Mid-1800s: From Horses to Pints

Long before the Guinness flowed and fiddles played, Mulligans was known as The Waggon & Horses - a Victorian-era pub and inn serving locals and travelers alike. It sat proudly on Southgate Street, offering hearty ale, warm conversation, and a bed upstairs if you needed one.

1900s-1980s: A Local Favourite

Throughout the 20th century, the pub remained a steady presence. Tied to Wilson’s Brewery after the war, it was known for a great pint of bitter.

1990s: The Irish Soul Emerges

In the early 1990s, the pub took on a new name - Mulligans - and with it, a bold new identity. Embracing Manchester’s Irish heart, Mulligans became a cultural landmark. Genuine Irish hospitality and live folk music. 

Manchester United players, visiting musicians, and generations of Irish expats made it their go-to. By the mid-90s, Mulligans had earned a reputation as the most authentic Irish bar in town.

2000s: Craic Every Night

As the years rolled on, Mulligans became synonymous with Irish nightlife in Manchester. There was music every weekend, and a loyal crowd. Guinness became a sort of ritual here - poured slow, served perfect, and praised by locals and visitors alike.

2013: A New Era Begins

In 2013, Irish entrepreneur Pádraig Brady stepped in with a vision: to take a much-loved pub and bring it fully back to life. With deep respect for its heritage and a sharp eye on the future, he began carefully restoring the space - preserving its charm while improving everything behind the scenes.

His mission was simple: protect what made Mulligans special, and elevate everything around it.

2013–2020: Music Every Night, Guinness Every Moment

Pádraig’s biggest move? Music. Every single night of the week. What started as a bold idea quickly became the heartbeat of the pub. Whether it was a fiddler on a Tuesday or a full folk band on a Friday, the tunes never stopped. 

He also focused on making Mulligans feel even more welcoming. The result? A shift in the crowd and new faces discovering the magic of a proper Irish pub. And always, the Guinness flowed - poured with care, served with pride.

2024: A New Mulligans Upstairs

By the 2020s, it was clear Mulligans’ success had outgrown its walls. In early 2024, the upstairs was transformed from a cozy function room and guesthouse into a stunning new second-floor venue.

The result: vaulted timber ceilings, two new bars, a mezzanine, and a dedicated live music stage. It doubled the pub’s capacity and opened the door to even more nights filled with music, laughter, and of course, world-class Guinness.

When the new space opened in August 2024, the celebration said it all: free pints, packed crowds, and the same warm, familiar pub downstairs - unchanged, untouched, and loved more than ever.

2025: A New Kind of St. Patrick's Day

By 2025, Mulligans had set a new standard. That March, it hosted its biggest St. Patrick’s Day party ever — 1,200 people, 14 hours of music across both floors, and a city-wide reminder that this is where you go for the real Irish experience in Manchester. From live Irish dancing, Guinness excellence and music across all corners from 11am until close - we truly showed Manchester what St. Patrick's Day is about.

Today: The Spirit Lives On

Mulligans isn’t just a pub. It’s a home for music, for Guinness lovers, and a living part of Manchester’s Irish story. Thanks to Pádraig’s vision and the people who walk through its doors every night, Mulligans continues to thrive - blending 19th-century heritage with 21st-century heart.