Best & Worst pubs in Dublin 15

finnegan2010

Hey there Im wondering does anyone have any opinions on the best boozers in Dublin 15? Tell us about your favorite boozer and why
Or your least favourites and why just to make things a bit interesting!
I havent seen a thread on the best worst D15 pubs thus far.:cool:

wildlifeman

best carpenter worst roselawn

Polar101

Worst is the "opening soon" pub in Ongar village, it has an unfinished feel to it.. been like that for years.

Zaph

Best - none
Worst - take your pick

As I've mentioned elsewhere, the pubs of D15 all appear to be horrible, soulless, suburban drinking halls, rather than proper pubs. It's a shame really that old villages like Blanchardstown and Castleknock don't have a decent, cosy pub in either of them.

annfield1978

12th lock or the hole in the wall pub if that counts

the pub outside superquin seems to have reopened, it seemed closed for a few months as was the off licence

Zaph

The Hole in the Wall is Dublin 7, unfortunately.

ciaran76

Yeah have to agree with Zaph on that. I travel outside D15 for my few beers.

JupiterKid

I can't think of anywhere that stands out from the rest. I can certainly think of a few really dodgy ones that I avoid but as for the rest - Myos, Anglers Rest, Clonsilla Inn, Davy & Phelans, Bradys, The Carpenter, The Vineyard - they're all pretty bland.

Of the lot I suppose the Carpenter or 12th Lock would be the best. But that's not saying much.

Gaspode

Cant say I find any local pub that's in D15 particularly engaging either, so I tend to drink in the City Centre or in the Strawberry Hall. The Halfway house is a short walk for me, but I'm rarely tempted to take that walk tbh.

Having said that, I know plenty of people who love their local pub (Bell, Roselawn inn, Carpenters, Clonsilla Inn, etc.) - those sort of pubs just dont do it for me.

spooky donkey

I dont supose any one has a list and locations of all the pubs in D15, there does not seem to be many, seem country towns with about a 1000 population have more pubs than D15. Ive stoped going to pubs in D15, used to frequent the grey hound and the bell back in the day.... but the bell is a bit of a stroll for me now, and the greyhound is gone.

finnegan2010

spooky donkey wrote: »

I dont supose any one has a list and locations of all the pubs in D15, there does not seem to be many, seem country towns with about a 1000 population have more pubs than D15. Ive stoped going to pubs in D15, used to frequent the grey hound and the bell back in the day.... but the bell is a bit of a stroll for me now, and the greyhound is gone.

Crikey i thought the greyhound was a dump. The Thirsty Bull in tyrllstown i have to admit i was taken aback by the decor, a lot was spent on it but i have bumped into some dodgy guys there. So the jury is out on that

Derryleigh

Gaspode wrote: »

Cant say I find any local pub that's in D15 particularly engaging either, so I tend to drink in the City Centre or in the Strawberry Hall. The Halfway house is a short walk for me, but I'm rarely tempted to take that walk tbh.

Having said that, I know plenty of people who love their local pub (Bell, Roselawn inn, Carpenters, Clonsilla Inn, etc.) - those sort of pubs just dont do it for me.

Although I dont now live in Dublin, I used to live in Blanch for many years up to a few years ago hence my continued interest in what goes on around there.

I just think that this is a little distasteful. In these tough economic times, is it not a little unfair to be blasting businesses with subjective views?

The pub I like, you may not like and vice versa. Gaspode is right, everyone to their own, some people like their local, that doesnt mean that everyone must.

Where I live its sad to see pubs closing and barmen and owners lose their jobs.

A thread like this gives someone with a grudge (they may be barred) to call that pub a dump etc. How is anyone here to know what someones motivation is to praise one pub and slag off another.

Anyway, just be fair to the people who work there. When I was in Dublin, I knew staff in these places and they are all decent stock.

Be thankful you have pubs to choose from because here in rural west of Ireland, there is little or no choice left and more is the pity.

Drop the Ball

No pub in D15 really stands out in my mind but the 12th Lock is probably my favorite in the area. The Paddocks at Littlepace leaves a lot to be desired.

ThisRegard

finnegan2010 wrote: »

The Thirsty Bull in tyrllstown i have to admit i was taken aback by the decor, a lot was spent on it but i have bumped into some dodgy guys there. So the jury is out on that

The Thirsty Bull is fine, there was a dodgy couple of lads for a while when the place in Mulhuddart closed but they either got barred or bored with the place and it's a grand local now.

