An Irish pub is set to open its doors in Norwich
Aidan Mahon, consultant for The Butcher Bhoy Credit: Aidan Mahon - Credit: Archant
Raise a pint of Guinness as a new pub is bringing the luck of Irish to the city.
The Butcher Bhoy is set to open in the former home of Woolf and Bird in Exchange Street next Friday October, 19.
The interior has been designed to have the feel of an 'old New York Irish Pub' and will be accessible through the Blofield Farm Shop.
The project has been led by Aidan Mahon who is a familar face in the Norwich drinking scene as he managed Delaney's Pub, now St Andrews Brew House, from 2000 to 2006.
The pub will serve a range of Irish beers and ciders alongside whiskies and a traditional food menu.
Mr Mahon said: 'A lot of old Irish pubs are behind sweet shops or newsagents so we thought it would be good to have it behind the butchers and there will be access from Dove Street too.
'I came out of the pub game around five years ago and I've always thought that an Irish pub is ideal for Norwich.
READ MORE: Pop-up farm shop opens at former site of Woolf & Bird in Norwich'I have been telling Marcus Pearcey, who owns Blofield Farm Shop, that it's an ideal location for an Irish bar and he approached me in April to consult on the layout.
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'It feels like a very old New York Irish pub with sofas, a stage, pictures and Irish memorabilia.
Blofield Farm Shop have opened a pop up store in the former home of Woolf & Bird in Norwich. Photo: Courtney Pochin - Credit: Archant
'We will also have Guinness pumps and we are tied to St James' Gate in Dublin so will be one of the first in the UK to get new products.'
Mr Mahon, originally from Ireland, has lived in Norwich since 1999 and before that opened Irish bars in Australia.
READ MORE: Norwich actor to star in new BBC counter-terrorism thrilerHe added: 'Norwich has one of the oldest Irish communities in the UK and was the first place to have an Irish society.
'We are currently tailoring the menu but will use lots of food from the farm shop and also serve soda bread and blaa, which is a white soft bread, make by Crusty Corner in Norwich.
Delaney's / Delaneys Irish Bar / pub / St Andrews / St Andrew's Hall. generic road / traffic / pelican crossing / pedestrian cross / zebra crossingPHOTO: ANTONY KELLYCOPY:FOR:EDP NEWS© ARCHANT NORFOLK 2009 (01603 772434) - Credit: © ARCHANT NORFOLK PHOTOGRAPHIC
'Since Delaney's there has been no Irish bar and there are lots of people yearning for it as there is a great connection here and lots of Norwich City players are Irish too.'
The pub will open at 8.30am on Friday, October 19 and footballer Paul McVeigh will officially open the pub at a soft launch earlier in the week.
