Good club / late bar in Waterford City?

Denalihighway

Hi
Heading to Dunmore East for a stag in a fortnight. Dunmore East is a great little town but a bit limited so we're looking at grabbing a bus perhaps into the city on the Sat night and wondering if there are any recommendations for a good spot for latenight craic?

- we're all 30 ish
- we're not 'clubbers' as such, we don't like trashy pop, dancey clubs
- most of us are into music, good music would be a plus but it's a one-off wknd so we won't be too fussy...
- mainly looking for latenight drinking, decent music if possible, nice smoking section maybe, and plenty of chicks for the unattached! - the rest of us just want somewhere with good craic and as laid back as possible.

I'm fairly familiar with Dunmore East itself but any recommendations for there would be very welcome also.

thanks

AdMMM

I'm not going to actually recommend anything, I'm just going to sit and wait for all the posters here to come running along shouting "GO TO THE FORUM".

jobless

harvey's is probably your best bet.... has most of the things your looking for... nice big beer garden if you want some peace too

biko

Probably better in Waterford forum

seanybiker

harveys is good. You wont believe the smoking area in there its bloody savage. Fountain and all. Trees and big huge televisions. Has to be the best smoking area in the country by a long shot.

ziedth

Ya I goto Harveys its not withiut its flaws by any means but prob is your best bet and The beer garden is gran for a bit of peace.

seanybiker

ziedth wrote: »

Ya I goto Harveys its not withiut its flaws by any means but prob is your best bet and The beer garden is gran for a bit of peace.

every place has flaws. Rubys main flaw is that it opens in the first place. And friendly raul or whatever ya call him.

seanybiker

AdMMM wrote: »

I'm not going to actually recommend anything, I'm just going to sit and wait for all the posters here to come running along shouting "GO TO THE FORUM".

Lol. Personally I dont mind the forum. Wouldnt be me top choice though even though I love the music down there. To many emo's for my liking.

Denalihighway

thanks folks
if its an emo hang-out then please warn me now so I can avoid it...we're all 30 or above, with not a stripey jumper or lip-piercing between us so no thanks! We're open minded enough but if thats the kind of place the forum is forget about it.

If u just mean it's a bit more indie then it might be an option, I'd be grungier than most of the lads but have to be careful I'm not draggin them somewhere they'd stick out like a sore thumb too

edit:
the more I think about, I should be just asking you where all the stags and hens go...wouldn't dream of going somewhere like that normally but I suppose this is a stag!

AdMMM

Yeah I think no matter where you go you'll stick out like a sore thumb as you'll be the drunkest there by far (the only way to know if you're doing it right too ). Most people that come down this way seem to get absolutely rat arsed in the hotel before stumbling, swaying and staggering their way up the road into town. John St is where you'd most likely head. It's where 80% of all the late bars and clubs are located. Once you're there you can just rely on your drunken instincts to take you to a place where you see the shortest skirts and the best music. That place will most likely be Ruby's.

God Help You.

Denalihighway

thanks lads - harveys didnt used to be Docs / Docks by any chance??

SUNGOD

Denalihighway wrote: »

thanks lads - harveys didnt used to be Docs / Docks by any chance??

never heard of docks...harveys used to be sheffs/shefflins

Denalihighway

AdMMM wrote: »

Yeah I think no matter where you go you'll stick out like a sore thumb as you'll be the drunkest there by far (the only way to know if you're doing it right too ). Most people that come down this way seem to get absolutely rat arsed in the hotel before stumbling, swaying and staggering their way up the road into town. John St is where you'd most likely head. It's where 80% of all the late bars and clubs are located. Once you're there you can just rely on your drunken instincts to take you to a place where you see the shortest skirts and the best music. That place will most likely be Ruby's.

God Help You.

unfortunately, I probably cant argue with ya. Normally wouldn't describe my Sat night exploits but let's face it, it's a stag so par for the course...except for the hotel part, we're renting houses in Dunmore God help Dunmore...

bluesfan

I'd have to agree with Harvey's as the best place for ye, good mix of ages in there on a Saturday night, but I would add that it's probably not worth going down there until after midnight.

