Marriage Equality Boon For The George

Ireland’s best-known gay bar, The George has reported a soar in profits in 2015, the year of marriage equality.

The George gay bar

A central scene of celebration on the day Ireland voted by 62% to recognise same-sex marriage in our Constitution, The George saw profits increase from €171,541 to €862,768 in 2015. Filed by the firm Tabulatum Management Ltd, accounts for the year also showed that numbers employed at venue increased from 31 to 33 during the year with staff costs totalling €673,436.

The George is the oldest gay bar in Ireland and a lynchpin of the LGBT community, not only as a venue but as a financial support to many organisations. It opened in 1985, eight years before homosexuality was legalised, and is now part of the Mercantile Group, which includes Whelan’s on Wexford Street, Opium, Pichet and Cafe en Seine.

It was a phenomenal year,” says manager of The George, Darragh Flynn. “One of the most touching things about the referendum, and the coverage of the referendum, was the way that people considered The George their home. I don’t think you can be prouder managing a venue that people consider in this way.

“We look forward to reinvesting and continuing to improve The George as time goes on, and continuing to be better.”

The George’s side bar, Bridie’s, which is fondly known on the Dublin gay scene as ‘Jurassic’, will undergoing a complete refurbishment in the coming months.

© 2017 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

0 comments. Please sign in to comment.