The Errigle at 90: The next chapter

As The Errigle approached its 90th anniversary on Belfast’s Ormeau Road, the family-run venue is looking forward as much as back, with redevelopment plans expected to progress in 2026 and a renewed focus on accessibility and daytime trade.

Owned and operated by three generations of the McGurran family since opening in 1935, the pub has evolved from a traditional neighbourhood local into a multi-space venue for food, drink, live music and community events. Current owner Phil McGurran credits that longevity to constant reinvestment without losing the pub’s identity. “Every decade, they were reinvesting, changing the bar, changing how it worked, but always keeping the fabric of the place the same,” he says. “That balance between change and continuity is probably the biggest reason it’s still here.”

Trading conditions, he adds, are as challenging as ever. “Hospitality is under a lot of pressure… the rising costs are crippling businesses,” he says. “The basics can’t be missed… it has to be welcoming, it has to be clean, it has to have a great atmosphere and a safe environment.”

Looking ahead, McGurran says a phased redevelopment will help the building “work much harder,” including a new daytime-focused ground-floor space where locals can “meet, work, relax and connect.”

Read the full feature in the LCN 2026 Yearbook this week.