‘I’m very blessed' – Gavin James hopes to make his Dublin pub a haven for musicians and after show sessions

As he pulled a pint of Guinness, the singer revealed that he's lost five stone since January through a combination of diet and exercise.

The hit singer behind chart-topping songs such as Always and White Noise also told how he intends to turn Phibsborough's iconic Doyle's Corner bar into a mecca for music as well as running it as a traditional bar.

Gavin (33), who grew up on Manor Street and is now a resident of Phibsborough, says: "This pub is such a landmark in the area and now I want to inject as much music as possible into the place and make it a bar where people want to go and listen to music.

"I live close by, so I will be around all the time when I'm home. All my friends are musicians and we plan on having music nights here," he told the Sunday World.

"I started out singing in the pubs in Temple Bar, so the idea is to have singer-songwriters or just people in college have a place to play. They can come in to hang out, meet their mates or meet other musicians.

"It's a nice place to hang out — that's what pubs are for. All I can bring to the table is try and make a nice atmosphere and a nice place for people to come in, bring the guitars and have the craic."

The multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter, known for his soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, also revealed how he plans to host after-show sessions for himself and his fellow artists when they come to town to play shows.

"When my friends play over here in Whelan's, or come over from the States and play in the Olympia, one of the main joys for me here now is having a place where they can come back to and have a session in my place, or I can come back to and continue playing. It would be great craic, and there's a little cheeky snug up on the top floor as well."

Now a global star who plays everywhere from Europe to South America, Australia, Dubai and even Japan, James — real name Wigglesworth — says that, as a teenager drinking in Doyle's Corner, he never dreamt that one day he would be the pub's landlord.

"I'm very blessed to be able to be part of a building like this," Gavin says.

"It's been part of this community for years and I love it here in Phibsborough. I grew up on Manor Street and they are two very similar neighbourhoods. There's an old Dublin vibe about Manor Street and I get the same buzz in Phibsborough.

"As a kid I cycled past this pub many times. I also had a few nights in here when I was 18 or 19, or maybe younger, but I definitely didn't think I'd be the publican down the line," he laughs.

"A guy called Alex is running the pub with me and he's incredible. I can do the music, but he'll be looking after the publican part of it."

Gavin hosted the official reopening of Doyle's Corner and performed live for guests including family, friends, local residents and showbiz pals that included Danny O'Reilly of the Coronas, Wild Youth and The Riptide Movement, who packed the pub.

Although he later celebrated the opening drinking pints of Guinness, the towering 6ft 3ins performer revealed that it was a rare treat as he has been on a health kick since Christmas.

"I've lost around five stone through diet and exercise and cutting out the pints — and I love pints," Gavin laughs as he explains his weight loss.

"I tried all the diets and they didn't really work. But now I'm on the keto diet, which is mainly protein. So the carbs are gone — and I love bread and potatoes. I wouldn't be telling everyone to do it. I went to the doctor, so it's under supervision.

"I drink spirits now instead of pints. But I'm also exercising every day by running.

"I feel good and I've found a nice rhythm to what I can do. I never knew running was a 'thing'. It's awesome. I never knew I would actually get to like it.

"I'm not running a marathon, but I'm enjoying just running around. Although, maybe I'll run the Dublin marathon next year... we'll see. I love what Colin Farrell did, that was great raising €750,000 for Debra. He's a legend."