Co Meath pub reintroduces free buffet each Friday

Louise Walsh

A Co Meath pub is rewarding people for a hard-working week by offering a free buffet each Friday.

The Round O in Navan reintroduced the free meal which had been on the menu on a weekly basis for years before Covid-19 closed the hospitality sector.

Now anyone can pop in and avail of the buffet from 5pm on a Friday as the pub aims to say thanks to its patrons for their support and well-done on getting through another working week.

Owner Mark Keenan says last Friday's dish of beef stew and mashed potatoes was snapped up by hungry customers at the bar, which has been in operation for over 50 years.

"We've been getting great feedback for the buffet. People think it is a great idea. It was originally intended for the working person on their way home but everyone from mothers and grans are popping in after working a hard week," he said.

"We are seeing a lot of single men coming in the door who may not have anyone at home to eat with so they may not bother cooking for themselves. This way, they are getting a nutritious meal on a Friday.

"We start at 5 o'clock until the buffet runs out basically and everything is cooked fresh that morning so it's not leftovers that we are giving out. The dish on offer will change weekly too.

"A few people just couldn't believe it, they were expecting some kind of a catch," he laughed.

Mark says that although The Round O was offering the free buffet on a Friday for years, all pub owners have to think outside the box to attract customers as the cost of living continues to rise.

"We are lucky that we are located in a big residential catchment area so a lot of our customers can have a pint and walk home easily but we get a huge amount of people who drive here from all over the county for our food.

"The free buffet is just to say thanks to our customers who have stayed loyal to us over the years."

The Round O is also gearing up to host 80s pop sensation Nik Kershaw in July and Mark admits that tickets have been flying out the door.

"We haven't even really had to advertise it and already over half of the 1000 tickets have been sold for the outdoor gig."

Revellers to that gig can expect to hear Nik Kershaw's hit songs such as 'Wouldn't it be Good' and The Riddle'