From the shop front to the vibe inside the front door, there is a great sense of history and tradition about Ramsbottom and Sons on Main Street in Portlaoise.
It has been a public house in Portlaoise for close on 150 years and the craftsmanship on the Ramsbottom’s sign over the door has been the same since the early 1900s.
Current owner Jack Wallace is very much conscious of that history but he’s also clued in to the realities of running a busy bar in the current day.
Jack himself had worked in the drinks industry for years as a rep for Molson Coors. There was hardly a pub or a publican in the region that he didn’t know.
He took the premises on a five-year lease in 2023 with the view of buying it outright and the investment is a real sign that he’s in it for the long haul.
Jack oversees the operation with his wife Anne central to it too. His stepson, Billy Friel, is the manager and there’s an overall staff of 10, including full and part-timers.
There has been a whole new bar, a new cold room, the kitchen has been completely gutted and renovated and he has reimagined and rebranded the entire back area, which is now Downtown 101 and a venue for parties, like your 21sts, 30ths, 40ths etc as well as anniversaries and retirement dos.
Indeed the versatility of the entire setup is evident from a quick walkthrough. Open seven days a week (from 10.30am on Mondays through to Saturdays and 12.30pm on a Sunday), the front bar hosts a trad session one Friday every month, as well as open singing. But by and large that is your typical bar where conversation flows.
Out the back with Downtown 101 is a very impressive, atmospheric, area that is able to combine ample space and nooks and crannies. There’s a stage, a couple of bar areas and you can see why it is quickly establishing a strong reputation as a popular place to host parties.
Thousands of young people have been through the doors for gatherings with the party packages including food options from the nearby Golden Grill.
Successful and growing is the overall theme. And it’s easy to see why.
Check out Ramsbottom’s on Instagram or contact ramsportlaoise@gmail.com or call 057 8661298 for further enquiries.
