Most Expensive Pub in Dublin just got worse!

Sizzler

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...from=dailynews

Sindo wrote:

By John O'Keeffe


Sunday October 05 2008

What a difference a few minutes can make -- that's if you're having a drink in one of the capital's best known late-night bars.

Cafe en Seine, a well-known haunt of politicians and socialites on Dawson Street on the south side of Dublin's city centre, suddenly puts up its prices at 11pm -- and most of the drinkers don't even know.

The pub operates a policy of raising the cost of its drinks at 11pm by over 12 per cent.

When I dropped in for a drink last Thursday a pint of Heineken and a bottle of sparkling water cost €9 at 10.25pm.

But just over half an hour later -- at 11.03pm precisely -- the price rose to €10.10. That's an increase of €1.10.

Recently, Ireland's most famous superpub also introduced a weekend cover charge of €10. This charge is now being levied in addition to the varying drink prices in the pub, depending on the time of the evening you might buy your tipple.

Last week it was reported that thousands of jobs have been lost in the drinks industry over the past seven years because of pub closures. Organisations representing publicans around the country say figures show that 1,500 pubs have closed since 2001, blaming taxes on alcohol, the growth of home drinking and declining consumption of alcohol.

Publicans are now calling for a zero tax increase on alcohol in the forthcoming Budget to save the struggling pub trade.

Up to last year, Cafe en Seine was considered to be one of the pubs with the highest footfall in Dublin. From Wednesday to Saturday each week anecdotal evidence suggested it was standing room only after 10pm -- assuming that you were lucky enough to get in.

Free-spending drinkers and high-rolling revellers have ensured that the superpub in Dawson Street is still successfully fighting off the grim economic news from just across the road in Dail Eireann.

Accounts recently filed for Toji Holdings Ltd, the holding company of the O'Dwyer Brothers' Capital Bars chain, which includes Cafe en Seine, reveals that turnover rose to €60.3m in 2007 from €40.3m on the previous year.

But sales in its bars to July were said to be "flat", which may go some way to explaining the introduction of a cover charge and increased prices after 11pm.

No one for Capital Bars was available to discuss its policy of increasing drink prices after 11pm.

Bad enough slipping in a nice litte price hike after 11pm when people have a few pints on them but now they want a tenner to get into the bin ! Best of luck with that lads

Degsy

<SNIP>
If more people blanked this sort of place they'd soon cop themselves on.
A friend was in Thomas read's last night and they were charging 6.30 a pint!!!

Sizzler

Degsy wrote: »

<SNIP>
If more people blanked this sort of place they'd soon cop themselves on.
A friend was in Thomas read's last night and they were charging 6.30 a pint!!!

FFS! Great way to pull the punters in :rolleyes:

Wishbone Ash

As my mother would say "It's not half dear enough" (i.e. - if people are willing to pay those prices, then they deserve it!)

Cafe en Seine was considered to be one of the pubs with the highest footfall in Dublin.

I would think that the high footfall may be because people are having one and leaving!

flanzer

Jeez lads, it's bad enough being greedy when times were good but being greedy when times are bad....This place deserves to go under if the carry on like this. Feel sorry for the bar staff really

gurramok

Thats nothing new with pubs putting up prices after 11pm. Its usually the ones with late licences and/or attached to nightclubs that do it rather than your down to earth local bar.

Thought Danadelion bar was the most expensive?. I've never been in Cafe En Seine and don't plan to

Jay D

I hate that place more than any other pub in the world.

IanCurtis

Degsy wrote: »

A friend was in Thomas read's last night and they were charging 6.30 a pint!!!

Sad to hear that. Thomas Reads used to be my favourite pub in Dublin, not anymore.

That's taking the piss.

Clare Bear

Used to always go here but haven't been in a few months now and no big loss. Didn't know they were charging a tenner in now. All the more reason not to bother with it.

humberklog

Degsy wrote: »

<SNIP>
If more people blanked this sort of place they'd soon cop themselves on.
A friend was in Thomas read's last night and they were charging 6.30 a pint!!!