But then again what pub in the country do you not bump into a dodgy element ?

finnegan2010

Drop the Ball wrote: »

No pub in D15 really stands out in my mind but the 12th Lock is probably my favorite in the area. The Paddocks at Littlepace leaves a lot to be desired.

The PADDOCKS, dont talk to me, Went in recently, Barman to busy talking to his regulars. Couldnt get his attention for 2 minutes, Finally made eye contact. Politely said "Pint of Miller please mate" Without even acknowleding me he walked off doing something else. One of the guys he had been talking to looked over and chuckled saying "course ya can have a pint dont mind him moody ****e"
But the real laugh came when i sat down at a table. About 15 portable fans plugged into heat the place during the big freeze. All coming from various extension cords like battle tanks lined up.

Saying that I was in before that and a Beautiful young friendly woman served me couldnt be nicer!

What was your experience in the paddocks drop the ball

The Waltzing Consumer

Twelfth Loch! Great pub

You may be the worst bar if you have a couple of these features:

1) The majority of females all look like hairdressers
2) You regularly have a crap cover band playing journey/kings of leon/snow patrol bland boring rubbish
3) You have bouncers
4) A lot of your male customers sing IRA songs, quickly followed by British
football hooligan songs
5) You have furniture that does not match or you have crap carpet that has
stains from the last twenty years
6) Your main customers are overweight beer-beelied men and elderly alcoholics
7) Your idea of a smoking area is the front door

I can't think of anymore at moment

kenon

The 12th Lock is a pretty good pub. Excellent smoking area, good food, wide variety of drinks...

The Greyhound has reopened but I haven't been in there since it has re-opened. €3.50 pints in there at the moment.

The Carpenter is pretty good also. Vineyard is a bit dead and I've heard the Clonsilla has gone a bit down hill.

I don't really like the Bell but I'd go there the odd time.

I used to basically live in the Roselawn but the place really divebombed which caused them to lose a lot of customers. They also do rancid pints upstairs when they have it open which doesn't help.

Was in the Paddocks once, for a match. Crap screens and a burnt burger are my memories of the place.

finnegan2010

kenon wrote: »

The 12th Lock is a pretty good pub. Excellent smoking area, good food, wide variety of drinks...

The Greyhound has reopened but I haven't been in there since it has re-opened. €3.50 pints in there at the moment.

The Carpenter is pretty good also. Vineyard is a bit dead and I've heard the Clonsilla has gone a bit down hill.

I don't really like the Bell but I'd go there the odd time.

I used to basically live in the Roselawn but the place really divebombed which caused them to lose a lot of customers. They also do rancid pints upstairs when they have it open which doesn't help.

Was in the Paddocks once, for a match. Crap screens and a burnt burger are my memories of the place.

12th Lock is Nice ill agree but have they lowered the prices of those tasty beverages? last time i was in i was paying near city centre prices for a pint of lager.

kenon

finnegan2010 wrote: »

12th Lock is Nice ill agree but have they lowered the prices of those tasty beverages? last time i was in i was paying near city centre prices for a pint of lager.

€4.85 for anything on tap.

Compared to most other D15 pubs its not that more expensive. (Apart from the Greyhound which has €3.50 pints and Captains live Sunday to Thursdays which has €3 pints and is actually a music venue/club)

The Waltzing Consumer

kenon wrote: »

The 12th Lock is a pretty good pub. Excellent smoking area, good food, wide variety of drinks...

The Greyhound has reopened but I haven't been in there since it has re-opened. €3.50 pints in there at the moment.

The Carpenter is pretty good also. Vineyard is a bit dead and I've heard the Clonsilla has gone a bit down hill.

I don't really like the Bell but I'd go there the odd time.

I used to basically live in the Roselawn but the place really divebombed which caused them to lose a lot of customers. They also do rancid pints upstairs when they have it open which doesn't help.

Was in the Paddocks once, for a match. Crap screens and a burnt burger are my memories of the place.

Agree with much of this. It is a pity about the Roselawn. It has the potential to be a great bar given its location and history. The blame is definately on the owners for not investing in it, and letting it rot away. It is a blight and not many people will care if it closes, and that is kinda sad.

finnegan2010

kenon wrote: »

€4.85 for anything on tap.

