Owens Bar, Limavady (Frank Owens' Bar)

A real gem of a bar, lovingly cared for by its owner, Garry Owens, whose family has held it since 1960. It opened in 1852 and was refitted in 1929 though the fittings could easily be taken to be Victorian. There has been no significant change since. A large square servery takes up almost as much space as that for the customers but this is made up for by three further cosy rooms. A panelled corridor runs towards the rear and there are panelled ceilings in all except the rear left-hand room. Two old etched front windows. The care shown for the building is the way the illuminated fridges are tucked under the counter (not exposed to customers’ view as so often is, unfortunately, the case), and the fact that Garry has refused to encumber the counter with large, ugly modern advertising founts.

The public bar on the front right has the bar back fitting from 1929, which faces two ways at right angles with on the far left and far right casks that in the past held whiskey or other spirits. The two-sided bar counter is also the inter-war one. This small room has fully panelled walls and there is only space for a row of bar stools between the bar front and the front window with it's 'Spirits' decorative etched and frosted panel.

A door opposite the servery leads to a small room on the front left with bare wood floor, old dado panelling, an early 20th century glazed brick, cast-iron and wood surround fireplace and a bell push on the mantelpiece from the days of table service. The rear left room has two doors and prior to 1929 his might have been a kitchen and another room. It has a tiled floor, a cast iron and wood surround fireplace with display cabinets in the wall either side of the fireplace, old dado panelling and a good 'Wilson's Old Irish Whisky Belfast' mirror.

There is another very small room at the rear right with a door, bare wood floor, old dado panelling another early 20th century glazed brick, cast-iron and wood surround fireplace, a bell push on the mantelshelf from the days of table service and just one scrubbed top table. The rear right passage and gents’ have terrazzo floors from 1929.

Look for the flag from the 18th green of the 2011 Open Championships at Royal St Georges autographed by the winner Darren Clarke, who occasionally drinks here and on one occasion brought the famous ‘Claret Jug’ with him! A marquee erected in the garden is the main venue of Limavady’s Jazz and Blues Festival held over 4 days in June annually. Closed all day Sunday.