HUH! Which one? And a pint of what? I frequent the Globe a bit and that's holding steady at 4.20 a pint of Guinness. The Globe is owned by Thomas Reads.

Haven't been in cafe en in few weeks and I think it'll be a while before I go back what with that tenner charge. Asthetically beautiful pub.

Latchy

As somebody said as long as people are prepared to pay those prices then they will continue to charge .Met at least half a dozen people in last few weeks who have come back from dublin / ireland saying how dear the pint is and how expensive the place has become .

ntlbell

been in it a few times usually when work was paying so never took much notice of the prices

the place was full of boat shoe lemon shirt wearing knob jockeys no idea why anyone would want to drink in the place nevermind pay those prices...

killbillvol2

ntlbell wrote: »

the place was full of boat shoe lemon shirt wearing knob jockeys ..

The best description I've seen of the place!

Degsy

Its not right.After all,a pint is only water with some alcohol and a bit of colouring thrown in.If these places were shops charging a fiver for a large slice pan they'd be burned down.

AnonoBoy

Degsy wrote: »

If these places were shops charging a fiver for a large slice pan they'd be burned down.

Why would they be serving large sliced pans in pubs?

But seriously folks - if anyone actually elects of their own free will to go to hellpits like Cafe En Seine then they deserve to be ripped off.

Although I'm kinda glad that they're always packed - keeps all the arseholes away from the real pubs where the smart, sensible, witty, intelligent, handsome people go.

Degsy

The govt should have another Pub Price freeze like they did years ago.The Iveagh House in drumcondra completely ignored it and Bertie used to drink there.
Poxy rip-off merchants the lot of em!!

LolaDub

I was in krystle recently for a leaving party-15 euro in and the price of a pin went from 5 to 6 euro at 8! Apparently its a late night charge but i doubt many people would consider 8 late? I don't think they should be charging admission and increasing drinks.

jdivision

cafe En Seine has charged increased prices after a certain time for years. Sounds like a journalist pissed off because he had to pay a bit extra. I don't like the pub myself tbh but amazed how many people do. By the way don't they have to have a dancefloor to be able to charge in? Can't remember there being one there but then I've only been a few times.

Miguel_Sanchez

jdivision wrote: »

By the way don't they have to have a dancefloor to be able to charge in?

No. Where did you hear that? If someone wants to charge in then they can, don't think there's any law saying you must have a dancefloor to charge in.

davidsatelle100

LolaDub wrote: »

I was in krystle recently for a leaving party-15 euro in and the price of a pin went from 5 to 6 euro at 8! Apparently its a late night charge but i doubt many people would consider 8 late? I don't think they should be charging admission and increasing drinks.

Its the same in Diceys upstairs, and it goes up to 6.50 at 10 or 11

LolaDub

davidsatelle100 wrote: »

Its the same in Diceys upstairs, and it goes up to 6.50 at 10 or 11

Sorry it was diceys everyone was in but it turns into krystle at some stage. It was 5 euro when people got there at 5 or 6 then at 8 it goes up to 6 so does it go to 6.50 at 10???????

jdivision

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

No. Where did you hear that? If someone wants to charge in then they can, don't think there's any law saying you must have a dancefloor to charge in.

Having googled there's a thing called a dance licence, also known as a late licence. There's some stuff here about what constitutes a dance floor. Law might have changed since
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/lapdancing-clubs-caught-on-the-hop-509124.html

Shiminay

The solution is very simple. Don't go there and burn the place down.

Nevyn

Tbh if the pretencious prats want to drink there let them.

