De Valera's pub prepares to reopen in August

De Valera's Irish pub on Place Flagey is preparing to reopen next month, La Dernière Heure newspaper has revealed.

The popular pub shut down in May 2018 due to a rent hike. Since then, the premises have been unoccupied - but "coming soon" signs can now be seen in the windows.

Audrey Lhoest, the Ixelles city councillor responsible for trade, said: "The former operator contacted the municipality's trade department to announce that he would soon deliver the various documents necessary for the establishment to reopen. The operator hopes to open in early to mid-August."

De Valera's opened in 2006 and was popular for its screening of live sport and its large terrace overlooking the square.

Its owners also run Celtica on Rue Marché aux Poulets and Michael Collins on Rue du Bailli. Another pub in the group, the Old Oak on Rue Franklin in the EU district, closed in March 2018.

After last year's closure of De Valera's, manager John Kennedy told Bruzz: "All sorts of people came here: British and Irish expats and EU workers, of course, but also Ixelles locals. And people who moved out of Brussels often dropped back in later to say hello."