Beeker

AdMMM wrote: »

I'm not going to actually recommend anything, I'm just going to sit and wait for all the posters here to come running along shouting "GO TO THE FORUM".

Well it's the best! You want a good night with great music then its the Forum hands down. All the rest play crap chart music over and over again, give me a break.

Elle Victorine

Lol there's a parody.


I say Harvey's to you to be honest because The Forum has a lot of younger people there and probably wouldn't be your scene for a stag do.

Beeker

Elle Victorine wrote: »

Lol there's a parody.


I say Harvey's to you to be honest because The Forum has a lot of younger people there and probably wouldn't be your scene for a stag do.

The crowd in the forum is a good mix. Sure there are lots of young people but also plenty in their 30's and 40's. Including myself and many friends.

Musicman2000

You should try Dignity, They get a lot of Hen partys, Harveys is over rated only thing going for it is the beer garden, but you wont be spoiled for choice in Waterford im afraid.

Denalihighway

Harveys would seem to be in pole position at this stage...you never know, if Dunmore East is good craic we might get lazy, old gits that we are...thanks

nkay1985

Ruby's lounge has live music every night so I'd say ye could go there around 10 or 11 if you're into your music.

Harvey's might be a bit too "poppy" for you I'd say, but if it's a stag and you want a big place with a lot of people that's your spot for later on.

Dignity is a gay bar in town that everybody seems to be flocking to at the moment. A friend of mine was there on Saturday night and she said there were two or three hen parties in there. So ye might meet a few ladies in a similar state as yourselves over there!

They're all within five minutes of each other so you shouldn't have too much bother to be honest.

Adyx

Musicman2000 wrote: »

You should try Dignity, They get a lot of Hen partys, Harveys is over rated only thing going for it is the beer garden, but you wont be spoiled for choice in Waterford im afraid.

Now there's an understatement if ever I heard one.

abouttobebanned

The reason you won't be spoilt for choice in Waterford is that the crowd that the town gets every week doesn't justify opening many other bars. It's the reason why so many have closed in the past 5 years. Most of the people who complain about Waterford's nightlife were last in a nightclub when Fat Sam was a real person (who used to love playing with matches)

merlante

abouttobebanned wrote: »

The reason you won't be spoilt for choice in Waterford is that the crowd that the town gets every week doesn't justify opening many other bars. It's the reason why so many have closed in the past 5 years. Most of the people who complain about Waterford's nightlife were last in a nightclub when Fat Sam was a real person (who used to love playing with matches)

Waterford is fine for population of 50,000 people. It's not Dublin ffs.

I would have thought Ruby's Lounge (not Ruby's upstairs), Electric Avenue or the Forum for music. Harvey's for hens and stags and pop tunes from the past few decades.

As for pubs closing down, like Egans and a few others, people seem to forget that Dignity, Ruby's/Ruby's Lounge, Baker st./Fletchers/Next place and a few others have opened. (Then there's a load of new places that have replaced older places, like Mason's replacing Club LA.) The only thing that has really changed is that the new places are less traditional and more temporary pubs and are all clustered around the junction.

abouttobebanned

What's with the ffs...is it your time of the month merlante?

Wexford town has roughly one fifth the population of waterford city yet the bars and clubs up there are generally heaving at weekends and they do a brisk enough trade midweek as well. Limerick only has about 4-5 thousand more people than Waterford and it wipes the floor with us.

Music promoters will tell you that the two worst "major" areas at the moment to promote any kind of gig are Sligo and Waterford.

KingLoser

Anyone who thinks the nightlife here is adequate either

a) doesn't go out

b) doesn't live here

c) delusional

d) otter / duck

Junior

Denalihighway wrote: »

thanks lads - harveys didnt used to be Docs / Docks by any chance??

I think you've got your counties mixed up - Docs used to be in Limerick..

tonc76

nkay1985 wrote: »

Ruby's lounge has live music every night so I'd say ye could go there around 10 or 11 if you're into your music.

Harvey's might be a bit too "poppy" for you I'd say, but if it's a stag and you want a big place with a lot of people that's your spot for later on.

Dignity is a gay bar in town that everybody seems to be flocking to at the moment. A friend of mine was there on Saturday night and she said there were two or three hen parties in there. So ye might meet a few ladies in a similar state as yourselves over there!