Miguel_Sanchez

jdivision wrote: »

Having googled there's a thing called a dance licence, also known as a late licence. There's some stuff here about what constitutes a dance floor. Law might have changed since
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/lapdancing-clubs-caught-on-the-hop-509124.html

Yeah they might have to have a dance floor or something that constitutes a dance floor to get a late licence but that has nothing to do with them charging in.

stehigg

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Although I'm kinda glad that they're always packed - keeps all the arseholes away from the real pubs where the smart, sensible, witty, intelligent, handsome people go.

Dont you mean the Uggers? uggers always hate Cafe en Seine because it makes them feel inadequate. true story

stehigg

Thaedydal wrote: »

Tbh if the pretencious prats want to drink there let them.

another ugger statement. dont insult people just because they make you feel inferior

ntlbell

stehigg wrote: »

another ugger statement. dont insult people just because they make you feel inferior

Why would a guy in a lemon shirt make her feel inferior?

seriously...

stehigg

ntlbell wrote: »

Why would a guy in a lemon shirt make her feel inferior?

seriously...

why are there people raggin on them then. It would be a whole different story from the pc brigade tossers on here if you went slaggin people in The George for their ghey clothes. dont be so obnoxious

Elem

Don't go into any capitol bars then, they are a rip off. Not only are you over paying for your drink, your getting sold crap. Cheap vodka (Huzzar), don't have stoli, grey goose or ketel one. Cheap redbull (Shark)... and just generally cheap everything. Poor poor poor GREED! If your reading O'Dwyers, your going to hell.

AnonoBoy

stehigg wrote: »

Dont you mean the Uggers? uggers always hate Cafe en Seine because it makes them feel inadequate. true story

I think we have ourselves 'one of them' uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh!

This is the sort of attitude that makes me glad people like you stay in places like Cafe En Seine. Just because somebody dislikes being overcharged and packed in beside pretentious wannabes then they're automatically an 'ugger' (nice teenage expression there Stehigg!). :rolleyes:

Nevyn

A person's willingness to pay daft money so that they can feel better about themsleves and the establishment they are drinking in does not make them superior to me in any shape, form or fashion.

There are plenty of nicer and more refinded place to drink which does not suffer the boorish, brash and blathering middle aged idiots that go to cafe insane.

stehigg

Thaedydal wrote: »

A person's willingness to pay daft money so that they can feel better about themsleves and the establishment they are drinking in does not make them superior to me in any shape, form or fashion.

A persons willingness to constantly try and force their opinions on other people via internet forums because no one in the real world will listen to them makes them inferior to all socially apt people. Cue the infraction for not agreeing with the nerd moderator

AnonoBoy

stehigg wrote: »

A persons willingness to constantly try and force their opinions on other people via internet forums because no one in the real world will listen to them makes them inferior to all socially apt people. Cue the infraction for not agreeing with the nerd moderator

Go on Stehigg - call her an Ugger too. :rolleyes:

You do realise of course that you're trying to force your opinion on us via an internet forum, don't you?

stehigg

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Go on Stehigg - call her an Ugger too. :rolleyes:

You do realise of course that you're trying to force your opinion on us via an internet forum, don't you?

im not forcing my opinion on anyone. Just standing up for the people you believe its ok to insult because they have money and can afford to drink in places like Cafe en Seine. Like everything in life there is a level of segregation and working class people feel intimadated in a social setting such as CeS and as a result say groundless things like the people there are pretentious [EMAIL="w@nkers"]w@nkers[/EMAIL]. If you're too WC to go there stick to your own.

AnonoBoy

stehigg wrote: »

im not forcing my opinion on anyone. Just standing up for the people you believe its ok to insult because they have money and can afford to drink in places like Cafe en Seine. Like everything in life there is a level of segregation and working class people feel intimadated in a social setting such as CeS and as a result say groundless things like the people there are pretentious [EMAIL="w@nkers"]w@nkers[/EMAIL]. If you're too WC to go there stick to your own.

The fact that you think I'm working class because I don't like the place speaks volumes about your elitist attitude.

