#199 Jaz Mooney: Belfast's Pubs During The Troubles

Published: April 26, 2021, 4 a.m.

Jaz Mooney is a publican from Northern Ireland who built-up an insane portfolio of pubs during the Troubles like The Fly bar, Madison’s Hotel, McHugh’s, The Nothern Whig, Ryan’s Bar and Grill, The Kings Head, The Globe Bar, Apartment Bar, The Rotterdam Bar and of course The Botanic Inn (aka The Bot!)
 
 
After being trained at what became the University of Ulster, Jaz went travelling to Australia where he met his future wife and discovered many fresh ideas/concepts which he then brought back home with him to the local hospitality scene.
 
 
Fast forward a few decades and Jaz has sold-up his businesses at home and moved out to Australia where he's lived since 2006 with his wife and five kids. These days he runs Pelathon an organisation that manages and serves hospitality businesses all over Australia
 
 
In today's episode we talk about:
  • His early memories of working in hospitality
  • Operating some of the only pubs open during The Troubles
  • Crazy stories from back in the day
  • How COVID has affected the hospitality industry
  • And the greatest challenges/successes he's faced along the way.
 
Check it out.
 

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Webpage: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/jaz-mooney-publican

 

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— Matt