Compared to most other D15 pubs its not that more expensive. (Apart from the Greyhound which has €3.50 pints and Captains live Sunday to Thursdays which has €3 pints and is actually a music venue/club)

Seriously Captains live is 3 yo yos for draught thurs to sundays? Whats it like? Ill be off my face in there this w/e so! They didnt a good job advertising that.

finnegan2010

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

Agree with much of this. It is a pity about the Roselawn. It has the potential to be a great bar given its location and history. The blame is definately on the owners for not investing in it, and letting it rot away. It is a blight and not many people will care if it closes, and that is kinda sad.

The Roselawn, I never entered it,
Reminds me of those fake cheap paddy bars over a shop down in alicante. Thats the one thats part of the shopping centre right? must throw the head in and see.

The Waltzing Consumer

finnegan2010 wrote: »

The Roselawn, I never entered it,
Reminds me of those fake cheap paddy bars over a shop down in alicante. Thats the one thats part of the shopping centre right? must throw the head in and see.

Yeah, down the other end from Tesco.

Well, not as exciting as those cheap paddy bars, but yeah, it has the bare essentials, not even a decent tv to watch sport. The food has been crap for years, the pints are dire, the customers are the dregs as they have pretty much lost everyone else in the area. The furniture is old and tattered, horrible carpet. The upstairs was okay-ish, but it is rarely open. I think many people will go in, hoping it has changed, have a few drinks and avoid it for months/years until they get that itch to see if it has changed again. Only time I ever see it busy at all is Christmas Eve.

WTSIB

How can finnegan2010 commment on the pub if he, as he says, he has "never entered it"-- I make no comment on the pub positive or negative as I am not qualified to make a comment, not being a patron.

finnegan2010

WTSIB wrote: »

How can finnegan2010 commment on the pub if he, as he says, he has "never entered it"-- I make no comment on the pub positive or negative as I am not qualified to make a comment, not being a patron.

Good you picked up on that my apologies the exterior I was reffering to not the inside
Sorry
(Gives hug to all)

Gaspode

Anyone care to throw out their top 3 or 4 things that they'd like to see in a new local D15 pub?

Here's mine for starters:

Plenty of microbrewery and imported beers as well as the main players.
No children allowed after 3pm.
Music in (and only in) a well designed music lounge, with a variety of music genres catered for.
Plenty of quiet snug areas (Roaring fires optional)

Zaph

Gaspode wrote: »

Anyone care to throw out their top 3 or 4 things that they'd like to see in a new local D15 pub?

Here's mine for starters:

Plenty of microbrewery and imported beers as well as the main players.
No children allowed after 3pm.
Music in (and only in) a well designed music lounge, with a variety of music genres catered for.
Plenty of quiet snug areas (Roaring fires optional)

I'd go a step further and say that I'd love to see an actual microbrewery. Surely the population of Dublin is sufficient to support more than the couple that are in the city centre?

Harry Byrne's on the Howth Road was my local for a couple of years when I lived nearby. They had a sign up saying "No Children Allowed At Any Time". I dream of the day when I manage to find a second pub with a sign like this (although I reserve the right to change my mind should I ever become a parent ).

Not too pushed about music in pubs generally, so that's not too important for me, but I definitely agree about the snugs. As I mentioned earlier, most of the pubs in the area seem to be big drinking halls, there's no quiet, intimate corners in any of them unlike, for example, The Hole in the Wall.

The one other thing I'd like to see is a pub with a really nice beer garden. A few patio tables and chairs outside doesn't constitute a beer garden, despite what a great many publicans throughout the country seem to think.

Gaspode

Ah Harry's, now there was a good pub, and my local for a long time too as it happens.

The Falcon

Things I'd like in a pub:

*GREAT pint of Guinness (rare as hens' teeth!)
*NO kids running/screaming
*Toilets where you don't need a gasmask and a pair of wellies

Must say the bar in the Carpenter is about the best around. Gone a bit quiet lately though which does take away from the athmosphere a bit. Good place to watch rugby (Heineken Cup etc.,)

January

Gaspode wrote: »

Anyone care to throw out their top 3 or 4 things that they'd like to see in a new local D15 pub?