I'm as middle class as they come boyo and earn a very healthy salary. I just have some sense and dislike a lot of clientele and the atmosphere of those places.

So - your argument falls pretty flat now, doesn't it? I work with enough people who would be Cafe en Seine regulars and I don't feel one bit intimidated by them. I just find them irritating and always trying to appear to have more than they actually do - hence spending unneccesary amounts just for the 'privilege' of saying 'oh yeah - meet me in CeS later on man!'

Run along now!

kmick

Its a horrible place - there's not many good pubs left in the city center now.

stehigg

AnonoBoy wrote: »

The fact that you think I'm working class because I don't like the place speaks volumes about your elitist attitude.

I'm as middle class as they come boyo and earn a very healthy salary. I just have some sense and dislike a lot of clientele and the atmosphere of those places.

So - your argument falls pretty flat now, doesn't it? I work with enough people who would be Cafe en Seine regulars and I don't feel one bit intimidated by them. I just find them irritating and always trying to appear to have more than they actually do - hence spending unneccesary amounts just for the 'privilege' of saying 'oh yeah - meet me in CeS later on man!'

Run along now!

Undoubtedly your some WC office slob trying to aspire to the heights of middle class. I hope it goes well for you. Ill see ya in coppers later

AnonoBoy

stehigg wrote: »

Undoubtedly your some WC office slob trying to aspire to the heights of middle class. I hope it goes well for you. Ill see ya in coppers later

Nice try young fellah. Unfortunately for you I don't feel the need to try and prove myself to a troll such as yourself.

Unlike you however I know how to spell properly - must be my terribly middle class education shining through again!

ryoishin

Middle class lol,

I grew up in the town and now live in Castleknock. I live there now because the middle class attitude my father had to work hard to look after his family. I earn more than average and honestly it does nt matter what cash you have in your pocket or where you spend it. I like the look of Cafe en sein (sp?) but as others have said I dont like having to pose every few mins with the rest of the knobs every time they get a chance.

When it comes down to it there are just too many other places to go.

stehigg

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Nice try young fellah. Unfortunately for you I don't feel the need to try and prove myself to a troll such as yourself.

Unlike you however I know how to spell properly - must be my terribly middle class education shining through again!

yeah sure....you don't feel the need yet you keep replying less you lose face in front of your internet mates. you are a sad loser. go home and worry about your mortgage

Nevyn

stehigg wrote: »

im not forcing my opinion on anyone. Just standing up for the people you believe its ok to insult because they have money and can afford to drink in places like Cafe en Seine. Like everything in life there is a level of segregation and working class people feel intimadated in a social setting such as CeS and as a result say groundless things like the people there are pretentious [EMAIL="w@nkers"]w@nkers[/EMAIL]. If you're too WC to go there stick to your own.

Darling I have been to Cáfe Insane on a few occasions and base my opinion from having been there. There isn't any social setting that I feel uncomfortable in, I would sooner go to a gallery opening then Cáfe Insane.

It has nothing to do with being working class it is the fact most people who go there lack any class or grace what so ever no matter what thier bank balance.

IF you want to strut and sweat with the Nouveau Riche go ahead, I got over that 15 years ago when drinking in the library bar in Lillie's.

AnonoBoy

stehigg wrote: »

you are a sad loser.

Good comeback kid. :rolleyes:

Degsy

There very much IS a class issue in place like CES..you'd need to be some class of wanker to go there.

asdasd

My guess is that Cafe En Seine draw people who dont have all that much money, but a wad load of maxed out credit cards. I went a few times in my last job in Dublin ( i now live in England). About two years ago. It served one purpose: a group of people could enter and get some space after 11pm, and it wasnt too loud. It does have a dance floor.

Since it was with work we often had it on tab. Once we didnt. A group of women had joijned the group and muggins here went to get a round for the group, at that stage 14 people or so. Spent more than €100. The whole night out was close to €160 including tais, and the other round. Maybe more.

