This famous and much-loved traditional grocery-bar in the centre of Sligo Town is a listed building dating back to 1864. Having previously had only two owners (the original builder and then the Hargadon family who gave it the current name), it was acquired in 2006 by Ray and Eileen Monahan as part of the development of the adjoining Johnston Court Shopping Mall.
The Monahans' own wine shop in the mall is directly accessible from the back of the pub and imports wines from all over the world. And, not only that, but you can also enjoy the owners’ own wines, Les Lys and Terra Monti from the Languedoc region of the South of France, and their own olive oil too. (Also available from Hargadon Bros wine shops in Sligo and Dublin).
The Monahans undertook a lengthy and sensitive restoration of Hargadons with great success, so there it is now in all its glory, restored and renovated but with all its snugs and fires and grocery shelves intact and the marble counter cleaned and back in place, and still offering the same warm welcome.
The fact that it’s a superb traditional pub might be what draws you in, but the quality beer, including many Irish craft beer options, and the food offering might help to keep you there much longer than you had originally meant to.
The food emphasis is on hearty, traditional pub food, and seafood features strongly. Favourites like the Lissadell seafood chowder with their own homemade brown bread won’t disappoint, or you might go for the house-made Toulouse sausages in the bangers and mash or a side order of Parmesan and truffle fries that sounds too tempting not to add to your order.
The old-world ambience combined with lovely service from staff make for an enjoyable drink or meal here. Not only is the quality of the pint beyond question, but you might even get some traditional music too.
