This article first appeared in the Mar/Apr 2012 issue of World Gaming magazine.
| Wan Yu Villas |
| 45 Rua da Madrid |
| Macau |
| +853 2875 2945 |
| SM Mall of Asia |
| Sunset Boulevard |
| Pasay City, Metro Manila |
| The Philippines |
| +63 917 881 050 |
The Stallion has enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the Roadhouse bar in Macau since it opened two years ago. He got chatting to the publican and discovered that live music, motor bikes, beer and philanthropy were all highlights on the Roadhouse menu.
So what would an Irishman know about beer, blues and running bars in Macau and Manila? All jokes aside, you don’t get a better publican than a paddy! Ciarán Carruthers has been in gaming for the last 25 years. 20 of them have been in Asia and nine in Macau. Ciarán is now making another name for himself with his Roadhouse bars in Macau and Manila. You would think with a busy gaming management and consultancy firm he might have his hands full. We decided to ask him the obvious question: what gave him the idea to open the Roadhouse?
“I did what any self respecting Irishman would do… I opened a bar. The Roadhouse Macau was initially very much a self-indulgent hobby for me and my parents, who are my partners in the bar. It is a bar built around the things we like: the blues, rock, live music, big bikes and the best pint of Guinness available in Asia!
There is nothing worse than a faceless franchised bar with no personal touches. The Roadhouse is the furthest thing from your average passionless modern day drinking hole. Ciarán wanted to open a place that he would enjoy for a quiet (or not so quiet) drink himself, and that’s precisely what he has done. The Roadhouse Macau has received a number of local awards. Recently they were selected as one of the top 20 local companies.
The Roadhouse’s famous blooze bus transports customers to and from the bar
“We obviously believed that others would also be interested, particularly the local expat community, and we believed the quality and uniqueness of the bar, not to mention the great buzz in the place when the music is cranking and the pints are flowing, would set us apart from others available in the marketplace. What has amazed and pleased us is the number of locals, Chinese, Portuguese and Macanese, that have taken to the concept and love our music, bikes, partying and drink as much as we do!”
The Carruthers family is into their fourth generation of bike riders, starting with Ciarán’s granddad Jack and continuing to Ciarán’s son. Their love of all things motorbike is evident throughout the two bars with memorabilia and photos dating back to the early 1900s. They also have racing helmets worn and signed by the likes of Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and countless Macau riders. At the 2011 Macau Grand Prix they sponsored the Roadhouse SMT Honda race team of John McGuinness (Isle of Man TT Champion an incredible 17 times) and Irishman Stephen Thompson. The “craic” in the bar during race week had to be experienced to be believed!
The Roadhouse Manila Bay opened near the Mall of Asia on the Manila Bay waterfront on 9 December 2011. Triple the size of its Macau counterpart, it prides itself on its food, live blues and rock every night of the week.
The Carruthers not only want to run successful bars that look after their customers, they also have a desire to do what they can to help those less fortunate.
“Since opening, the Roadhouse Macau has held a number of charity events to help various causes such as the flood victims in Australia and the tsunami victims in Japan,” said Ciarán. “We also hold a monthly ARTM [Associação de Reabilitação de Toxicodependentes de Macau, or Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers] rock night on the first Sunday of every month whereby every dollar we take over the bar during the night goes directly to the ARTM to help in their drug rehab and prevention work in Macau.”
The Roadhouse brand has continued this concept in Manila where 5 February 2012 marked the first of their monthly Bantay Bata Blues Nights.
“These nights will support this great foundation that works tirelessly to help abused and troubled kids in the Philippines. Live blues and rock, great food and icy cold beers… plus you get to have a great time helping out some very worthy causes and feeling good about doing it. It’s what the Roadhouse is all about!”
If you’re looking for great music and atmosphere, in a relaxed bar setting, why not check out the Roadhouse in Macau or Manila.