Here's mine for starters:

Plenty of microbrewery and imported beers as well as the main players.
No children allowed after 3pm.
Music in (and only in) a well designed music lounge, with a variety of music genres catered for.
Plenty of quiet snug areas (Roaring fires optional)

I promise that when I win the lotto, I will build you that pub.

Red Actor

Drop the Ball wrote: »

No pub in D15 really stands out in my mind but the 12th Lock is probably my favorite in the area. The Paddocks at Littlepace leaves a lot to be desired.

Have to agree it's brutal. Barstaff brutal and allow the drunken locals to roar at each other as great craic. I walk past and walk to the Grasshopper (Clonee Village so not D15) way better and they can actually show two different matches at the same time if you so desire - even seen matches + horses one day.

Diddler1977

I quite enjoy drinking in the bar of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I generally go to watch the Rugby and sit at the bar. Staff are very good and tend to be friendly.

Zaph

Diddler1977 wrote: »

I quite enjoy drinking in the bar of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I generally go to watch the Rugby and sit at the bar. Staff are very good and tend to be friendly.

I've been there a couple of times, but it's a bit cold and soulless for my liking.

kenon

Gaspode wrote: »

Anyone care to throw out their top 3 or 4 things that they'd like to see in a new local D15 pub?

• More foreign beers stocked.
• Slight decrease in the premium paid on foreign beers.
• The ability to display important sporting events (in some part of the pub) in high quality and on large enough screens (> 32inch) with sound clearly heard.
• Special offers on food during important sporting events.
• More thought put into the background music.
• More adequately heated beer gardens (so that its possible to sit there for long periods of time even in non-summer months).
• Music piped to the beer gardens.

ciaran76

Diddler1977 wrote: »

I quite enjoy drinking in the bar of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I generally go to watch the Rugby and sit at the bar. Staff are very good and tend to be friendly.

Been there myself and just don't like it feels dead to me. The 2 occasions I have been there the staff were terrible slow and got my order wrong twice.

Diddler1977

Zaph wrote: »

I've been there a couple of times, but it's a bit cold and soulless for my liking.

ciaran76 wrote: »

Been there myself and just don't like it feels dead to me. The 2 occasions I have been there the staff were terrible slow and got my order wrong twice.

Just goes to show how subjective it all is!

Diddler1977

Gaspode wrote: »

Anyone care to throw out their top 3 or 4 things that they'd like to see in a new local D15 pub?

Here's mine for starters:

Plenty of microbrewery and imported beers as well as the main players.
No children allowed after 3pm.
Music in (and only in) a well designed music lounge, with a variety of music genres catered for.
Plenty of quiet snug areas (Roaring fires optional)

Friendly staff

Thumbs up to snug areas!

ciaran76

3-4 essentials for a pub isn’t enough really.
I think the main ingredients for a good pub are :

Good and friendly, knowledgeable (about the products they are serving) bar staff.
No children after a certain time say like 5pm.
Good selection of beer both real Irish beers and Belgian /German etc.
Snug or section areas to get that cosy relaxed feeling.
Clean pub and clean toilets help !
Also sectioned parts of Pubs so one side can watch sports and other side doesn’t need to know.

oblivious

ciaran76 wrote: »

3-4 essentials for a pub isn’t enough really.
I think the main ingredients for a good pub are :

Good and friendly, knowledgeable (about the products they are serving) bar staff.
No children after a certain time say like 5pm.
Good selection of beer both real Irish beers and Belgian /German etc.
Snug or section areas to get that cosy relaxed feeling.
Clean pub and clean toilets help !
Also sectioned parts of Pubs so one side can watch sports and other side doesn’t need to know.

+1

ciaran76 wrote: »

"Good and friendly, knowledgeable (about the products they are serving) bar staff."

Very important I feel a lot of pubs are run like petrol station, fill up on regular god knows how it made or where it comes from and get out!

spooky donkey

Diddler1977 wrote: »

I quite enjoy drinking in the bar of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I generally go to watch the Rugby and sit at the bar. Staff are very good and tend to be friendly.

I was there last night myself and I quite liked it.

finnegan2010

Ventured down the Clonee House / Sports Bar yesterday for a pint to see what lie of land was since they painted it from the Rotten Egg green to a more traditional wine.
Wasnt too impressed was quite quiet but friendly staff in fairness. Pint wasnt bad.

