Should an English pub be opened in Dublin?

Fratton Fred · 03-05-2012 11:30pm

Davidth88 wrote: »

Well the part of London I am from ( NW ) , most of the real pubs have been knocked down to re-develop . Then the only pubs left are the Wetherspoons or similar on the high street ( usually in old Woolworths )

of course I am generalising

Nip over to Hampsted for a pint, there are some great traditional pubs there.

bnt · 03-05-2012 11:33pm

I worked in an Irish pub in London, one of the O'Neill's chain owned by Bass Breweries. They had a precise formula for what made an "Irish pub", which involved nailing various things to the walls: violins, washtubs, old Guinness signs, brooms, and so on. I'm not kidding.

The only reason I can think of to do an "English" pub here would be for the beer - but then it would probably be too expensive, charging €4 or more for a pint of bitter. There are already decent smaller breweries in Ireland who don't get in to pubs, so ...

LH Pathe · 03-05-2012 11:37pm

Is the Lincoln Inn on Nassau street not an english pub.

But all I remember is beig made feel like a VIP in pubs in england. Very Irish Person. paddy, drinker.

Davidth88 · 04-05-2012 8:09am

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Nip over to Hampsted for a pint, there are some great traditional pubs there.

Do you mean Jack Straws on The Heath

I know there are still some , but where I am from ( Ruislip/Harrow ) most of the ' landmark ' pubs have been knocked , or burnt down for insurance

Terrible , all the landmarks of my youth disappearing

Steven81 · 04-05-2012 9:12am

Think they should open, then they can all go over and communicate with each other and act the fool in there rather than going to the Irish pubs and us having to listen to them. Great idea

Beefy78 · 04-05-2012 9:56am

bnt wrote: »

I worked in an Irish pub in London, one of the O'Neill's chain owned by Bass Breweries. They had a precise formula for what made an "Irish pub", which involved nailing various things to the walls: violins, washtubs, old Guinness signs, brooms, and so on. I'm not kidding.

The Irish do the same, to be fair. The pubs in Temple Bar are one lazy cliché after another.

Fratton Fred · 04-05-2012 10:22am

Davidth88 wrote: »

Do you mean Jack Straws on The Heath

I know there are still some , but where I am from ( Ruislip/Harrow ) most of the ' landmark ' pubs have been knocked , or burnt down for insurance

Terrible , all the landmarks of my youth disappearing

the Flask is my favourite, in Flask walk. There's also a great one kind of opposite the tube, next to where Jamie Oliver used to live. Apparently he moved because he got fed up with people ringing his door bell at 11:30 and asking him to knock up some kebabs!

Fratton Fred · 04-05-2012 10:24am

Beefy78 wrote: »

The Irish do the same, to be fair. The pubs in Temple Bar are one lazy cliché after another.

I was in the one in Earls Court with a friend who was in London for the first time. He was trying to work out why a pub in West London that had Australian lagers served by Kiwis would have "enjoy the craic"plastered across the walls.

previous user · 04-05-2012 10:32am

That gin palace in on the corner of parnell street and upper liffey street has an english feel to it with its red wallpaper and ornamental lightfittings.

paddyandy · 04-05-2012 11:31am

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I was in the one in Earls Court with a friend who was in London for the first time. He was trying to work out why a pub in West London that had Australian lagers served by Kiwis would have "enjoy the craic"plastered across the walls.

The word Craic is not uniquely irish there is a variation in shakespeare somewhere .....i believe .

LordSutch · 06-05-2012 2:00pm

previous user wrote: »

That gin palace in on the corner of parnell street and upper liffey street has an english feel to it with its red wallpaper and ornamental lightfittings.

Alas there is no selection of cask (Real Ale) on tap, so it cant have that true English pub feel to it.

Mance Rayder · 06-05-2012 2:04pm

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Abrakebabra should open a pub!! You could get a pint with your taco chips!

Yeah you could enjoy them under the neon blue anti junkie lights.

SurferDude41 · 08-05-2012 2:06am

I think it's a super idea, Absolutely loved drinking real ale in quaint country pubs when I lived in the uk.

eth0 · 08-05-2012 2:08am

kfallon wrote: »

John Smith's is the Devils piss, why on earth would we want that manky stuff served over here?

