Local couple secure historic Athy pub following auction

THE iconic Anderson's Bar and residence in Athy has been sold at public auction to local entrepreneurs Dan and Edwina Curtis.

Market House, better known as Anderson's, is 100 years trading during which time it has built up a loyal customer base. The auction was held last Thursday (11 July) in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge. 

According to Jordan Auctioneers there were five bidders in total and the pub sold for €760,000. The owner is said to be delighted with the result and wishes the new purchasers every success for the next 100 years!

Dan and Edwina (who run The Auld Shebeen) have received plenty of well-wishes and support on social media, with people delighted that it will remain in local ownership. “I think everyone is delighted it went to local people,” Dan told the Kildare Nationalist. The proud Athy man confirmed that there are no plans to change the iconic name. “All we want to do is make sure it stays as Anderson's,” he said, adding that they want to continue its legacy. “It has a great customer base and we’d love to see that customer base just build from there.” 

Dan noted that Dave Anderson phoned him last Thursday night to congratulate him. “I told him we'd continue the great legacy that they built up, himself and John and their family before that,” he said.

The property itself is a terraced three-bay three-storey late Georgian house with licensed premises on the ground floor and two floors overhead comprising residential accommodation. The original part of the property was built in the 1800s with further extensions to the rear over the intervening time. Andersons enjoys a consistent and substantial level of annual turnover divided between wet sales, off-license and some wholesale business. The property has been in the same ownership for 100 years.