Gilbert-Ash Appointed As Principal Contractor On Crown Bar Project

Gilbert-Ash has been appointed as the principal contractor on the project at the Crown Bar which is owned by the National Trust.

The company is carrying out maintenance works at the 'back of house' area and to parts of the exterior and roof however, the work inside the bar itself is being carried out by specialist sub-contractors.

Gilbert-Ash Fit Out General Manager, Andrew Russell said such works are carried out every five to seven years. He said that the specialist sub-contractors are skilled in French polishing, tiling and conservation.

The Crown Bar is a Grade A listed building which dates back to the 1880s and is operated by Mitchells & Butlers. Inside the bar the long, red granite topped altar style bar, with its huge casks, polished brass taps, mosaic tiled floor and decorative carved ceiling takes centre stage.


Originally designed to protect Victorian drinkers from the prying eyes of the busy Great Victoria Street, the stained-glass windows are etched with fairies, pineapples, fleur-de-lys, and clowns. The traditional gas lighting also still remains.

Speaking about the work that is underway, Mr Russell stated:

"If someone marks one of the tables or perhaps tries to remove an original fitting, it is important the repair work is carried out in a manner which maintains the building’s historic fabric.

"Gilbert-Ash has been working on this building since the early 1990s, so we know it very well. It is perhaps the most famous bar in Belfast and there aren’t too many places which look like it from the inside or indeed the outside.

"We take great pride in the work we do at the Crown Bar, and it is a real team effort when we work alongside these highly skilled specialists.

"The restoration work that has gone on at the Crown Bar has been exceptional, and rightly so as it is a unique building.

"During a previous project in it I can remember someone cleaning years of cigarette smoke and general dirt off the ceiling using cotton buds so there was no damage to the original plasterwork.

"This is the level of detail that goes into keeping the bar looking its best and it’s work we take great pride in managing."