They're all within five minutes of each other so you shouldn't have too much bother to be honest.

so much so that the gays now stay away

abouttobebanned

Probably because they wanted it all to themselves as a drop in centre. How do they expect the owner to make a living?

old gregg

tonc76 wrote: »

so much so that the gays now stay away

so, out of curiosity, where does Daffyd go now to wolf down a few beers?

tonc76

abouttobebanned wrote: »

Probably because they wanted it all to themselves as a drop in centre. How do they expect the owner to make a living?

Don't know - is that a criteria for you when you're going to a pub?

old gregg wrote: »

so, out of curiosity, where does Daffyd go now to wolf down a few beers?

No idea - its just what I heard about the place - more straight than "non straight" people

abouttobebanned

tonc76 wrote: »

Don't know - is that a criteria for you when you're going to a pub?



No idea - its just what I heard about the place - more straight than "non straight" people

What?!

tonc76

I've been told that of late there have been more straight people in there than gay/bi and thats the reason that they are now staying away.

old gregg

tonc76 wrote: »

I've been told that of late there have been more straight people in there than gay/bi and thats the reason that they are now staying away.

this has the makings of a wonderful off topic sociological discussion but alas I'll not be the one to kick it off here.

Denalihighway

Junior wrote: »

I think you've got your counties mixed up - Docs used to be in Limerick..

stone the crows Junior - you're right :eek:

now that must have been a hard night...:pac::pac::pac:

thanks all, harveys seems to be the place for our 'group of professional thirty-somethings, looking for a change of scenery'....as I told the person we booked our houses off :eek:

merlante

abouttobebanned wrote: »

What's with the ffs...is it your time of the month merlante?

Wexford town has roughly one fifth the population of waterford city yet the bars and clubs up there are generally heaving at weekends and they do a brisk enough trade midweek as well. Limerick only has about 4-5 thousand more people than Waterford and it wipes the floor with us.

Music promoters will tell you that the two worst "major" areas at the moment to promote any kind of gig are Sligo and Waterford.

The ffs is because I'm sick of people bitching about the nightlife in Waterford. There always seems to be a thread going. Why don't people just go and live somewhere else if they're so upset about the nightlife? Personally, I think it's fine, maybe even very good depending on what you are looking for. Most of the people who complain about the nightlife in Waterford only ever go out to one place and have a permanent boycott of all the others. I'd say the place is top class for hen and stag nights, with all the popular pubs and clubs are all in the one place, and you wouldn't go too far wrong no matter where you went -- and because most of them are free anyway, you can move around. As for music, I often hear good stuff coming out of Electric Avenue and Ruby's Lounge. Haven't been in the Forum in a while. I think it's a case of familiarity breeding contempt and the usual cynicism about all things Waterford coming through here as well -- at least with some contributors.

Wexford has a third of the population of Waterford. Are the clubs really so good? Do you not think that these sort of opinions are objective? Maybe Wexford people love the nightlife in Waterford. All the pubs and clubs do a brisk to packed-out trade around the junction on a Friday or Saturday night, and you'll find something going on somewhere any night of the week. Go into Harvey's on a Saturday night or on a Wednesday during the college year, and you won't be able to breath in there. Ruby's and Ruby's Lounge/Woodman fills up as well. The Kazbar is fit to burst at the weekends. Try getting into Geoffs. Dignity is doing a roaring trade by the looks of it. Limerick is nearly twice the size of Waterford, with twice as many students, so I'm not surprised that there's more there.

Maybe people just don't like gigs as much as a few drinks listening to crap music. Maybe that's what people actually want.

paddy smith

i cant remember the name of it but the gay bar on johnstown bridge is great craic for a night out,
im not gay myself but meself and a few of the lads went in there a few weeks ago for a look and the craic was ninty

ex_infantry man

it seems the gays/bi,s have flown the coup and have set up shop in kilkenny now!!!!!

abouttobebanned

They haven't flown anyway...they're just bringing a bit of colour to another county. Fair play to them I say. I do think they face a battle with the hardened gays (sorry haha) who do tend to get overprotective of the place.

