Irishman who earned stripes at famous Gibney's teams up with seasoned barman to launch new spot in New York

An Irishman who earned his stripes working at a famous family-run bar and restaurant in Dublin has teamed up with a seasoned barman with two decades experience in the New York hospitality scene to launch a new gastro pub.

Ciarán Harrison and Christopher Buckle are the duo behind The Parkgate - a neighborhood institution in waiting, boasting a unique bar space, high quality drinks , music, and tasty dishes from one of the city's top chefs .

The 36-year-old from Dublin and the 44-year-old from Liverpool have spent the last year and a half renovating the building on West 4th and Jones in the West Village , which previously hosted The Slaughtered Lamb Pub.

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"The place has been a bar since the 1970s but it's not been well maintained up until now," Chris told IrishStar.com . "We completely gut renovated it - everything in there is brand new except the the floor joists and the walls.

"We moved the staircase from one side of the room to the other, knocked down walls, and extended the bar so it's a continuous bar round the room. We made the basement bar bigger, too. It's been an interesting overhaul."

Ciarán went on: "Locals are dropping by to have a sneak peek . They're very excited. It's a place you can go to relax, have a few pints and grab a pint or have a full scale dinner. It's definitely been a learning experience.

"It's the first bar we've ever taken on so it's been a journey. We've spent a long time working towards something that is now tangible and real. It's a great feeling to see how it's turned out."

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Ciarán grew up working in his family’s bar Gibney's Malahide , which now has a site in Midtown. He began working in New York City ’s restaurant scene nine years ago and met Chris while working on the same block in the West Village.

Chris always wanted to open his own concept so when the opportunity arose, the pair decided to go for it together. The bar is named after the Gibney’s first pub in Dublin on Parkgate Street as a nod to Ciarán's motherland.

Chef Trevor A. Safrani also plays a huge part. A former sous chef at Balthazar - the iconic French brasserie in New York - and other renowned restaurants with over 15 years' experience, Safrani will put his special touch on the menu.

"I met Trevor through a mutual friend years ago and we stayed in touch," Chris explained. "He accepted immediately when I asked him to come on board. He comes from an incredible background and is very excited about the project.

"It's his own kitchen for him to express himself how he sees fit, and bring the same flare he's brought to everything he's done so far. The atmosphere we're looking to create will be accessible to different groups and demographics.

"We don't want to be blasting music - we want to be a bit more cultured . There is plenty of space for private events, which we hope to capitalize on The Parkgate will be able to fit just around 200 guests across two levels."

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The Parkgate is set to open its doors at the end of July. Ciarán added: "The change is dramatic from the first time we went in until now. We're looking forward to getting people into the space and see what they think."

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