Landmark Laois pub in Portlaoise set for a fresh start and new name

Staff are being recruited and renovation work is underway in Portlaoise in preparation for the reopening of a landmark Laois pub in the heart of Portlaoise.

Workers moved on just after Easter Monday readying the the former Egans and latterly Lilly's pub on Main Street.

New signs have already been installed on the famous establishment, which has been renamed Nanny Kelly's. A sign for 3 Brothers has also been erected signifying the food offering from the new Dublin operators - Chris, Brendan, and Liam Kelly.  

The brothers operate under the established Chris Kelly Group chain. Founded in the mid 1990’s the Chris Kelly Group today comprises some of Dublin’s best-known landmark pubs, The Parkview Hotel in Co Wicklow, and units in New York and Marbella.

The Parkview Hotel in Newtownmountkennedy also has a pub called Nanny Kellys. The brothers named it after their grandmother. 

They're understood to be investing significantly in the new pub's decor while also upgrading the kitchen due to the enhanced food offering. A new wood-fired pizza oven is also being installed.

The Kelly chain includes the following: Capitol, The Gate Bar, Lemmon, The Black Lion, Sinnotts, PJ Horgan’s

Local man Wayne Logan is the General Manager of the new business.  He is delighted to be joining what he sees as a respected  and stable company in the hospitality sector six weeks after he and other staff were let go when Lilly's shut suddenly. Mr Logan expects to welcome back customers on Thursday, April 18. He expects the food will be a big attraction.

"The big thing will be the '3 Brothers pizza, wings and things' menu; it's going to be massive. The unique selling point will be the wood-fired pizza oven. We're really looking forward to opening. The Kellly group are in the business a long time and well established," he said.

Mr Logan added that jobs are being created to staff the new operation. Chefs, bar and floor staff are being recruited.

Local publican PJ Kavanagh said he was looking forward to the reopening. He said there has been a noticeable drop in footfall on Main Street since it closed in February so the reopening in April will be welcomed. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

After many years of trading as one of Portlaoise's best known pubs, Egan's closed in 2014. It would reopening for a short time as The Blue Door where Mr Lillis, a Laois and Portlaoise GAA player, co-operated the Manhatten Mixer for a time.

Mr Lillis returned to the Portlaoise premises in 2018 when he went into Alan Clancy from the NolaClan pub group to open the business as Lilly's. Former Dublin footballer Bernard Brogan also had an involvement.

A statement from Lilly's Bar & Kitchen on Tuesday, February 27 officially announced closure due to what was described as an "untenable challenging economic landscape, marked by escalating costs".

Apart from running pubs and restaurants, Chris Kelly Group says it also provides consultancy and management services to other venues on a confidential basis, primarily in human resources, sales, marketing and general operational support.