Together, Guinness and the Irish Pub Company packaged the Irish Pub for export – This became the Guinness Irish Pub Concept – the same concept that every Irish Pub Designer uses today.
In the early 1990’s the Irish Pub expanded into Europe and from 1995 onwards, it expanded into the USA and throughout the rest of the world.
The Irish Pub Company with Guinness brought the Irish pub investment to all corners of the globe. To this day – The Irish Pub Company remains the leader in Irish Pub Design.
This is how the Irish Pub Concept came about…
1973
Our story begins in 1973 and Mel’s first encounter with the design of Irish Pubs through a College Project on the ‘Best Designs within Dublin Pubs.
While others in Mel’s class took on architectural projects, Mel’s lecturers couldn’t dampen his determination to carry out his research project on Irish Pubs. The project showed exemplary craftsmanship – the compositions of great glass and metal design and the nuances that made the selected Pubs so successful.
This project became such a success it was exhibited in the Mansion House, Dublin, the home of the Lord Mayor, for months and attracted many visitors.
1980’s
In the 1980’s, the team in McNally Design created many Classical Designs for pubs throughout Ireland & the UK. From the success of those pubs we realised that the styles we were creating had the same values as the original Great Old Irish Pubs that Mel had studied in the 1970’s.
1990
In 1990, Mel established the Irish Pub Company – the original Irish Pub design and build company. Guinness and Mel were of the same mind that Irish Pubs were of historical value and presented a Great Global Business Opportunity.
The Irish Pub Company Team embarked on a Country Wide Research Project on pub types and to learn why there was nothing QUITE like an Irish Pub. Of course this research included many visits to pubs up and down the country!
As Mel says:
“The Irish Pub has always been a passion for me and the reason why we created the Irish pub company in 1990. That challenge brought us through a cultural expression of Irish-ness within the 32 counties of Ireland. We ascertained what made the Irish pub in all its forms so attractive and such a good business opportunity.”
“By detailed research in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Belfast to name a few, we analysed the special aspects of good pubs; what made them the best areas for social inclusion.
Irish Pub Company Design and Build Irish Pubs
We packaged this knowledge in a way that allowed us create unique, cultural pubs in every corner of the globe. The Irish pub Company with Guinness brought the Irish pub investment to all corners of the globe. Our pubs are unique, as is the business opportunity.”
From the research, the Irish Pub Company developed five main styles of Irish pubs
the Country Cottage with its white-washed walls and welcoming atmosphere;
the Brewery Pub taking its inspiration from St. James’s Gate and the home of Guinness;
the Victorian pub and its attention to ornate detail;
the Gaelic Pub with its distinctive decorative patterns and earthy colours unique to Gaelic art
the Traditional Irish Pub Shop which doubled as the grocer, draper or the undertaker.
To this day Mel and the team at the Irish Pub Company remain dedicated to providing the best Authentic Irish Pub Concepts throughout the world.