In February 2015, I published an article listing the remaining 12 or so ‘early house’ pubs in Dublin city centre along with some brief historical background about why these bars have special licenses allowing them to open at 7am. I wrote an updated article in January 2019 which listed the 11 still remaining and questioned the future of some of them.

In the last four years, there have been several significant changes and the number has reduced to six (four if you’re being strict). There were 44 early houses pubs in Dublin in 1962 and no pubs have been granted an ‘early morning exemption licence’ since then. I imagine changes in people’s socialising habits post Covid, the cost of living crisis and pub staff shortage issues have played a big impact in the last few years. Although new proposed legislation to allow Irish nightclubs to open until 6am may give Dublin early house pubs a new lease of life!

These are the changes that occurred since early 2019:

– M Hughes, Chancery Street has closed.
– The Chancery Inn, Inns Quay has closed.
– The Fisherman’s Bar in Howth (attached to The Waterside pub) has closed.
– The Metro, Parnell Street closed and was reopened under new owners as Mema’s. It is no longer an early house.
– Delaney’s, North King Street was refurbished and no longer opens early. It is now 12.30pm Friday/Saturday, 2pm Sunday and 3pm Monday to Thursday.
– Madigan’s, Connolly Station now opens at 10.30am Monday to Friday not 8.30am.

As you can see below, Slattery’s and The Boar’s Head changed their times as well but I have included both as they still open partially before the usual legal opening of 10.30am. The Boar’s Head just scrapes in with their new opening hours of 10am.

So as far as I can assert, these are the six remaining ‘early house’ pubs in Dublin city as of late 2023. Four of which only open at 7am for most of the week.

Northside:

1. Molloy’s, Talbot Street (Mon-Sat 7am)

2. Slattery’s, Capel Street (7am Monday; Tues-Sat 9am). Changed from Mon 8.30am; Tues-Sat 9.30am

3. The Boar’s Head, Capel Street (Mon-Sat, 10am) Changed from Mon-Fri 8am; Sat 11am.

Southside:

4. The Galway Hooker, Heuston Station (Mon-Sat, 7am)

5. The Pádraig Pearse, Pearse Street (Mon-Fri 7am; Sat 10am)

6. The Windjammer, Lombard Street (Mon-Sat 7am)