
Smyths Siopa Ol, Main Street, Ballinamore, Co. LeitrimN41D2Y4
Price on application
4 Bed~5 Bath~400 m²~BER D1
What you'll like:
- Prime main street location: Positioned prominently on the main thoroughfare of Ballinamore, ensuring high visibility and steady foot traffic from locals and visitors alike.
- Established business legacy: Operating successfully as a thriving family-run business for over 30 years, building immense goodwill and deep community roots.
- Turnkey commercial condition: Presented in ready-to-trade condition throughout, allowing a new owner to step in and resume operations without immediate major renovation costs.
- Proven financial performance: Marketed with strong, established trading figures available upon request, offering immediate revenue generation potential for investors.
- Comprehensive on-site facilities: Includes a fully operational bar, dedicated lounge, separate dining room, and covered smoking area to accommodate diverse customer preferences.
- Fully equipped industrial kitchen: Outfitted with a complete working commercial kitchen, walk-in fridge freezer, keg room, dry-store, and ice machine room to support high-volume food service.
- Extensive floor area: Spanning a massive 400 square meters across three well-utilized levels, providing ample operational space for hospitality and residential uses.
- Outdoor seating amenity: Features an attractive outdoor seating area that enhances customer capacity and appeal during favorable weather conditions.
- Advanced security installation: Equipped with a comprehensive 16-camera security and CCTV system, ensuring high asset protection and monitoring safety across the premises.
- Spacious overhead living quarters: Includes four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room with an open fireplace, a study, and an office for comfortable owner-occupier living.
- Expansion and conversion potential: Offers options to convert the generous overhead accommodation into additional restaurant space or hostel rooms, subject to planning permissions.
- Accessibility features: Outfitted with dedicated ladies, gents, and disabled toilets on the ground level, ensuring compliance with public accessibility standards.
- Daily service versatility: Successfully hosts both daily lunch menus and evening a la carte dining, proving its capability to capture multiple distinct revenue streams.
- Chef-owner opportunity: Represents an ideal setup for an ambitious chef looking to independently own and operate a turnkey bar and restaurant venture.
- Strategic town center placement: Situated directly beside the local library on the main street, boosting local footfall and neighborhood integration.
- Established supplier infrastructure: Features a dedicated keg room and dry store designed to streamline inventory management and beverage storage efficiency.
- Independent accommodation layout: The multi-floor layout allows for a distinct separation between the bustling commercial ground floor and the private residential quarters above.
- Strong local focal point: Recognized widely as a landmark town venue, reducing marketing efforts required to attract patrons to a new concept.
- Flexible investment potential: Can serve either as a hands-on owner-operated business or as a passive commercial investment leased to a third-party operator.
- Professional agent representation: Marketed by a well-known local estate agency with transparent availability of turnover records for serious prospective buyers.
But keep in mind:
- Subpar energy efficiency: Rated D1 on the Building Energy Rating scale, indicating that the building may require substantial energy upgrades to lower heating and operational costs.
- Substantial financial verification required: Buyers must rigorously examine the actual trading figures and profit-and-loss statements to validate the claimed excellent turnover.
- Planning permissions uncertainty: Buyers should verify if past interior modifications or any future conversion plans for the overhead space comply fully with local planning laws.
- Commercial licensing transfer risks: Acquiring a licensed premises involves navigating complex liquor license transfer regulations and associated legal fees in the jurisdiction.
- High structural maintenance overhead: Managing a large 400 square meter three-story building with intensive commercial equipment can generate high ongoing repair and maintenance costs.
- Commercial rate liabilities: Prospective buyers must investigate the local authority commercial rates applicable to the property to accurately forecast fixed business expenditures.
- Staff retention complexities: Taking over a long-running family business may involve delicate transitions regarding existing staff contracts, employment rights, and labor costs.
- Commercial equipment depreciation: The buyer should independently inspect the remaining lifespan and condition of the industrial kitchen appliances, walk-in fridge, and CCTV hardware.
- Fire safety compliance costs: Public hospitality spaces must adhere to stringent fire safety regulations, and the buyer should verify that current certifications are fully up to date.
- Waste management logistics: Operating a busy bar and restaurant on a main street requires robust arrangements for commercial waste disposal and recycling storage.
- Acoustic insulation considerations: Living directly above a bustling town center bar and restaurant may expose residents to noise disturbance, requiring soundproofing investments.
- Market concentration risk: Relying heavily on a single rural town location exposes the business revenue directly to local economic fluctuations and tourism seasonal shifts.
- Insurance premium burdens: Securing comprehensive public liability, employer liability, and commercial property insurance for a bar and restaurant can involve significant annual premiums.
- Limited private parking visibility: Buyers should check the availability of designated parking options nearby for patrons and residents accessing a main street property.
- Heating system efficiency audit needed: The buyer should investigate the age and efficiency of the heating infrastructure across both the commercial floors and the four residential bedrooms.
