08/15/2026
We're diving deep into the rich history of The Ugly Oyster building (19-21 South 5th St). Below is some of what we know so far -- what we've gleaned from customers, news articles, and our own records.
🏗 In 1991, construction began to turn the Hofbrau into what most people know today as The Ugly Oyster. Let's just say, it was a thorough process: The owner that undertook this task had such a passion for the establishment that he traveled all the way to Ireland to do it right!
🚢 The interior of the Ugly Oyster had been built in Yorkshire, England. It was taken apart by Irish craftsmen, shipped overseas, fitted for the 1st-floor interior of the then-Hofbrau, and rebuilt in the space by those same Irish craftsmen.
In his several months there, the owner attended St. James' Gate to learn the authentic handling, pouring, and serving techniques from Guinness itself. Because of the Ugly Oyster's excellence of surpassing these rigorous standards, we were the first pub in the county to receive the official Guinness Rating.
🦪 Our name comes from the original owner's past working in Ocean City, Maryland. He got his inspiration whilst strolling the streets, falling in love with all the fun business names... hence our quirky title: "The Ugly Oyster."
Nearly a decade later, our pub opened its doors on St. Patty's Day of 2000 (how fitting!).
⏳And to top all that, we are considered the oldest pub in Berks County -- both our interior and the building itself date back to the 1700s.
We'd love to hear stories, fun facts, corrections, and everything else associated with the Ugly Oyster and the building at 19-21 South 5th St! Which celebrities have visited us? What happened during WWII? What was the Ugly Oyster before it was the Hofbrau? We'd love to know!
