Landmark Delvin pub to become supermarket

The commercial building in Delvin housing Brinsley’s Bar, Fox’s Bookmakers and another shop unit is destined to be turned into a modern supermarket and retail off-licence by the autumn of this year. Current owners Bernie and Pamela Comaskey have agreed a sale of the entire premises to Vikram and Mariana Cortes Singh.

The Comaskeys have expressed great satisfaction with the proposed development and how much it will enhance the village. “People are travelling to Mullingar and Navan to do their supermarket shopping at the moment,” said Pamela, “it will be great for Delvin for shoppers to have the choice of buying all their groceries locally.”

Bernie believes that this is the missing piece of the jigsaw to make Delvin a great town. “There are still three super pubs in the village without ours, and shop owners David and Sharon Leavy do a splendid job at that end of the town. They have carried on the business built by Michael Leonard and established their own niche in the market – which will not change; and with the post office being the hub of the town, they will continue to prosper.

“At the other end of town, Paul and Sara, of Williams Daybreak have also established a tremendous business, which will scarcely be affected by a good supermarket in the heart of the village.”

Brinsley’s Bar had been leased out in recent years. “It wasn’t working,” said Bernie. “Even the best musical trio in Westmeath failed to fill the place, and the people voted with their feet. Now, we can turn this failure into something positive.”

The Singh family have three supermarkets already and to say they do it well is an understatement. Another positive for the area is that Vikram’s policy is to source all his staff locally. “If being nice guys really does help in business, Vikram and Mariana are halfway there already!” said Bernie.

“One more thing: I need to pay tribute to the decency of my tenant, bookie Sean Fox, who agreed to vacate his unit at short notice, in order that the supermarket can go ahead for the good of the town.”