- Co-founder Will Hodges modeled The Mad Piper after traditional Irish and Scottish pubs, aiming to recreate their intimate atmosphere and community-focused culture.
- The new bar shares a building with The Well, expanding restroom capacity while transforming a long-vacant storefront into a second hospitality concept and private event venue.
- The Mad Piper will feature live music, Irish-inspired dishes, an extensive beer and whiskey selection.
The Mad Piper co-founder, Will Hodges, wanted to create an authentic Irish pub atmosphere in the heart of Covington, drawing on his vacation experiences in the British Isles.
Hodges told LINK nky that pubs are central to the community experience in Ireland and Scotland, where people have gathered for generations in the comfortable confines of dimly lit, wood-clad rooms.
“It is the gathering place at the end of the day. It is the mid-afternoon: “You want to have a pint? Let’s go have one.” It’s ingrained into the culture – the pub or the bar is where we go.”
The Mad Piper is the latest concept from Hodges and his business partner, Chase Daoud, who are co-founders of HD Restaurant Group – owner-operators of The Well in Covington and The Park at the Banks along Cincinnati’s riverfront.
The Mad Piper, located at 14 W. 7th St., is an homage to the classic Irish pub. Hodges and Daoud began the buildout process in November 2025, investing heavily into the vacant space over the past eight months. The space is located directly next door to The Well, sharing the same building, which is owned by a limited liability company connected to Daoud, according to Kenton County property records.
Since The Well opened in 2022, the neighboring space remained unused, mainly serving as storage. Hodges said they spent years debating how to utilize the area. Eventually, the pair decided to expand The Well’s restroom capacity into the vacant space to reduce congestion.
Upon completion of the project, Hodges and Daoud turned their attention to the front portion of the space and concluded that another bar concept would be the best approach. The Well and The Mad Piper are connected through an interior hallway, allowing people to traverse between the two spaces.
The Mad Piper features a centralized bar as its focal point. Its interior is adorned with finished wood on the walls, includes comfortable seating areas and has a stage for live performances. The bar will also double as a rentable event space that can accommodate private events.
“We felt that we needed to do something true to our hearts and what we loved, and we loved the pubs … and we had the space to do it because it’s small,” he said.
Bartender Dalton Hazen praised the bar’s intimate feel compared with other Irish pubs he’s visited.
“I’m very excited. It’s got a real home feeling,” Hazen said. “It’s super nice. I’ve been to a lot of Irish pubs all over, and I haven’t seen something like this. The vibes are awesome when there’s live music and everyone’s singing along.”
The Mad Piper’s menu offers a wide range of beverages, including draft beers, cans, bottles, cocktails, wine, whiskeys, scotch and bourbon. It also features Irish pub-style foods like shepherd’s pie, curry chips, corned beef and kraut bites, chicken and cheese toasties, ham and cheese toasties, fish and chips, and a beef and Guinness pot pie.
The Mad Piper’s grand opening is on Friday, July 24 at 4 p.m.
