The site where Kelly’s stands today was originally built in 1859 and housed The Cottage of Content Hotel, with a name change to The Cricketers Arm’s Hotel in 1875, eventually closing in the late 1970’s. Tooth’s and Co sold the building to McDonalds in 1982 to make way for what would turn out to be an unwelcome McDonalds restaurant, McDonalds apparently conceding to local pressure , closing down in the mid 1990’s due to “changing demographics of the area”.

Kelly’s On King Hotel opened on the 16th of September 1999, with the licence transferred from The Royal Edward Hotel, Wilson Street, Newtown.

Kelly’s opened in 1999 with an authentic Irish feel, with container loads of paraphernalia handpicked and shipped over from Ireland for the fit out. However a significant fire and two decades of wear and tear left the venue tired and run down until a refurbishment in 2020.