That stuff is so bad i brought a few full cans to the local park and left them on a bench for people to take

df1985 · 08-05-2012 3:54am

wetherspoons tried to open on capel st a few years back and the local pubs just werent having it.

Lando Griffin · 08-05-2012 8:31am

df1985 wrote: »

wetherspoons tried to open on capel st a few years back and the local pubs just werent having it.

Weaterspoons not welcome here.
Gets Celtic Jersey and placard...:mad:

dodohert · 08-05-2012 8:33am

The Jackeens need someplace to go worship their queen so why not.

RobbingBandit · 08-05-2012 8:55am

go screw your sheep

kowloon · 08-05-2012 9:12am

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Wetherspoons are depressing, the only people who go to them where I live are old people and rough looking down and outs. No music or sport either and horrible carpets, eugh makes me shudder.

They're not all so bad. I don't miss the music you get in most pubs. That said, I only go there for lunch and I have trouble hearing people at the best of times, so I'm biased to some degree. They do tend to have 'visiting' drinks besides the stuff that's always available.

raymann · 08-05-2012 9:45am

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

There are some pubs that I love in Dublin. But here in merry England I have to say the range of old and new pubs, cheap pubs, fancy gastro ones etc is just amazing. Also the range of beers on tap is fantastic. The opening hours are much better too. Altogether a much better drinking experience, we should take on board some of their practices in Ireland for sure.

this. completely better than ireland in every way. and always cheaper as well. especially the 'high end' pubs serving amazing food but not in a fully formal restaurant setting.

that said im in france now and it they havent a clue. for example my gf is from a village in he mountain where they have one bar for 6000 odd people. and its empty!

as other people have said i would love a larger selection of biers and ales available in ireland.

Beefy78 · 08-05-2012 10:07am

raymann wrote: »

as other people have said i would love a larger selection of biers and ales available in ireland.

But weirdly whilst Irish pubs all sell the same half a dozen beers, supermarkets, corner shops and off-licences in Ireland have a far wider selection of beers from around the World than your standard UK drinks retailer. I can buy my favourite US beers at any one of five locations within half a mile of my flat over here but when I lived in the UK I found them on sale in one off-licence ever.

Cokeistan · 08-05-2012 10:10am

Most English people who come over here just to get locked come to do so in Irish pubs, so putting an English pub in Dublin would be fairly pointless really

paddyandy · 08-05-2012 10:46am

Ole' English Style Pub with beer from the wood and an open fire on a cold day .Nothing that good will ever happen here though a phony mock-up style is a possibility .The days of real pubs selling real beer are long gone .I returned to some london pubs that i'd worked in during the sixties a few years ago only to discover everything was replaced with a scruffiness that rarely existed back then . A wholesomeness has gone out pubs . The food is nonsense too covered with sauce and grease .Dipping chips in little bowls of sauce says everything about catering these days .We've lost it .

ch750536 · 08-05-2012 10:59am

Englishman living in Ireland for 8 years in a town with 60 odd pubs.
What is missing is variance. I don't often go out to get lashed but I did often go out for something different (albeit the place or the beer).
Personally I feel most of the pubs are the same in look & feel & they are identical (& I mean identical, all 60 of them) on the products they sell. Some may be a little cheaper than others.
As much as I hate wetherspoons they do have over 600 different beers over a year in each outlet. You just don't get that in Ireland.
That & cricket are the only 2 things I miss.

dpe · 08-05-2012 11:02am

I don't miss 90% of British pubs, but the best 10% of British pubs (usually gastropubs) are as good or better than their Irish equivalent because of a. more choice of beer, and b. better food. There's no mileage in opening a "British" pub over here (it would probably get firebombed anyway), but a few lessons from the best British pubs and a decent chef would definitely be welcome.

Crooked Jack · 08-05-2012 11:06am

WesternZulu wrote: »

They are terrible!
They all are the same...I would hate for them to be in Ireland!!

There are Wetherspoons pubs in Ireland...and they're class. Yes they are all the same, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Cheap, cheerful and you know what you're getting.

MMAIRELANDFAN · 08-05-2012 11:13am

English Pubs are like Irish pubs with no character and gank drink.

kowloon · 08-05-2012 12:11pm

Cokeistan wrote: »

Most English people who come over here just to get locked come to do so in Irish pubs, so putting an English pub in Dublin would be fairly pointless really

And yet the Irish bars in everywhere from Oz to the States are full of people in GAA jerseys.

old hippy · 08-05-2012 12:31pm

MMAIRELANDFAN wrote: »

English Pubs are like Irish pubs with no character and gank drink.