1967

All the pubs as has been said are basically on John Street start in the wacky apple, kazbar and geoffs and just work from there if your looking for live music rubys lounge or just listening to chart/pop music go to harveys later on but usually the plan goes out the window on stag nights so as i said start in the wacky apple and see where the night takes you

Adyx

merlante wrote: »

The ffs is because I'm sick of people bitching about the nightlife in Waterford. There always seems to be a thread going. Why don't people just go and live somewhere else if they're so upset about the nightlife? Personally, I think it's fine, maybe even very good depending on what you are looking for. Most of the people who complain about the nightlife in Waterford only ever go out to one place and have a permanent boycott of all the others. I'd say the place is top class for hen and stag nights, with all the popular pubs and clubs are all in the one place, and you wouldn't go too far wrong no matter where you went -- and because most of them are free anyway, you can move around. As for music, I often hear good stuff coming out of Electric Avenue and Ruby's Lounge. Haven't been in the Forum in a while. I think it's a case of familiarity breeding contempt and the usual cynicism about all things Waterford coming through here as well -- at least with some contributors.

Wexford has a third of the population of Waterford. Are the clubs really so good? Do you not think that these sort of opinions are objective? Maybe Wexford people love the nightlife in Waterford. All the pubs and clubs do a brisk to packed-out trade around the junction on a Friday or Saturday night, and you'll find something going on somewhere any night of the week. Go into Harvey's on a Saturday night or on a Wednesday during the college year, and you won't be able to breath in there. Ruby's and Ruby's Lounge/Woodman fills up as well. The Kazbar is fit to burst at the weekends. Try getting into Geoffs. Dignity is doing a roaring trade by the looks of it. Limerick is nearly twice the size of Waterford, with twice as many students, so I'm not surprised that there's more there.

Maybe people just don't like gigs as much as a few drinks listening to crap music. Maybe that's what people actually want.

In principle you're right, there are some great bands playing in Ruby Lounge (tomorrow night for one ) but with that exception there isn't much during the week which is when I'd be out. You're spot on about people's opinions though. Almost everyone on here seems to hate Muldoon's yet it's still busy at the weekends and it's the same with Ruby's.

merlante

Adyx wrote: »

In principle you're right, there are some great bands playing in Ruby Lounge (tomorrow night for one ) but with that exception there isn't much during the week which is when I'd be out. You're spot on about people's opinions though. Almost everyone on here seems to hate Muldoon's yet it's still busy at the weekends and it's the same with Ruby's.

Just looking here: http://www.whazon.com/waterford/livemusic.php

You have something on every day:
MAY 2008

Tuesday 26 May 2009
The Remedees Rubys

Wednesday 27 May 2009
Heineken Green Spheres presents Friendly Fires / The Cocknbullkid / Casiokids. The Forum
Charlie Parr 9pm, Electric Ave.
Doozer Rubys

Thursday 28 May 2009
San Fran Fiasco Rubys

Friday 29 May 2009
Straw Dogs Rubys

Saturday 30 May 2009
Kieran Goss 10pm, Grand Hotel, Tramore
The Navigators Rubys

Sunday 31 May 2009
The Remedees Masons
Brand New Cadillac Rubys

ONGOING EVENTS 2008

Mondays
T.H.Doolans : Trad Music
Masons : Rat Pack Mondays

Tuesdays
T.H.Doolans : Trad Music

Wednesdays
T.H.Doolans : Trad Music
The Thatch : Trad Music
Phil Grimes : Trad Music
Dooley's Hotel : Trad Music

Thursdays
T.H.Doolans : Trad Music
Kitty Kiernans : Jazz Band
Mansion House : Trad Music
Three Shippes : Ben Delaney

Fridays
Gingerman : Live Band
T.H.Doolans : Trad Music
Dooley's Hotel : Trad Music

Saturdays
T.H.Doolans : Trad Music
Holycross Bar : Live Music
Kitty Kiernans : Live Music
Beckett's : Live Music
Jack Meades : Trad Music
The Thatch : Live Music
Dooley's Hotel : Trad Music

Sundays
T.H.Doolans : Trad Music
Holycross Bar : Live Music @ 6.30pm
Jack Meades : Live Music @ 4pm
Mansion House : Live Music
The Thatch: Live Trad @ 6pm


And I don't see the Candelight sessions in Philly Grimes or anything from Electric Avenue or the Kazbar in there. So there's a lot on. What do the people who are complaining go to? I reckon they go to the same place every Friday and moan about it the whole night long.

