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IN LESS than a year of opening in Hong Kong, Delaney's has turned into such a popular venture that the pub operator has begun expanding in the region.

While the group has plans to open several pubs in Asia, it also intends to branch out in the United States and may even list on the New York Stock Exchange.

The second pub in the Delaney's chain opened in Tsim Sha Tsui 18 months after it launched operations in Wan Chai. A third pub, in Bangkok, joined the chain recently. By Christmas, the group is expected to open a pub in Atlanta.

In addition, Delaney's International, the Hong Kong group founded on what appears to be a growing affection for draught Guinness, plans to launch in Beijing and Taiwan in the next 12 months.

In Australia, there are moves to establish Delaney's at Melbourne Casino, while opportunities are being explored on the Gold Coast and in Sydney.

  Founding director David Cowan said Delaney's aimed to operate up to a dozen pubs in Asia in the next three years.

  In addition to this expansion programme, Delaney's has started brewing its own beer.

  Delaney's Ale, from the company's new micro-brewery in Hong Kong, was introduced last week at $39 a pint.

  In what might seem to be a total contradiction of corporate development, Mr Cowan said: 'We are not going too fast - we don't want to do that. We are trying to be careful.

  'It is exciting but a lot of the time you have to keep completely cool.'      Mr Cowan launched the enterprise with his friend Sam Roch-Perks.

  He was convinced it was 'the best pub concept in the world' but the New York stock market - not to mention the prospect of becoming instant US dollar millionaires - was the last thing on their minds when Delaney's was launched.

 'We were just homesick for the Irish pubs,' he said.

  'We missed the atmosphere of Ireland - the way that people from all walks of life talk to each other in an unpretentious bar. It makes my day to see Chinese people coming along and having a crack.'  What also made his day was some old-fashioned Irish cooking: specialties include barnbrack bread, Dublin Bay prawns and 'champ' - a mountain of mashed potato and scallions with melted butter.

   Having gained popularity through the right mix of brews and cuisine, Delaney's became Delaney's International.

  The Kowloon 'sister' pub was the launch pad for a chain. Investors began inquiring about more potential ventures.

  Even before the Bangkok pub joined the chain this month (with a plane load of Hong Kong supporters at the opening), talks were underway to further extend the operation in Thailand through franchises.

 'Nearly everywhere in Asia there are possibilities, although, at the moment, we are just seeing where Guinness is most comfortable,' Mr Cowan said.

  Guinness, the creamy beverage that has proved to be 'black gold' for Delaney's according to Mr Cowan, had become 'an integral part of this whole concept. We are working closely with them [Guinness]'.

  While success on this scale was unexpected, the market potential had not been underestimated.

   'There was a definite gap in the market and, when you know you have a good idea, that is what drives you,' Mr Cowan said.

    In retrospect, it seemed so obvious that Delaney's would take off.

  After all, it is the fastest-growing pub concept in the world.

  Similar pubs are being opened, with fittings and stock supplied by the Dublin-based Irish Pub Company, across Europe. There are already 23 in Italy and three in Moscow, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

 With the authenticity of a traditional pub re-created with all fittings and furnishings imported from Ireland, from bric-a-brac and stained and polished glass to church pew seats and corner-seats, the pubs have rarely failed.

  At the last count, a new one was opening somewhere in the world every three weeks.

 With Hong Kong's intervention, that pace may well speed up.



Irish eyes smile on Delaney's