The Irish heart of Manchester is alive and well in the newly refurbished O’Shea’s bar.
The Princess Street bar reopened last month following a £200k renovation with a new look and a more contemporary menu and range of drinks.
O’Shea’s has been open since 1994 when the first pint of Guinness was poured by legendary Ireland manager Jack Charlton.
Owner Dominic Winters, who has worked in the bar for the past 20 years, told Mancunian Matters about how much Manchester has changed since he first started.
He told MM: “The whole area has gone through a regeneration and it’s been hard to keep the bar open.”
However, with the help of Punch Taverns, O’Shea’s has been given a new lease of life.
Barman Liam Fleming, 28, noted that the old interior had looked “tired” and “dark” but since the renovations it has been full of life again.
He said of the opening night: “There was such a nice vibe to it. People are happy to sit here the entire night.”
NICE VIBE: No longer tired and dark, in the words of O’Shea’s barman Liam Fleming, the renovated bar now oozes class
The new bar will serve food all day and has taken some inspiration from Chef Robert Owen Brown.
The former Mark Addy Chef has created a brand new menu to reflect the fusion of Mancunian and Irish culture represented by O’Shea’s.
This includes a twist on his famous Manchester Egg which will be named the O’Shea’s Egg.
The O’Shea’s is a ham hock and cabbage mix wrapped around the egg, before being rolled in a combination of breadcrumbs and Irish favourite Tayto crisps.
Other Mancunian/Irish fusion plates created by Brown for O’Shea’s include corned beef hash potato boxty – a traditional Irish pancake.
The new menu will be accompanied by a new approach to drinks.
Mr Winters told MM: “We believe the days of just Guinness and a glass of wine for the ladies are over.”
This sentiment is evident in the wider range of drinks now available, including five new, exclusive Irish gins and three Manchester gins as well as a range of Irish Whiskeys.
However, the new style has taken nothing away from the Irish core of the bar and there is still pride in its 23-year history.
Mr Fleming talked about showing GAA sports such as Gaelic Football and the importance of attracting Irish patrons.
He told MM: “The pints of Guinness here are absolutely immaculate.”
O’Shea’s is now fully reopened and welcomes anyone to enjoy the new additions to one of Manchester’s Irish institutions.
