Status : The Doyen
829 Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 7GY
As you approach the Balmoral flyover from Finaghy, a large Victorian house to your left will certainly catch your eye. This was built in 1868 by the Great Northern Railway for senior management. In 1984, a new licence was granted to Messrs. Devlin and Donnelly for this building. It is now known as The King’s Head bar and restaurant, a much bigger operation to run for the two partners than The Linenhall, but as Tony will tell you: “We run it along the same lines as the Linenhall . . . a good-quality English style bar, neither too plush nor too basic.” The boys have tried to retain the Victorian feeling, with mahogany counters and panels throughout, original ceilings, mouldings and fireplaces. A new floor had to be laid, and the whole structure strengthened by a steel frame. As you enter to the left is the small Parlour Bar, with its original Victorian tiles, reclaimed bricks and restored timber. To your right is the front lounge, with a solid look about it, and a sequential space in the middle to break it up visually. The third room is by far my favourite. This is the Library, furnished just like any Victorian home library with over 1,000 books. Tony surprised me by telling me that very few, so far, have gone missing. To complete the picture, the room is enhanced by a nice fireplace and green-shaded reading lights to illuminate the lovely mahogany shelves. All the rooms are decorated by period bric-a-brac, collected over the years by the partners. Finally, another door will lead you into the lovely conservatory, built 30 months ago and capable of holding over 200 people. Of all the bars in this wonderful complex, it’s the Library room that you will remember for a long time, so if you’re living anywhere near here, you can always truthfully tell the wife you’re just popping down to the Library for a while to consult a few reference books.
Also in the partners’ empire is Bleekers, up beside the ‘Egg’, nearly 5 years old and still very busy serving 2,500 meals every week. Their latest venture is The Superbowl, a 20-lane bowling alley in the heart of Belfast, just off Bedford Street. At present, they are planning their “Dream Pub”. A licence has just recently been granted to them for a pub down at the Lagan, by the Boatclub at Lockview Road right on the riverside. They hope to have it erected by May 1991, and the exact location is where the No.1 Lock of the old Lagan Navigation canal used to be. What exciting days lie ahead for the two boys.
Before taking my leave, I asked Tony if he and David had any hobbies. Once again he surprised me by telling me about their 72,000 cubic feet hot air balloon. It’s the only one in Ireland. David is the qualified Pilot, and it’s capable of holding 5 people.
Finally, I asked Tony what was the secret of their outstanding business success so far. His answer: “The setting of standards to the highest possible level, and attention to detail.” Sound, solid advice for any budding business man.