Ulster Banks helps long-term lessees acquire Gowdy’s

Gastropub Gowdy’s of Down Royal has been acquired by its long-term lessees as part of a six-figure investment supported by Ulster Bank.

Husband and wife duo Tara and Declan Wals, who first met while working in bars on cruise liners,have run a number of local bars before moving to Gowdy’s and taking on the lease in 2014.

Ulster Bank business development manager Lee White said: “We’re so pleased to help Tara and Declan acquire this established business. Their knowledge and proven experience combined with their enthusiasm and vision demonstrates not only its significant growth and transformation over the past decade but the great future it has ahead under their ownership.”

For almost a decade now under Tara and Declan’s management, Gowdy’s of Down Royal has grown significantly, with turnover doubling and staff headcount increasing three-fold.

Ulster Bank business development manager Lee White, above. said: “We’re so pleased to help Tara and Declan acquire this established business. Their knowledge and proven experience combined with their enthusiasm and vision demonstrates not only its significant growth and transformation over the past decade but the great future it has ahead under their ownership.”

Tara, above, said: “We are thrilled to finally be able to say that we are the proud owners of Gowdy’s of Down Royal. We always knew we wanted to buy the business – as far back as 2014 when we first took over the lease. Over the past decade we’ve put a lot of time and energy into building the business up to where it is today and re-establishing the brand as a go-to destination.”

Declan added: “We are very thankful to have our vision supported by Lee and the team at Ulster Bank. Without this, our new venture would simply not have been possible. They have helped make this process really smooth and easy. Truly, this support has turned our dream into a reality.”