Pretty Marys gets 5 stars for atmosphere. You can get wine or beer anywhere. However, this authentic Irish pub has atmosphere and regulars. Like Cheers, everyone knows your name. This is "the" pub in Moira. Anytime I have been here visiting, i have been here. The dark woods are decadent, and the crowd is ecclectic, since its audience, I am guessing, includes everyone that lives here. I mean everyone. I actually heard the screetch of a toddler. It was 430, and they serve food, so no jusgment from me. Beside is, was a table of three men in their late 20s, with an 80 year old regular. Im in my early 40's (ssssshhhh) and my parents are early 60s. All of us fit in perfectly. The other thing I valued, was that it was busy, but not jam packed. I enjoyed the bustle in there, but I liked that everyone had a seat, and you had to speak up, but everyone can hear each other talk. Volume was perfect for hanging and gabbing. This bar has been a staple here for many years. Check it out if you are in the neighborhood! read more

See all

I've always put off leaving a review for Pretty Mary's, maybe because I'm enamoured with the style of the place itself, or perhaps because, prior to lockdown the service and attitude of staff was generally good. A bad plate of food in Pretty's back then was generally rare and staff were diligent and attentive. But my post lockdown experiencing of this establishment has been abysmal enough to force me to put pen to paper. In particular my birthday meal last night. I shall forgo a lengthy tirade over the twentyish year old 'Armand' (Birdcage movie reference) mincing around in shorts and boldly giving me the stink eye for no apparent reason and get straight to the fact that the restaurant knew it was my birthday and made no extra effort whatsoever. Quite the opposite in fact. I ordered the most expensive dish on the menu - ribeye steak, with extra peppercorn sauce and house vegetables. The accompanying side was thick chips. I'm going to suggest that the kitchen staff are relying on all their customers having covid and therefore possessing no taste buds. Because that is the only way people would fail to notice that the whole thing had been cooked in old fat. It is not often I leave a steak, no matter how badly cooked. But that entire meal was inedible and a massive disappointment. If this experience had been a one off, I might not have left such a scathing review, but a few weeks prior I had visited and also ordered the chicken stack and was unable to finish my meal due to the foul taste of old oil covering the whole dish. 'Armand' as we shall call him, also behaved rudely on that occasion as well. So basically, if you like your dinner cooked in almost rancid fat, limp chips and some petty ignorant whelp giving you attitude whilst you sit there paying his wages, go right ahead. Visit Pretty's. The only saving grace I will say the place has, is a very mannerly and friendly waitress. Every time I've been she tries her very best, bless her. (She wore pigtails last night, so if you're reading this pigtail girl, you know who you are). So 'Armand', take some lessons from her. If it was my restaurant, you'd be out on your backside treating paying customers like that! read more

Pretty Mary's is a nice pub serving good food. Perhaps not the quickest service and not a wildly exciting menu, however it's a charming pub and restaurant with a warm, welcoming vibe and great outside area to sit in the summer months. Pretty Mary's also within walking distance of Moira train station so is handy to get to and from for a boozy Saturday lunch if you're located in Belfast and fancy a change from 'The big Smoke'. I've visited a couple of times with friends and have always enjoyed this pub - just don't miss the last train home! read more

The food can be either excellent or very poor. I stopped going there after I went for a drink and to watch a rugby match. The barman scoffed at the thought anyone would want to watch Munster playing but since the bar was empty put it on and served me a pint. As soon as someone else came in he switched to soccer and when I mentioned this he told me the soccer was always going to be on. Not what he told me to get money for one pint out of me. Sly and poor service. Gp if you like rugby and want to be scoffed at. If you don't like that sort of thing go across the road and get friendly and honest service. read more