End of an era at Smyth's of the Square as Navan pub goes on market

After almost a century serving customers on Market Square in Navan, time is being called on Smyth’s of the Square, one of the town’s best known-public houses. The property, sitting on a substantial town centre plot of 0.29 of an acre, is being offered for sale in three lots with Smith Harrington, with a guide in excess of €995,000.
Like many of his generation who became prominent businessmen in Navan, Patrick Smyth arrived to the town from north Meath early in the last century. From Ballincleeve, Moynalty, he came to work in Sheridan’s of Watergate Street, where he learned his trade, before acquiring his own business on Market Square around 1924.
Patrick Smyth’s bar and grocery was typical of such stores at the time, with the shop at the front, alongside two snugs, and the bar through a passageway at the back.

A true marketeer before the term was known, Patrick Smyth (above) was renowned for blending and weighing his own tea. “Smyth’s for good tea is a household expression. To better Smyth’s tea is out of the question.” It also bottled its own stout weekly, supplied by Guinness, in a store at the back of the bar, as well as whiskey.

“If you want a glass of malt, that no epicure can fault, just take a walk and halt, at Smyth’s Select Bars” was another slogan.

Patrick, who was married to Kathleen, reared a family of 13 on Market Square. Joe and his wife, Anne (pictured below), took over the running of Market Square in 1970, and brought the business into a new era, modernising and expanding the lounge and beer garden, one of the biggest in the town. In 2001, son Arthur continued the business, and created a new snug bar, ‘The Vinyl Frontier’ in place of the former off-licence outlet, and continuing to develop the popular beer garden.

The property offered for sale consists of Numbers 9 and 10 Market Square, with the ground floor of Number 10 containing the bar and lounge, furnished in ‘olde world’ style with a mahogany bar. The accommodation comprises front snug, bar, ladies and gents’ toilets and lounge on the ground floor, extending to approximately 120 square metres. The first and second floor above the pub are in residential use but could be integrated into the pub. To the rear is the large beer garden with outbuildings and toilets. The pub is fitted with CCTV system.

Number 9 is split between a self-contained commercial unit of approximately 35 square metres, with Ali’s Turkish Barbers as tenant. The first and second floors above this unit are laid out as offices and extend to approximately 102 square metres. However, they adjoin the pub and could be integrated into this use.

The property also has dual vehicular access to Metges Lane. There is a one-bedroom residence with frontage to Metges Lane, with living room, kitchen, shower room, and bedroom. 
The site is suitable for future development, subject to planning permission.
The property is for sale as: Lot 1, Unit 9 and 10, Market Square (commercial unit, pub and offices) 0.066 hectare (0.163 acres); Lot 2, rear yard and 8 Metges Lane, (0.051 hectare (0.126 acres); Lot 3, the entire property of 0.117 hectare (0.29 acres).