You must be drinking in the wrong pubs, then

jack presley · 08-05-2012 12:35pm

kowloon wrote: »

Cokeistan wrote: »

Most English people who come over here just to get locked come to do so in Irish pubs, so putting an English pub in Dublin would be fairly pointless really

And yet the Irish bars in everywhere from Oz to the States are full of people in GAA jerseys.

Irish people have to wear GAA jerseys when they're abroad, especially when drinking. It's the law.

Fratton Fred · 08-05-2012 12:37pm

Beefy78 wrote: »

But weirdly whilst Irish pubs all sell the same half a dozen beers, supermarkets, corner shops and off-licences in Ireland have a far wider selection of beers from around the World than your standard UK drinks retailer. I can buy my favourite US beers at any one of five locations within half a mile of my flat over here but when I lived in the UK I found them on sale in one off-licence ever.

My local has the usual Guinness, Heineken, Bud, Carlsberg etc, but they also do Smithwicks Pale Ale (Which is lovely) and Caledonian Smooth on draft, as well as a few craft beers, such as Galway Hooker in bottles.

Variety is the spice of life.

paddyandy · 08-05-2012 11:13pm

I'd like to have seen irish pub owners brew their own beer .It's not a complicated process and it might be what the trade needs but the breweries are very powerful .

SHOVELLER · 08-05-2012 11:44pm

Wetherspoons rule. But doubt they will be allowed in anytime soon.

No problem with an english pub here at all. More competition can mean a better product.

It will confuse barstoolers though;)

IrishAm · 09-05-2012 12:13am

MMAIRELANDFAN wrote: »

English Pubs are like Irish pubs with no character and gank drink.

Bollix. A pubs a pub. Once it is clean, has good bartenders, a nice selection of beers, looks after its lines, serves decent food and doesnt have tvs/music blaring I am a happy camper.

The above and the company you are supping with make a night out. Not the flag flying outside.

My only problem with an English bar in Dublin would be that it would attract the "Engeeeerland" "ten german bomber" "two world wars and a world cup " type crowd.

LordSutch · 09-05-2012 10:41am

Crooked Jack wrote: »

There are Wetherspoons pubs in Ireland...and they're class. Yes they are all the same, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Cheap, cheerful and you know what you're getting.

Where, where, where are they? and have they brought their cask ales with them? > http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7073741313_9e00aa3b71_z.jpg

Gasping for a real pint!

Beefy78 · 09-05-2012 11:18am

LordSutch wrote: »

Where, where, where are they? and have they brought their cask ales with them? > http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7073741313_9e00aa3b71_z.jpg

Gasping for a real pint!

I'm pretty sure he means up North.

Fratton Fred · 09-05-2012 11:26am

IrishAm wrote: »

Bollix. A pubs a pub. Once it is clean, has good bartenders, a nice selection of beers, looks after its lines, serves decent food and doesnt have tvs/music blaring I am a happy camper.

The above and the company you are supping with make a night out. Not the flag flying outside.

My only problem with an English bar in Dublin would be that it would attract the "Engeeeerland" "ten german bomber" "two world wars and a world cup " type crowd.

Those guys don't live in Ireland, at least I haven't met any. An English pub in Ireland is more likely to attract some smart star little bollox ranting about da famine and looking to cause trouble.

LordSutch · 09-05-2012 11:53am

Crooked Jack wrote: »

There are Wetherspoons pubs in Ireland...and they're class. Yes they are all the same, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Cheap, cheerful and you know what you're getting.

I suspect you are refering to Northern Ireland, which of course already has them, and there was me thinking that JD had arrived here in the Republic

Bugger.

Beefy78 · 09-05-2012 12:01pm

Whenever I'm in the UK it's rare for me not to pop into a 'Spoons pub sooner or later (usually sooner). Full English breakfast for £4 can't be argued with, for a start.

old hippy · 09-05-2012 12:27pm

Weatherspoons may be cheap & have some good gues ales on tap but they are soulless appropriations of the public house experience, imho.

desertcircus · 09-05-2012 12:42pm

If anyone manages to move Leeds' North Bar (and its barmaids, more importantly) to Dublin I'll just get my salary mandated directly to them and live in the basement.

