McGillin's Olde Ale House

What McGillin's Olde Ale House does

McGillin's Olde Ale House is a historic family-owned tavern and restaurant located at 1310 Drury Street in Midtown Village / Center City Philadelphia, operating continuously since 1860 when Irish immigrants Catherine and William McGillin founded it as the Bell in Hand Tavern. It is recognized as Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern and one of the oldest in the United States, having survived Prohibition, the Civil War, multiple pandemics, and a 1971 fire. The business is currently operated by Mary Ellen Mullins, Chris Mullins Sr. (second-generation owners since 1993), and Christopher Mullins Jr. (third generation).

The company's core offering is on-site food and beverage service across two floors, open seven days a week from 11am to 2am with kitchen service until 1am. The menu features traditional American and Irish pub fare (Fish & Chips, Shepherd's Pie, cheesesteaks, burgers) with entrees priced at $9–$14 and daily drink specials starting at $3. Three signature house beers — McGillin's Real Ale, Genuine Lager, and 1860 IPA — are brewed exclusively by Troegs Independent Brewing under a partnership established in June 2021. The venue hosts sports viewing (Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, Union), karaoke nights, open mic nights, and recurring community events including a major St. Patrick's Day celebration, plus private party bookings.

Revenue is generated through three streams: food and beverage sales at the bar (transaction-based, no reservations), private event hosting (professional services), and retail merchandise via McGillin's Shoppe — a permanent retail location opened in May 2025 at 123 S. Juniper Street and a Shopify e-commerce site shipping nationwide, selling branded apparel, Eagles/Phillies gear, Philly souvenirs, and Irish imports. A book titled 'Cheers to McGillin's: Philly's Oldest Tavern' was published in October 2025, extending the brand into editorial. Go-to-market is overwhelmingly direct-to-consumer, fueled by organic word-of-mouth, national media coverage (Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, BBC, Travel & Leisure, Fodor's), and earned press rather than paid advertising.

Name

McGillin's Olde Ale House

Legal name

McGillin's Olde Ale House

Website

https://mcgillins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1860

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

McGillin's Olde Ale House is Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern (since 1860), a family-owned bar and restaurant serving traditional Irish/American pub fare, three house-brewed beers, and sports viewing to tourists, locals, and event hosts, with a 2025 retail shoppe and nationwide e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bar and Restaurant Hospitality

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Neighborhood & Sports Bars (THAFAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Neighborhood Bars & Taverns (CRANACAA)

Keywords

• Historic tavern operations
• Craft beer service
• Pub food restaurant
• Sports bar venue
• Private event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: On-site sales of food, beer, cocktails, and wine. Open 7 days a week from 11 am to 2 am with kitchen service until 1 am. Daily food and drink specials drive mid-week traffic.
2. Retail Merchandise (McGillin's Shoppe): Off-site retail shoppe selling McGillin's branded wear, Eagles & Phillies gear, Philly souvenirs, Irish imports, and specialty items. Also available through online Shopify store with nationwide shipping. Shoppe opened in May 2025 after 165 years of operation.
3. Private Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting private parties and events at the venue. The bar offers private party services as a dedicated revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

McGillin's Olde Ale House operates a historic tavern in Center City Philadelphia at 1310 Drury Street, serving traditional American and Irish pub fare, three house-brewed beers (McGillin's Real Ale, Genuine Lager, and 1860 IPA by Troegs Independent Brewing), signature cocktails, and offering daily specials, sports viewing, karaoke, and private event hosting. The company also operates a retail merchandise store (McGillin's Shoppe) opened in May 2025 at 123 S. Juniper Street, selling branded apparel, Philly sports gear, and Irish imports both in-store and online via Shopify.

