Popular Spinola venue Ryan's Pub has cancelled its St Patrick’s Day event after it was heavily criticised for insisting it would still host the event, with limited entry.

Restrictions were put in place on Tuesday limiting outdoor events to not more than 2,000 people and indoor events to not more than 750 people. 

Ryan's Pub then announced on Facebook that the revelry would be limited to the first 500 people through the doors, meaning it would abide by the regulations. 

The post, which opened with, "You can't kill the party" was met with a backlash, with comments denouncing the decision and urging the cancellation of the event flooded the comments.

It was later cancelled and removed from the pub's Facebook page. The pub's management apologised and said it would always adhere to directives by the authorities.

"Yes the timing was wrong and for this we profusely apologise however do understand we are a place of work like anywhere else and were just going about our duties although the reaction is totally understood in the present climate," the management wrote.

St Julian's mayor Albert Buttigieg had earlier taken to social media to criticise the event as "shameful, irresponsible, shortsighted and selfish". 

The St Julian's local council on Tuesday said it had cancelled St Patrick's day celebrations and would not be issuing permits for outdoor vendors.

"Would the promoters be held responsible if one of their patrons contracts the virus?" Buttigieg said. 

"Professional bodies have cancelled talks and seminars, artists have been cancelling their exhibitions but hey....god forbid we cancel a party," wrote James Vella Clark. 

Another woman, Delilah Vella wrote that Ryan's Pub "should be ashamed" and were "were responsible for encouraging an epidemic". 

Times of Malta has attempted to reach the pub proprietors for comment.