We have this 'the forum is great' versus 'i'd never go to the forum ever in my life for political reasons' -- the same with Geoffs. What a joke. Waterford is a small Irish city and half the people living there decide at 16 that they will never ever go to half the pubs and clubs in the place. Sad.

KingLoser

What do the people who are complaining go to?

Not the bunch of boring, not worth the money or effort, half-arsed cover bands you posted anyway! :pac:

EDIT: On a positive note, Charlie Parr looks to be freakin deadly tonight.

merlante

KingLoser wrote: »

Not the bunch of boring, not worth the money or effort, half-arsed cover bands you posted anyway! :pac:

EDIT: On a positive note, Charlie Parr looks to be freakin deadly tonight.

Yeah, but I mean that's not the fault of the pubs and clubs. As you can see from my post there are a ton of places willing to host gigs, they will host gigs that people want to see. Maybe the gigging scene is just not vibrant in Waterford? Not the fault of the pubs but the people.

Everyone is going to have their cup of tea, but I've had a few enjoyable Thursday nights in Philly Grimes at the Candelight sessions where there are real musicians playing real music, though I haven't been in a good few months. But sometimes you'd struggle to fill the tiny bar upstair, and the bands are relying on all their mates turning up half the time. Who's fault is that? Not Philly Grimes.

The point is, people in Waterford don't try anything new, they are afraid to go to certain pubs and venues, they seem to have this attitude of waiting for somewhere to become popular before they will bother their arse trying it out. They delight in predicting that such and such a place will be out of business in 6 months and they're often right because there are hundreds of people like them saying the same thing and not one of them will buy a drink in the place even out of curiosity. Fletchers is a perfect example, "that place will never last boy!" And the same fool will complain that there's no where good to go out in Waterford.

My theory is that the people who complain the most, go to the same place every weekend, spend **** all, complain and moan all night, run down everywhere else, run down Waterford to tourists and those from out of town, laugh at people trying to open new pubs and clubs, say this or that would never work in Waterford, suggest nothing, add nothing and never try to get anything off the ground themselves.

KingLoser

Personally, I think if people are not attending the entertainment offered, then it's up to those offering the entertainment to raise the bar.

Not up to the people to suck it up and bear it.

merlante

KingLoser wrote: »

Personally, I think if people are not attending the entertainment offered, then it's up to those offering the entertainment to raise the bar.

Not up to the people to suck it up and bear it.

In fairness I disagree, the pubs respond to the demand. Most of them will have any kind of gig the people want. People who run bars are not necessarily people who are into their music but they are into making money. If bands were knocking on their doors and people were demanding certain bands, they'd be playing. I'm sure in these trying times, some bars would try anything to get the people in.

Ultimately, it's down to what people want. Unfortunately, what a few lads on boards.ie want is not necessarily what the public at large want. Otherwise the Green party would be major government party, not the minor.

There is entertainment being offered, just not the right entertainment according to some.

Adyx

merlante wrote: »

In fairness I disagree, the pubs respond to the demand. Most of them will have any kind of gig the people want. People who run bars are not necessarily people who are into their music but they are into making money. If bands were knocking on their doors and people were demanding certain bands, they'd be playing. I'm sure in these trying times, some bars would try anything to get the people in.

Ultimately, it's down to what people want. Unfortunately, what a few lads on boards.ie want is not necessarily what the public at large want. Otherwise the Green party would be major government party, not the minor.

There is entertainment being offered, just not the right entertainment according to some.

And its what people will pay to see. I don't just mean a cover charge but even buy enough drinks to make it worth the pub/promoter's while. It's all very well saying we should get more decent music and less half-arsed cover bands but people will rarely pay to see a unknown original act. I have to admit to actually being in one of the half-arsed cover bands mentioned above and maybe it's not the most important or relevant part of the music industry, but the fact is that's what an awful lot of people want to hear. We always get a great reaction so we must be entertaining to some people.