On Wetherspoon's: the beer is good, the food is decent, everything is eye-bleedingly cheap. I'd never go for atmosphere (although some are fantastic - the Knights Templar is excellent) but if you want a decent meal with a beer it's unbelievable. And their beer range is usually way above your average joint.

Sergeant · 09-05-2012 12:45pm

Beefy78 wrote: »

Whenever I'm in the UK it's rare for me not to pop into a 'Spoons pub sooner or later (usually sooner). Full English breakfast for £4 can't be argued with, for a start.

The £4 breakfast is a false economy. It is prepared in a large factory outside Birmingham, and is microwaved on-site for your convenience. It is everything that food shouldn't be; cheap, nasty, processed, and laden with salt in an attempt to disguise the fact that the meat is something you probably wouldn't feed a stray cat.

old hippy · 09-05-2012 12:46pm

desertcircus wrote: »

If anyone manages to move Leeds' North Bar (and its barmaids, more importantly) to Dublin I'll just get my salary mandated directly to them and live in the basement.

On Wetherspoon's: the beer is good, the food is decent, everything is eye-bleedingly cheap. I'd never go for atmosphere (although some are fantastic - the Knights Templar is excellent) but if you want a decent meal with a beer it's unbelievable. And their beer range is usually way above your average joint.

I don't doubt it but for me, it's the equivalent of going to the Berni Inn or McDonald's. Not my cup of tea (or pint of Pride)

Beefy78 · 09-05-2012 12:47pm

Sergeant wrote: »

The £4 breakfast is a false economy. It is prepared in a large factory outside Birmingham, and is microwaved on-site for your convenience. It is everything that food shouldn't be; cheap, nasty, processed, and laden with salt in an attempt to disguise the fact that the meat is something you probably wouldn't feed a stray cat.

It tastes good though.

I did have the worst meal of my life at a Wetherspoons though - a burger at the one in Bournemouth which was beyond vile. Pretty revolting. I believe that they freshly cook the burgers and steaks, unlike most of their menu as you point out.

The Curry Club on a Thursday is pretty good as well.

Beefy78 · 09-05-2012 12:51pm

desertcircus wrote: »

I'd never go for atmosphere (although some are fantastic - the Knights Templar is excellent)

Yeah the Knights Pemplar is a great pub. I celebrated my 32nd in there.

Lia_lia · 09-05-2012 12:54pm

A girl in England once asked me "in Ireland do you have Irish bars, like we do over here?"

-_-

old hippy · 09-05-2012 12:59pm

Lia_lia wrote: »

A girl in England once asked me "in Ireland do you have Irish bars, like we do over here?"

-_-

I hope you told her we do.

When the Irish Bar concept took off in the 90s greedy publicans and developers sold up and started gutting decent pubs in Dublin and replaced them with orange walls, faded signage, bric a brack and general fakery. Just look at the Norseman or Potters Bar (now Tonic, in Blackrock*) or any number of pubs in the Dame St environs...

*PB sold for a song and was replaced by a hideous Irish theme bar - The Swan - which, thankfully, didn't last.

Crooked Jack · 09-05-2012 1:03pm

LordSutch wrote: »

Where, where, where are they? and have they brought their cask ales with them? > http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7073741313_9e00aa3b71_z.jpg

Gasping for a real pint!

Belfast, Coleraine, Enniskillen, two in Derry. There might be a few others that I havent been in, but these are all great. Yes they're samey and you could argue in some sense soulless, but great beer, great prices and (varying between establishments) great food. Nice and big so there is usually no bother getting a seat and no blaring music or TVs. Big bar and lots of staff so no long queues. It may not have the charm of a little independent place but in all honesty it's hard to fault it.

Davidth88 · 09-05-2012 1:07pm

old hippy wrote: »

Weatherspoons may be cheap & have some good gues ales on tap but they are soulless appropriations of the public house experience, imho.

They took over a lot of Woolworths back in the late 80's/early 90's

We used to joke they were ' beer supermarkets'

Cee-Jay-Cee · 09-05-2012 1:08pm

Theres no difference between an Irish pub and an English pub, theyre one and the same thing. The only thing is that if the retards that crawled out of the sewers for the Love Ulster riots in dublin get a chance to riot again an English pub is the first place that will be targetted and destroyed.

Should an English pub be opened in Dublin?

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