Product overview

McGillin's Olde Ale House is a historic tavern established in 1860, offering a unified hospitality experience centered on its physical bar and restaurant. The establishment features three house beers brewed by Troegs Independent Brewing (McGillin's Real Ale, McGillin's Genuine Lager, and McGillin's 1860 IPA), a full food menu of traditional pub fare, signature cocktails, and entertainment including karaoke and sports viewing. A retail merchandise shop (McGillin's Shoppe) opened in 2025, and a published book about the tavern's history was released in October 2025. The company operates as a single physical location with an e-commerce component for merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• McGillin's Olde Ale House Tavern Experience Full-service historic tavern in Center City Philadelphia offering on-site dining, bar service, daily specials, sports viewing, karaoke, and private events across two floors. Open 7 days a week from 11 am to 2 am with kitchen service until 1 am.
• McGillin's House Beers Three signature house beers brewed by Troegs Independent Brewing: McGillin's Real Ale, McGillin's Genuine Lager, and McGillin's 1860 IPA. Served exclusively at the Philadelphia tavern.
• Food Menu (Pub Fare) Traditional American and Irish pub fare including Fish & Chips ($13.49), Shepherd's Pie ($12.99), Cheesesteaks ($9.99), Wings, Big Burger ($10.29), Meatloaf ($14.49), and daily specials.
• Signature Cocktails House-crafted cocktails including Irish Coffee, McGillin's Mule, Raspberry Limoncello Martini, Aperol Spritz, Ma's 1860 Manhattan, Cold Brew Martini, Homemade Margarita, and seasonal summer cocktails such as the Betsy Ross Rita and Liberty Bellni.
• Private Parties and Events Private event hosting services for birthday parties, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, and engagement celebrations at the historic Philadelphia tavern venue with customizable food and drink options.
• McGillin's Shoppe (Retail Merchandise) Retail merchandise store selling McGillin's branded apparel, Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies gear, unique Philadelphia gifts, 250th anniversary souvenirs, World Soccer souvenirs, John Wind Jewelry, and Irish imports. Operates a physical storefront open daily 12pm-6pm and a Shopify online store shipping nationwide.
• Cheers to McGillin's: Philly's Oldest Tavern (Book) Published book chronicling the 165-year history of McGillin's Olde Ale House, including romance stories, ghost tales, recipes, and historical photographs, with a foreword by former Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Troegs Independent BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Troegs Independent Brewing became the official brewer of McGillin's three house beers in June 2021 - McGillin's Real Ale, McGillin's Genuine Lager, and McGillin's 1860 IPA. Prior to Troegs, the beers were brewed by Stoudt's Brewing from 1995 until its closure in 2020. McGillin's previously sold more Stoudt's beer than any other bar in Pennsylvania.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia RegionminorOthersMcGillin's hosts an annual holiday toy drive benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region. The event includes photos with Santa, Christmas karaoke, food specials, and partnerships with Troegs Independent Brewing and Sly Fox Brewing Company who provide special holiday beers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fadó Irish Pub: Multi-location Irish pub concept formerly operated across major US cities. Comparable to McGillin's in Irish pub atmosphere and sports bar positioning, though as a corporate-operated chain rather than an independent heritage venue.
• Kildare's Irish Pub: Multi-location Irish pub and restaurant chain in the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable to McGillin's in Irish pub format and casual food/beverage offerings, though operating as a broader chain rather than a single historic venue.

Direct peers

• Fraunces Tavern: New York City historic tavern (est. 1762) operated as a restaurant and bar with a museum component. Comparable to McGillin's as a multi-century American heritage tavern combining on-site food and beverage with historical narrative and retail/gift merchandise.
• The Old Town Bar: New York City tavern (est. 1892) operating continuously in the Flatiron District. Comparable to McGillin's as a long-running, historic American tavern known for traditional pub fare, beer, and being a filming/media destination.
• Tir na nÓg Irish Pub & Restaurant: Philadelphia Irish pub and restaurant operating in Center City. Direct local competitor to McGillin's offering similar Irish pub fare, sports viewing, and weekend brunch, competing for the same Center City tourist and sports-fan segments.
• McSorley's Old Ale House: Manhattan's oldest continuously operating saloon (est. 1854), directly comparable to McGillin's as a historic, family-run NYC tavern. Same Irish-American heritage positioning, similar cask-ale focus, and similar national-media profile as a heritage pub destination.
• White Horse Tavern: Providence, RI tavern founded in 1673, one of America's oldest operating bars. Comparable to McGillin's as a heritage American tavern operating continuously for centuries with tourism positioning and traditional pub fare.

Regional players

• Monk's Café: Philadelphia craft beer and Belgian-style pub in Center City. Comparable to McGillin's as a destination Philadelphia beer bar, though focused more on craft/imported beer selection and mussels than heritage positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/McGillinsShoppe
• Instagraminstagram.com/McGillinsShoppe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcgillin's-olde-ale-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McGillin's Olde Ale House