THE STAGS HEAD
THE PUB WORTH VISITNG WHEN IN DUBLIN
The Stag’s Head, Dublin City is a historical Dublin pub featured in Dublin Pub tours renowned for its hospitality and famous pint of Guinness!
HISTORY
Though a tavern has existed on this site since the 1780’s, this premise first attained great fame in the 1830’s as ‘John Bull’s Albion Hotel and Tavern’. This was one of the most sought after premises of the age in close proximity to ‘Dublin’s Theatreland’ and the fashionable stores of Dame Street and College Green. A popular music hall business was developed on the site, a trend continued by proprietors Alica and Henry Murphy during the 1840’s. William Wormington succeeded them here in the 1860’s and James Kennedy took the reins in the 1880’s.
BIRTH OF THE STAG'S HEAD
The Stag’s Head was the brainchild of Westmoreland merchant George Tysonwho came to Ireland in the 1870’s and established a thriving Menswear and Haberdashery business in Grafton Street, from where he was appointed ‘outfitter and shirt maker to the Lord Lieutenant’. He acquired this premises in the early 1890’s and commissioned leading architect J.M. McGloughlin of Pearse Street to build Dublin’s most advanced and distinctive Victorian pub - and the first in the capital to enjoy electric light. The new creation opened its doors to the Dublin public in May 1894 amid majestic fanfare and distinguished patronage including the Lord Lieutenant and the most respected members of contemporary Victorian society. Tyson’s name is still to be seen on the large clock on the outside of the building. Another outstanding vestige of this era is the little parlour lounge discreetly situated behind the main bar; in former times this area served as a fashionable Victorian smoking room.
TODAY
The Stag’s Head has been awarded Best Pub in Ireland 2016 by National Hospitality Awards Ireland along with Best Traditional Pub 2016 by Sky Bar Awards.
The Stag’s Head serves real Irish food seven days a week till 6pm and has traditional Irish music sessions every Friday and Saturday in the Stag’s Tail Bar.
There is also a comedy night on every Sunday and Monday.