- Plumbing capacity demands: Heavy commercial kitchen use and five bathrooms necessitate an inspection of the main water supply and drainage lines to prevent backup issues.
- Ventilation and extraction review: The industrial kitchen extraction system should be professionally checked to ensure it meets modern environmental and odor-control standards.
- Accessibility compliance verification: While disabled toilets exist, buyers should confirm if all public areas fully meet current universal design and wheelchair accessibility regulations.
- Roof and structure inspection priority: A comprehensive structural survey should be commissioned to check the roof, gutters, and multi-story masonry for hidden dampness or wear.
- Turnkey illusion risk: Even in a turnkey setup, hidden deferred maintenance items may surface shortly after purchase, requiring an immediate capital reserve fund.
Price positioning
?
Not enough reliable market evidence is available to position this asking price.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property is a substantial mixed-use commercial and residential building spanning three floors, featuring a bar, lounge, dining room, industrial kitchen, and four overhead bedrooms.
- Given that the building incorporates a commercial bar, restaurant, and industrial equipment, a buyer should investigate the compliance of fire safety standards, commercial ventilation, grease traps, and electrical systems.
- The listing notes potential to convert overhead living accommodation or expand dining facilities, which would require verifying local planning permissions and building regulations compliance.
- A structural survey should be conducted to assess the condition of the multi-story structure, roof integrity, and sound insulation between the commercial ground floor and residential upper levels.
Retrofit Cost*
Possible renovating / insulating expenditure
- The BER rating is D1, which falls into the D to G range requiring a deep-retrofit estimate.
- A comprehensive deep retrofit for a large 400 m² commercial and residential mixed-use building of this scale would likely be capital-intensive, potentially ranging from 80,000 to 150,000 euros or more.
- Costs would be driven by upgrading insulation across a large floor area, commercial-grade window and door replacements, and modernizing heating systems for both the extensive commercial spaces and the upper-floor residential accommodation to achieve a higher energy rating.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost: €8,000 to €12,000.
- Explanation: Given the large floor area of approximately 400 m² combined with a D1 Building Energy Rating, the property is expected to have significant heat loss and high energy demands. Actual costs will vary depending on commercial usage patterns, occupancy, and fuel types used.
Pollution Safe
8/10Environmental situation to investigate
Flood Safe
7/10Water overflow reports to follow up
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estate
8 RIVERSIDE, MAIN ST, BALLINAMORE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €132,000.00
9 RIVERSIDE, MAIN ST, BALLINAMORE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €110,000.00
MAIN ST, BALLINAMORE, LEITRIM
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €200,000.00
30 RIVERSIDE, MAIN ST, BALLINAMORE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €57,000.00
29 RIVERSIDE, MAIN ST, BALLINAMORE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €57,000.00
Recent sales in the wider Ballinamore area
5 DUN NA BO, WILLOWFIELD RD, BALLINAMORE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €300,000.00
LAHARD, BALLINAMORE, CO. LEITRIM
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €160,000.00
NAOMH PADRAIG, AGHOO EAST, BALLINAMORE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €75,000.00
APARTMENT 3, THE LINE, BALLINAMORE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €135,000.00
CRIMLIN CROSS, AUGHNASHEELIN, BALLINAMORE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €199,950.00
Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR).
Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.
Last Sale
A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property
No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.
Buyer fees*
Associated expenses guide
- Stamp duty: Estimated at 7.5% for non-residential or commercial portions, or calculated per residential bands if applicable, depending on the final contract allocation.
- Solicitor legal fees: Typically range from €1,500 to €3,500 plus 23% VAT and outlays, varying by transaction complexity.
- Land registration fees: Approximately €400 to €800 payable to Tailte Éireann depending on the property value.
- Property valuation fees: Generally between €150 and €250 if required for mortgage or financing purposes.
- Surveyor or technical inspection fees: Typically range from €500 to €1,500+ depending on the building size and scope of commercial/structural assessments.
- Annual home insurance: Approximately €500 to €1,200 depending on coverage limits and the commercial-residential mix.
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Locals frequently mention Smyths Siopa Ol as a long-standing, iconic family-run bar and restaurant central to Ballinamore's main street community life.
- Community discussions often highlight the vibrant local sports scene, including GAA club notes and community fundraising events closely tied to town center establishments.
- Town-level forums note ongoing regional focus on tourism, Shannon-Erne Blueway activity, and small-town business vitality in County Leitrim.
- Residents discuss general rural commercial property trends, noting that turnkey hospitality venues with overhead living quarters attract interest from owner-operators.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children4/10
Living above a commercial bar and restaurant on a main street provides very little safe outdoor play space for young children, making it less than ideal.
- Teenagers5/10
Town centre location offers independence and proximity to local amenities, though the layout is heavily commercialised, blending business with private living.
- Multi-generational Living7/10
With 400 square metres across three floors, there is substantial space, including 4 bedrooms and overhead living quarters, though privacy from the ground-floor business needs consideration.
