Mulligans Irish bar in Bradford sold 1,900 pints of Guinness

Mulligans of Bingley, in Chapel Lane opened to much fanfare at 6pm last Thursday, with around 60 people queuing outside to get their hands on the free 200 pints of stout on offer, according to co-owner Ben Gill.

Ben, who runs the bar alongside friend Matt Morrison, said: “We were still sweeping up, mopping on our hands and knees, until we were about to go.”

He added: “It’s been fantastic really, we’ve only heard positives.”

Mulligans bar owners Ben Gill (left) and Matt Morrison (Image: Telegraph & Argus) Within 26 minutes those free pints were gone – and Ben and Matt had actually pulled 212 freebies as they weren’t counting due to how quickly they went.

A similar pattern was repeated come Saturday morning, when the owners had to pick up nine more barrels of Guinness after getting through 17 kegs in just two days.

Ben said: “We sold that much we ran out, we had to go get some from the office in Barnsley.

“We’re with Heineken so hopefully, if they run out of Guinness, everyone is knackered.”

The empty barrels after a busy first two days (Image: Mulligans) There has been panic right across the country and world in recent months due to a shortage of Guinness, with reports earlier this year the much-loved brand had raided its security stocks in Ireland to help fill the gap.

Ben admitted it’s pretty much a ‘no go’ trying to order the famous Irish stout right now and joked that they may have to enlist the services of Matt’s Irish heritage.

He said: “It’s impossible, if we wasn’t with a brewery like that, there would be no chance of getting Guinness.

“I know Irish bars in Silsden and they’re having to sell it from cans.”

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Ben added: “Matty’s mum is off to Dublin this week, we might need her to bring some back.”

The journey to South Yorkshire for more Guinness was made even more important due to St Paddy’s Day on Monday.

Ben said: “Everyone was in really good spirits, a lot of people dressed up for the day.

“We even had a guy, an Irish singer, who asked if he could play a few songs, so he played a few songs.”

The bar area of Mulligans (Image: Telegraph & Argus) Old barrels have been made into wall art (Image: Telegraph & Argus) This is just the beginning for Mulligans, having already transformed the premises with a full rewiring and installing new windows, timber and acoustic panels, green-tiled bathrooms, and Irish oak tables.

Ben and Matt hope to put in a kitchen upstairs, as well as offering darts, beer pong, pool, and other activities, as well as another bar.

Once the first floor is complete and bifold doors are put in place for an outdoor seating area downstairs, the bar will have capacity for around 200 people, with the opportunity to rent out the upstairs area for private functions.

Inside Mulligans (Image: Telegraph & Argus) The mission since receiving the keys last December and getting to work on January 1 has always been to create an authentic Irish experience.

This has in part been inspired by Matt’s mum, who was born and raised in Dublin, and keeps the lads on their toes.

A freshly poured pint of Guinness at Mulligans in front of the 1960s bar pump (Image: Mulligans) Mulligans even uses an original Guinness bar pump from the 1960s, that came from a pub that closed down in Dublin.

Ben said: “His mum is as Irish as they come, everything we’re doing she’s saying, ‘no this is more Irish’.

“We plan to have a lot of Irish whiskey, gins, once we’re up and running we can tweak it. Irish cocktails, this is not just Guinness”.