As part of our continued campaign in support of local boozers, Sunday Life travelled to Comber last week to share a drink with the locals and staff at McBride’s On the Square.

The family-run pub, which includes a restaurant and off sales, has been managed by Iris McBride for the last 10 years, but she’s been working there on a part-time basis since she was 14 years old.

And with such close ties to the community, Iris says McBride’s is more than just a pub.

“I grew up with a lot of the regulars so they’re more than just customers — they’re friends,” she said.

“When something happens, like a death in the family for example, there is huge support and you realise that you’re not just running a business, you are part of the community.

“People look upon you as more than just somewhere they go for a couple of pints every week.”

And as Sunday Life found out when we visited, McBride’s has a mix of clientele and is a place where local Liverpool supporters rub shoulders with Ulster rugby fans and music lovers chew the fat with quiz teams.

McBride’s has a darts team as well as a 70-strong golf society, which was formed on a whim by some regulars — somewhere on the Irish Sea.

Iris said: “The nucleus of the whole society is made of regulars who have been coming here for a long time.

“It’s been going since the Seacat started and we have a plaque on the wall showing the captains.”

McBride’s also organises trips to all the Ulster home matches at Ravenhill and the pub has been popular with rugby fans watching the recent Six Nations tournament.

“On the days of the last two rugby matches, we had husbands and wives in the 50 age group mixing with the younger age group,” said Iris.

“The atmosphere was excellent.”

McBride’s also runs a quiz every fortnight and features local musicians who play swing and easy listening once a month.

And for the last 20 years they’ve even held an annual ‘Quiet Man’ day, in honour of the great John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara film.

“On the last Sunday before Christmas we have a traditional band and we have people dressing up from the film,” Iris explained. One of the regulars had the idea and it sort of transformed into something bigger than we ever suspected.

“The film is on in the background and the people are dressed up.”

When the Quiet Man day first started, people brought their own snacks but now McBride’s provides customers with bowls of stew and asks for a donation for charity.

“Last year we raised more than £1,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. That was another really good day,” said Iris.

And it’s for these reasons that Iris thinks pubs are a vital part of the community and should get more support from local government.

“I think the local pub is part of our national heritage and culture and it would be a sin to see the disappear,” she said.

“I think they are vital and I would like to think we are at the heartbeat of the community.”

Punters at McBride’s agree.

One regular, Richard Rawson,

said: “I’ve been coming here for 40 years — it’s part of the community.”

Another, John King, told us: “They cater for everyone’s tastes both in food and entertainment.

“I was in for the rugby and I doubt if the atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium could have been any better.”

Bill McKnight added: “It’s a very busy pub and is very social.”

His son Neil, who was visiting from Spain, told Sunday Life: “I think it’s got the best Guinness in north Down.”

Another punter, Mark Watterson, also praised McBride’s for being so friendly.

He added: “I’ve been drinking here for 19 or 20 years. This is the community, there’s no two ways about it.”

Barman Nicky Caughey said: “I’ve been working here for about a year. Everybody knows everybody here.”

As well as its regular customers, Iris said she’s recently catered for groups who’ve been drawn to the town since the Comber Greenway opened. The walking and cycling path, which follows seven miles of the old Belfast to Comber railway line, opened last November.

Nicky said: “We have a lot of people coming in from the Greenway who stop off for a drink.”

Iris added: “We’ve had three walking groups already and in the town on a Sunday you see loads of cyclists.

“It’s fantastic.”