Saved from closure: New owners have big ambitions for The Wharf

Spring 2025 became a defining moment for the historic English pub The Wharf in Aalborg.

The venue suddenly found itself at a crossroads.

After the former owner’s wife passed away far too soon, owner Ian was left managing both The Wharf in Aalborg and Charlie’s in Copenhagen on his own.

As a result, there was a real possibility that The Wharf could be forced to shut down.

Fortunately, that never happened.

Three people with strong ties to the pub — Jan Gaardboe Jensen, Daen de Leon, and the pub’s bar manager Leo — decided to take over the business.

“It has always been the place I went to on Fridays to enjoy a good beer and a dram of whisky. I have so many great memories from there over the past ten years,” says Jan Gaardboe Jensen, a well-known business profile in Aalborg.

He describes the pub as something truly unique within the city.

“One of my friends once said that it’s Aalborg’s answer to Sam’s Bar.”

A Truly Special Place in Aalborg

The Wharf holds a special status among beer enthusiasts.

Together with Charlie’s in Copenhagen, it is one of the very few places in Denmark where guests can enjoy traditional English cask ales such as Timothy Taylor’s Landlord.

And preserving that tradition was important to the new owners.

For Daen de Leon, an Englishman living in Aalborg, The Wharf has also long served as a natural meeting place.

“It’s the international pub of Aalborg,” he explains.

New Beers, New Design, and More Experiences

After taking over, the new owners decided that The Wharf should not simply be saved — it should also evolve.

The past year has therefore been dedicated to a major upgrade of the pub.

The beer selection has been expanded significantly, offering even more specialty beers on tap.

This includes collaborations with breweries such as Bad Seed Brewing.

At the same time, the pub has introduced a new range of canned craft beers rarely found elsewhere in the city.

But according to the new owners, this is only the beginning. Throughout the summer, the cozy venue will also receive updated interior design and new furnishings.

More Events — and Food — for the Guests

At the same time, The Wharf has invested heavily in live events and music.

Already this Friday, May 15 at 8 PM, the pub will be filled with Irish tunes when Irish singer and musician Tom Donovan performs during a special Irish night.

The ambitions go beyond beer and music.

In the long term, the plan is also to serve traditional English pub food.

“We want to be able to offer real English pub classics such as pies,” says bar manager Leo.

The Wharf has also already made its mark beyond the pub itself. Among other things, the venue has supplied beer for events at Spritten in collaboration with Karmaklubben, and it has also hosted a large Oktoberfest celebration.

Guests can follow The Wharf on Facebook, where the pub regularly shares updates about upcoming news and events.