- Single Buyers3/10
The property is a massive commercial establishment combined with residential space, which is typically far too large and operationally complex for a single standard buyer unless they intend to run the business.
- Couples5/10
Suits a couple looking to run a hospitality business together, but offers poor separation between domestic life and commercial enterprise.
- Empty Nesters3/10
The massive scale, commercial nature, and maintenance demands of a 400 sqm bar and restaurant make it impractical for empty nesters seeking quiet retirement.
- Retirees2/10
Managing a multi-story commercial bar and restaurant with extensive overhead accommodation is physically demanding and unsuitable for standard retirement living.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working5/10
Includes a study and an office space overhead, but the environment is tied to a bustling commercial establishment which may introduce distractions.
- Hybrid Commuting4/10
Ballinamore is a rural town location with limited major employment hubs nearby, making hybrid commuting to major cities quite impractical.
- Retired2/10
The property is an active, turnkey commercial business, which is the opposite of a retired lifestyle unless purchased purely as a passive investment.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place3/10
Spanning three stories with a commercial ground floor and overhead living accessed via stairs, it is poorly suited for accessibility or ageing in place.
- Low Maintenance2/10
Requires the upkeep of a 400 sqm commercial building, including an industrial kitchen, 16 CCTV cameras, walk-in fridge freezers, and active public restrooms.
- Secure Gated Entry5/10
Features an extensive 16-camera security and surveillance system, though it sits directly open to the public street rather than behind a gated residential entry.
- Minimalist Design2/10
Traditional, heavily equipped commercial bar and restaurant setup with traditional overhead rooms, far removed from minimalist aesthetics.
- Flexible Floor Plans8/10
Offers massive flexibility, with options noted to convert overhead living space into additional restaurant seating, a hostel, or expanded business facilities subject to planning.
- Heritage Home6/10
An iconic, well-established local fixture that has traded under the same name for decades, carrying strong local commercial heritage.
- Ecological Setup3/10
Carries a D1 BER rating and runs heavy commercial hospitality equipment, meaning energy efficiency is likely low and would require significant upgrades.
- Outdoor areas6/10
Includes practical commercial outdoor spaces such as a covered smoking area and an outdoor seating area, though lacking private domestic gardens.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening2/10
The property features commercial spaces like an outdoor seating area and covered smoking area, leaving virtually no traditional private garden space.
- Walking8/10
Being positioned right in the town centre provides immediate access to footpaths and local walking routes around Ballinamore.
- Gym4/10
While located in a town with local amenities, specialised fitness centres or gyms may require verification regarding their immediate proximity.
- Cycling6/10
The surrounding region offers scenic routes, though storing and managing bikes securely around a busy commercial venue requires careful arrangement.
- Golf6/10
Ballinamore Golf Club is located nearby in the region, offering decent access for golf enthusiasts.
- Fishing7/10
Co. Leitrim is renowned for its lakes and waterways, making the general area a well-known hub for angling and fishing enthusiasts.
- Horse Riding5/10
Equestrian facilities can be found within the broader rural county, but town-centre living provides no direct paddock or stable access.
- Water Sports6/10
Proximity to local lakes and the Shannon-Erne waterway offers good opportunities for boating and water activities in the wider area.
- Entertaining10/10
Comes fully equipped with a commercial bar, lounge, dining room, industrial kitchen, and outdoor seating areas, representing the ultimate venue for entertaining.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living2/10
Situated directly on the main street of a town above a renowned, thriving bar and restaurant, noise levels from patrons and street activity will be consistently high.
- Rural Living2/10
This is a distinctly urban or town-centre commercial property located on the main thoroughfare of Ballinamore, far from rural seclusion.
- Village Living8/10
Located in the heart of Ballinamore, right on Main Street, placing all local amenities, shops, and community services immediately on the doorstep.
- Coastal Living1/10
Co. Leitrim is an inland county with no proximity to the coast, making this entirely unsuited for coastal lifestyle seekers.
- Urban Living7/10
Offers a quintessential small-town high street experience, positioned centrally on the main thoroughfare next to the library.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement10/10
As a thriving family-run bar and restaurant central to the town for 30 years, it sits at the absolute core of local community life.
- Café Culture7/10
Being on the main street places it right amid the local social scene, with potential to interact with patrons and town visitors daily.
- Nightlife10/10
The property itself is a renowned licensed bar and restaurant operating daily with a lounge, dining room, and strong trading figures.
- Health/Wellness groups5/10
Local community groups exist within the town, though prospective buyers should verify the availability of specific wellness classes locally.
- Networking Opportunities8/10
Owning a prominent commercial establishment on the main thoroughfare guarantees continuous interaction with local business figures and visitors.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity3/10
Located in a rural town setting, high-speed broadband capabilities and tech infrastructure should be independently verified by the buyer.
Listing information
- Agent
- Gordon Hughes Estate Agents
- Phone
- 071 964 5555
- Published on HouseDelve
- 4 September 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-AD50ECHouseDelve · Republic of Ireland* Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.