Fox Valley is about to get its own Irish pub on wheels. Simon Kearney, a longtime local chef, is turning his pub know-how into Roaming Hoolies, a mobile Irish pub built into a custom trailer that is slated to roll out of St. Charles this spring. The unit is designed to fit roughly 15 to 20 people inside a cozy pub-like setting and will feature two draft lines, including one plumbed for nitrogen-served Guinness. Kearney is aiming to have the trailer ready by May so he can follow warmer weather and local events. At launch, Roaming Hoolies will run as a dry-hire operation: the business provides the trailer and bartenders, while clients supply the beverages.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Kearney spent about a decade as head chef at McNally’s Irish Pub in St. Charles and previously cooked at Whiskey Bend and O’Hare’s Pub in Bartlett. According to the Tribune, the idea for Roaming Hoolies hit late last year after he spotted Facebook posts about similar mobile pubs in Ohio and New Jersey. His wife Kathleen and their children, Maeve and Liam, are set to pitch in on the family venture. The paper also notes that Kearney is eyeing St. Patrick’s Day parades and related events in March 2027, while lining up bookings for parties and festivals in the coming season.
Trailer built by a local shop
To bring the pub-on-wheels concept to life, Roaming Hoolies commissioned a 20-foot-by-8-foot build from a local fabricator. The company handling the work is Advantage Trailer in Carol Stream, which specializes in custom event and hospitality trailers. According to Advantage Trailer, the shop handles conversions and custom installs for mobile bars and promotional units, providing the kind of craftsmanship Kearney needs for taps, draught lines, and interior finishes. That local build schedule is part of why he is targeting a spring completion date.
Pub features and service model
The Chicago Tribune reports the mobile unit will include two beer lines and taps, with one line set up for nitrogen-based Guinness. Outside, Roaming Hoolies will bring a tent and beer- and whiskey-barrel tables to round out the pub vibe. The business will start as a dry-hire operation where Kearney’s team supplies the trailer and bartenders, and hosts bring the alcohol. He also plans to help clients build shopping lists so they know how much beer and liquor to buy. The setup is aimed at birthdays, block parties, backyard weddings, and festival stops where people want an Irish pub atmosphere without booking full catering bar service.
Where it will roll and how to book
Roaming Hoolies plans to travel within roughly a 50-mile radius of St. Charles, marketing the trailer for spring and summer events in the Fox Valley and surrounding communities. Bookings are available through Roaming Hoolies, and Kearney says he intends to prioritize neighborhood parades and private celebrations once the trailer hits the road. For hosts who want a pub feel without hauling kegs or arranging full bar logistics, the dry-hire model is meant to keep things simple while delivering a familiar Irish setup…