The claim
On Queen's Square near the Lagan, McHugh's occupies what is thought to be Belfast's oldest surviving building, dated to around 1711. Inside, original oak beams and a spiral staircase recall the early Georgian merchant town. It has been run as a bar and restaurant with live music, but when the premises first served drink is unclear.
What the records show
The 1711 is the figure the travel press uses — IrishCentral calls it the oldest pub in the oldest building in Belfast and dates it from 1711 — and the bar publishes nothing of its own that we could find. A 1997 survey by F. W. Hammond reportedly confirmed a build date of about 1710-15, making it Belfast's oldest known building. When it first became a pub is not established. Current trading status was not confirmed.
| Year | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1711 | Claimed founding | The press |
| c.1710 | Present building | Building fabric |
What to look for inside
- Reported to be Belfast's oldest known building
- Original timber beams retained
Visiting
McHugh's Bar is in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at Queen's Square, Belfast. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- www.oldest.org/entertainment/irish-pubs/
- www.irishcentral.com/travel/ireland-oldest-charming-pubs
- boozingabroad.com/oldest-and-best-belfast-pubs-ireland/
- camra.org.uk/pubs/mchughs-belfast-117613
- ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1230508
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
Run this pub? There is a badge for it
Free to put on your own site, no permission needed. It shows what the pub claims and what the records support, and it changes when the data does.
How to use it, and how to change what it says — if you have a document we have not seen, we would like to read it.
