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We’ve heard of man bites dog, how about Irishman opens British pub?
Well this is a Cock and Bull story in some sense.
Although his plans are raising a few eyebrows, Kevin Hynes, a Dubliner, plans to open Cock & Bull, a British gastro-pub, in the middle of New York.
Speaking at the Irish America Hall of Fame event this week, one of the inductees, Tom Moran, CEO of Mutual of America and philanthropist, said the fact that his friend, Hynes, has decided to open this pub near Times Square shows how “times in Ireland have changed”.
Hynes was raised in the Irish pub business. His father, Dessie Hynes, owned O’Donoghue’s and Hynes pubs on Bagott Street, Dublin, and his brother Tony owned Russell’s in Ranelagh. He’s also no stranger to the Irish pub trade in New York, having worked at Rosie O’Grady’s and the Glass House Tavern, Irish-owned establishments in midtown Manhattan.
However, the Dubliner decided that a British gastro-pub was the business concept that would work in Manhattan. He doesn’t deny that there has been a great deal of “eye-rolling” since he made the decision.
Speaking to IrishCentral he said, “A few people’s eyes roll when they hear it’s a British pub but there are a lot of young Irish guys in the city who are involved in British concept places like pie businesses.”
He continued, “When my friend Tom Moran gives me grief about it I was saying, ‘It’s because of you and Bill Flynn and all the great work of the Peace Process, now I’ve got to push it further.’ It’s the next step forward.
“We’re looking at Cock & Bull as a restaurant and a business concept. We’re trying to do something a little different.”
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Hynes said that putting a Union Jack flag outside the pub is a big deal but he said his final decision was made by the fact that if it was an Italian restaurant he would have put a flag up.
The fact that he had decided to go with the business concept of a British gastro-pub meant he had to be prepared to make it work, Union Jack and all. He added, “If you’re going to go with a concept you have to go with it…It is called the Cock and Bull so it’s tongue and cheek an Irish guy opening it, but the name is also an old British pub name.
IrishCentral asked Hynes why, being a Dubliner, he had decided to go with the British pub concept. He explained “When it came to opening a place in New York I looked at all the concepts like Italian, Irish, and a load of others but this seemed to be the one that would work best in the city. There are many British coming over here all the time on holiday and living here and it’s a concept that works.
“In the recent past in New York, English gastro-pubs like the Spotted Pig and the Breslin have really taken off and I’ve been really impressed with them.”
So despite the jibes and glares he might get from surprised Irish walking under the Union Jack, Hynes is following in a growing trend of British style pubs, with excellent food, in New York.
For more information on Cock & Bull visit their website here or log on to their Facebook or Twitter page.
15 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Johnnyclash | Mar 18, 2012, 05:34 PM EDT
Haynes a true jackeen He would have joined the British army , but sure just for the money.
ciaradexy | Mar 18, 2012, 11:30 AM EDT
Anyone who is 'shocked' by this is an idiot. The man is opening a business. End of story. Irishstorm, you are a fool. I bet the only people that this bothers are Americans. No Irish people would have an issue with this. I was out in Dublin for the match yesterday and ended up hanging out with a group of English people. There were no problem! There never is! Cop on and move on America!
Irishstorm | Mar 18, 2012, 08:37 AM EDT
An Irishman having that bloodstained butchers apron hanging on his premises is treasonable. Has Ireland not suffered enough because of traitors? Sure, you can respect your enemy, but nobody respects these people. Also, by doing this, he is endorsing the Brits in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a question of ethics too.
citizen69 | Mar 18, 2012, 06:28 AM EDT
You mean they've found New York Irishman who isn't a Brit hating bigot!? Now that is news!! ;-)
Rebelforce | Mar 17, 2012, 07:58 PM EDT
There are Irishman who would sell their own grandmother if they thought they could make a buck off it.
oldboreen | Mar 17, 2012, 07:46 PM EDT
A clever move Kevin Hynes-wish you every success! The anti-British bigots can drink elsewhere!
EileenL | Mar 17, 2012, 07:00 PM EDT
good luck Kevin Hynes ,, will be sure to drop in soon next time in New York,,,
MegK311 | Mar 17, 2012, 01:53 PM EDT
Good luck to him. I would eat in either a Irish pub or a British one as long as the food was good.
micky74007 | Mar 17, 2012, 12:27 PM EDT
With so many real Irish pubs in NYC, I'm glad I won't have to consider going into this one.
David Mixner | Mar 17, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT
Good for Mr. Hynes! Time has come to stop limiting ourselves as a people. Can't wait to enjoy this Irish man's wonderful service...mother and father are from Derry.....proud of Mr. Hynes ...should be more like him
Sparklet | Mar 17, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT
There are Irish themed pubs all over the UK, but the basic pub in both UK and Ireland are pretty much the same. A British pub isn't that different to an Irish pub. Most Irish tourists would be happy enough to drink there as they won't be as entrenched in historical anger as some people are.
joan1954 | Mar 17, 2012, 10:24 AM EDT
We have a British Pub here where I live and they are great supporters of Irish activities. Few are the people here who do not have mixed ancestry and if there is a problem they someone come here and establish an Irish pub but make it on the north side for the locals and not the tourists. We can't keep hitting the lone Irish themed pub that is located in the tourist area for support which he gives but he alone can only do so much.
Nelsonbarry | Mar 17, 2012, 10:09 AM EDT
Sorry, I won't be eating or drinking there!!
CitizenWhy | Mar 17, 2012, 09:58 AM EDT
This is a shocker? People do not want to live in a straightjacket of ethnic identity. There are numerous Irish-British and Irish-Americans who like English pubs. And the Union Jack includes the flag of St. Patrick, so it's all OK.
Murph46 | Mar 17, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT
Bloody Johhny Bull traitor!