been on the market for the last two years, as a going concern, but if sells and it ceases to be a pub then there will only be one pub, the Castle Bar, in the village. It will probably continue as a pub. However, last year new regulations came into being which mean no planning permission is needed to change a building's use from a public house to residential.
Local councillor Peter Ormond this week paid tribute to Michael and Margaret Fox, the owners of the pub since 2000, saying it's an excellent establishment which is greatly valued by the local community.
“It's true that pub-going is not as popular as it once was,” he said, “but the people of Shinrone still see Spain's as being a vital part of the fabric of the village's life. Everyone hopes that whoever buys it will continue to run it as a bar. Many villages in Ireland have suffered a fall-off in services which has adversely affected them. They need to hold onto landmark bars like Spain's. If it goes there will only be one pub in the village, which is not acceptable.”
The auctioneers describe Spain's as, “A long-established public house that has been the focal point for socialising in the village for many years. It enjoys an excellent trade, with reasonable opening hours, allowing time for hobbies and living; and is the perfect opportunity for a person with an experience in the bar trade, or someone simply wishing to make a new life for themselves and their family. This property features a seven-day licence, with very workable opening hours producing a strong turnover. There is potential to increase turnover with longer opening hours, music sessions, and it enjoys a brilliant trading position.”