Now in the nice college town I live in in England I never spend that kind of money, and when I go back to Dublin I stick to the burbs.

Degsy

asdasd wrote: »

My guess is that Cafe En Seine draw people who dont have all that much money, but a wad load of maxed out credit cards.

used to know some people like that.They would shove thier wages up thier noses every week and buy everything else on plastic.
None of them wanted to admit they were broke so they'd try to outdo each other in acts of stupidity like wasting 200 quid on a horrible shirt and buying champagne when they couldnt afford it.
When the cows came home,they had to stay at home for a year to pay off ther bills and seek medical advice for thier charlie problems.Bunch of stupid twats.

JupiterKid

I despise Cafe en Seine. It pretty sums up, in one venue, all that is vulgar and wrong with the so-called Celtic Tiger. Pretentious, packed, full of posers who are selfish, nasty and ruthless but ultimately vacuous at the same time.

I've unwillingly been there a few times and never stayed for more than a hour. Cafe en Seine is essentially a zoo where the species Celticus Tigrus Pretentiousii can be seen in their natural habitat.

I can think of a million nicer places to go for a few bevvies at the weekend.

Wishbone Ash

stehigg wrote: »

you are a sad loser. go home

stehigg - you're fairly new around here but you have a lot to learn. Please refrain from trolling and offending others. You are on a yellow card.

Publin

stehigg wrote: »

im not forcing my opinion on anyone. Just standing up for the people you believe its ok to insult because they have money and can afford to drink in places like Cafe en Seine.

He's just giving his opinion on the venue and the typical sort of people who frequent it. You're being just as insulting by suggesting that people who choose not to drink in Café Insane are not able to afford it. Maybe they just don't like the place, due to this sort of attitude from people who do drink there.

stehigg wrote: »

Like everything in life there is a level of segregation and working class people feel intimadated in a social setting such as CeS and as a result say groundless things like the people there are pretentious [EMAIL="w@nkers"]w@nkers[/EMAIL]. If you're too WC to go there stick to your own.

Well, a lot of them are - in my opinion - "pretentious w@nkers" as you put it. I have been there a few times, and many people I work with go there religiously a couple of times a week. Most of them would fall into the category noted above, or be "wannabes" for want of a better word.

stehigg wrote: »

Undoubtedly your some WC office slob trying to aspire to the heights of middle class. I hope it goes well for you. Ill see ya in coppers later

Isn't Coppers a tenner in on Saturdays too, and the drink roughly the same price ? The place is packed, sweaty and dank, and plays out and out cheese and is full of country folk, but at least you can generally have a laugh there and the clientelle are usually quite friendly and up for a laugh too, not too busy trying to strike the best pose with their bottle of Heino and thinking they're too cool to be caught drinking anywhere else.

Shiminay

Just want to add something:

I currently work for a hotel company, in their IT department for the last 12 months, but before that as Night Manager and the year before that as a porter and barman. The type of people who go to Café en Siene are the worst customers on the planet. They don't tip, but think that because it looks like they have money, they have the right to dismiss you as a human and treat you like some kind of robot. They are ignorant, have no class and I sincerely hope are currently in danger of being turfed out on the street cause they can't afford their mortgage payments, cause they have massive loans to pay off their credit card bills. "New money" as they're known at home in Mayo (they behaved the same way there when I was a hotel worker there too). Have no idea of the real hard work associated with having money, have no idea how to treat the people who are looking after them and no sense of decorum when out. They're out and about to be seen out and about and a place like CeS is very much a scensters place.

More than anything, I feel sorry for these people as they don't have a brain of their own, jsut a sheep mentality.

Crash

People are missing the true problems with Cafe En Sein - 1)the place is always like a fridge if its not jammed, and 2)the quality of draught there is ****e. I could care less about who else is drinking in the same pub as me, but I do tend to like to be warm, happy and well watered, none of which CeS fulfills for me.