Today is the last day you can visit McCawley’s Irish Pub, according to staff at the notable Zhujiang New Town hangout.
The bar, one of Guangzhou’s three Irish pubs (the others being Hooley’s Irish Pub and The Paddy Field), is the first establishment in the city center to close in the wake of the 'second floor crackdown.'
For those unaware of the second floor shenanigans: late last month, authorities in Zhujiang New Town launched a crackdown on second floor and mezzanine areas in a number of businesses, allegedly due to fire concerns. McCawley’s was one of the establishments affected by the operation.
According to a source who requested to remain anonymous, the closure is the combined result of the bar's second floor closure and the landlord’s reluctance to lower rent.
When we visited the bar today, food was not available for order and the only alcoholic beverage still in stock was whiskey.
According to former manager Tait Dalrymple, the bar will not see a comeback in the city, as ownership wants to focus its attention on their core Shenzhen locations.
The closure of Guangzhou’s McCawley’s location comes roughly a year and a half after American-style BBQ eatery Bubba Macs – run by the same ownership group – closed its doors in Haizhu District.
We at That's will dearly miss McCawley’s. Over its seven years in business in Guangzhou, the pub racked up a considerable ‘win count’ at our annual That’s PRD Food & Drink Awards. We’ll also fondly remember the establishment for its annual chili cook-off, an event that was always as boozy as it was filling.
McCawley’s Guangzhou is survived by sister locations in Shenzhen.
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