Quick info
About Mary McBride's Bar
Mary McBride's Bar is an Irish pub on 2 Main Street in Ballymena, set beside the river a stone's throw from the beach in Cushendun. The menu runs to a beef and Guinness pie, fish and chips, and a seafood chowder starter. The room is small, and every seat fills when the pub is busy, so a wait for a table is common even with reservations recommended. Table service applies once seated, with customers asked to wait to be shown to a table. Outdoor seating adds extra space when the main room is full, and high chairs make it workable for families with young children. A step-free entrance suits visitors with mobility needs. A quiz night runs as a regular fixture. Parking on the main street can be difficult to find, so arriving with that in mind is worthwhile.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Free parking lot · Parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
- DietaryOrganic dishes · Vegan options · Vegetarian options
Menu & Prices
36 dishes · mains £7–27- Soup Of The Day With Wheaten Bread£6.50
- Garlic Bread Topped With Melted Cheese£7.50
- Bbq Chicken Wings With Blue Cheese Dip£7.50
- Chicken Caesar Salad£7.95
- Seafood Chowder (Small) With Wheaten Bread£9.50
- Beer Battered Haddock & Chips£17.50
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention beef and guinness pie, generous portions, seafood chowder and steak sandwich.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention beef and guinness pie, generous portions, seafood chowder and steak sandwich.
Customer Review Summary
The beef and Guinness pie draws the most praise, described repeatedly with generous portions and steady quality, alongside standouts like the steak and kidney pie, seafood chowder, lamb shanks, and open prawn salad. Reviewers consistently note good value, generous portions, and fast, friendly service, with the coal fire and heritage setting adding to the appeal. A few caveats recur: one reviewer calls the food mediocre, with fish that was mostly batter and mushy peas with an odd taste, and reports sore tummies afterward, and another finds the menu overpriced with parking difficult on the main street. One reviewer describes being told, after ordering drinks, that dogs were not permitted, and found the staff member's manner rude. A wheelchair user reports being told by phone that the venue was accessible, then finding on arrival that it was not, and was advised the issue would need addressing with a ramp and staff updates. Despite this, many describe returning happily, with one wedding party praising staff who arranged extras like ice for their event.
Customer Review Summary
The beef and Guinness pie draws the most praise, described repeatedly with generous portions and steady quality, alongside standouts like the steak and kidney pie, seafood chowder, lamb shanks, and open prawn salad. Reviewers consistently note good value, generous portions, and fast, friendly service, with the coal fire and heritage setting adding to the appeal. A few caveats recur: one reviewer calls the food mediocre, with fish that was mostly batter and mushy peas with an odd taste, and reports sore tummies afterward, and another finds the menu overpriced with parking difficult on the main street. One reviewer describes being told, after ordering drinks, that dogs were not permitted, and found the staff member's manner rude. A wheelchair user reports being told by phone that the venue was accessible, then finding on arrival that it was not, and was advised the issue would need addressing with a ramp and staff updates. Despite this, many describe returning happily, with one wedding party praising staff who arranged extras like ice for their event.
Featured reviews
- Rosa
“Fuimos de casualidad y la comida estaba top. Imprescindible pasar a comer .El trato amable y el ambiente muy típico. Muchos irlandeses entre los comensales .”
- Niall McGowan
“Rang and they had stated they were electric wheelchair accessible. Arrived and were not wheelchair accessible. On advice this would need to be addressed with getting a wheelchair ramp and staff updated about restaurant capabilities”
- Kate Platten
“Absolute gem of a place. We had the open prawn salad and beef and Guinness pie, very generous portions. Staff were friendly and food arrived quickly. It did get busy quickly but it is well worth a visit and we wouldn't hesitate to go back.”
- Trish Jeffs
“Best seafood chowder & soda bread. Guinness Pie was excellent too. Trish, Australia 🦘”
- Jens Mönning
“Tolle Küche, nettes Personal, niedlich eingerichtet. Einfach top. Wit kommen gerne wieder.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Family friendly
- Vegan options
- Bar on site
- Casual
- Beer
- Coffee
- Offerings· 13
- Alcohol
- Dancing
- Food
- Food at bar
- Free water refills
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Organic dishes
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Spirits
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Highlights· 8
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Quiz night
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Family-friendly· 3
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Dining options· 6
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 3
- Cosy
- Historic
- Romantic
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Parking· 2
- Free parking lot
- Parking
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
Location
Restaurants near Mary McBride's Bar
- Laragh Lodge Restaurant4.61,1757.7 mi away£20–30Good for kidsReservations
guinness on tap, chicken goujons, roast lamb
- Pizza Haven3.4619.6 mi away
seville ham and pineapple pizza, vegetarian pizza, cold soggy wedges
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary McBride's BarOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.7784 | — | £15–30 | beef and guinness pie, generous portions, seafood chowder |
| Laragh Lodge RestaurantGood for kids · Reservations | 4.61,175 | 7.7 mi away | £20–30 | guinness on tap, chicken goujons, roast lamb |
| Pizza Haven | 3.461 | 9.6 mi away | — | seville ham and pineapple pizza, vegetarian pizza, cold soggy wedges |
The 2 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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