Have a look at their facebook account :eek: not sure I would want to go on the weekend. Not into the Yokes meself

py2006

Just been reading through this post and I thought to myself they are right, there really is no decent pubs in the area!

The Bell = Dodgy and smelly crowd, bar staff not friendly.
The Clonsilla Inn = Dodgy crowd/staff but occasional good band.
The Roselawn = Appalling bar staff (only interested in watching golf) but nice lounge staff.
The Greyhound = Did have a dodgy crowd and staff. Re-opened for the xmas and will close again to be refurbished shortly. Pint surprisingly good.
12th Loch = strange seating arrangements makes it feel unfriendly. Clicky groups and couples. Nice during the day with nice food.
The Carpenter = Great staff, nice surroundings, (only proper bar staff in the area), nice food but can feel lifeless.
Myos = awful looking pub, full of pretentious idiots.

If you live in the area and fancy a pint you have no choice but to enter these places unless your willing to pay a fortune in town.

chucknorris

py2006 wrote: »

Just been reading through this post and I thought to myself they are right, there really is no decent pubs in the area!

The Bell = Dodgy and smelly crowd, bar staff not friendly.

I have to strongly disagree with you there. Their staff are some of the best.

Saturday nights are very good, no matter what you want. There is the bar for the heavyweights, the lounge for the mixed crowd and function room that is busy every weekend.

In the village its the one all round pub that caters for all and why not, Blanchardstown is a mixed bag so why shouldn't one of it's main pubs not cater for the mix.

Naos

Derryleigh wrote: »

Although I dont now live in Dublin, I used to live in Blanch for many years up to a few years ago hence my continued interest in what goes on around there.

I just think that this is a little distasteful. In these tough economic times, is it not a little unfair to be blasting businesses with subjective views?

Why is it unfair?

As you rightly pointed out, these are tough economic times. If someone could only afford to go out for one night every few weeks, why should they spend their hard earned money in a dive? It works both ways.

The pub I like, you may not like and vice versa. Gaspode is right, everyone to their own, some people like their local, that doesnt mean that everyone must.

That's fair enough and people are not disputing that.

Where I live its sad to see pubs closing and barmen and owners lose their jobs.

It's sad to see anyone lose their job.

A thread like this gives someone with a grudge (they may be barred) to call that pub a dump etc. How is anyone here to know what someones motivation is to praise one pub and slag off another.

Which is why the OP asked for a reason and not a list. We do have to assume everyones telling the truth but we also have to take into account personal taste and the fact that if one pub consistently crops up as being not a very nice place, then it's probably not a very nice place.

Anyway, just be fair to the people who work there. When I was in Dublin, I knew staff in these places and they are all decent stock.

Be thankful you have pubs to choose from because here in rural west of Ireland, there is little or no choice left and more is the pity.

If someone wants to say the bar staff are terrible then that's fair enough.

It's the managements job to ensure their staff are polite and aware, when this happens people will state (eg. Roselawn lounge staff being great) it. Again, it works both ways.

As for me:

Captains - good craic for cheap pints and a bit of music.
Rosy - Don't like it, just a shell of it's former self. Management there need to sharpen up quick.
Bell - It's so / so to be fair. Not a bad place to watch sport, crowds a bit rough but it is fine.

Derryleigh

When I was in Dublin, I used to frequent Myos and Roselawn and I was in Bradys which many many years ago was called The Twin Oaks when I went to Dublin first.

Last autumn, I was up for one of rugby matches and stayed with relations in Blanch foir the weekend.

Visited Roselawn and Myos. I liked them both still. I find them well run, no trouble and decent locals and people I recognised customers drinking in both and they seem to have very steady local trade, older people who probably dont have mortgage worries etc.

Rose lawn is a family run pub and the man who owns it is a gentleman and well respected.

The staff in Myos are also very friendly and talk to their customers and the same staff have been there for years.

Another pub in that area I know of and was in once or twice wasThe Lodge in Laurel Lodge. Is it still going?

Gaspode

py2006 wrote: »

J
The Bell = Dodgy and smelly crowd, bar staff not friendly.
The Clonsilla Inn = Dodgy crowd/staff but occasional good band.
The Roselawn = Appalling bar staff (only interested in watching golf) but nice lounge staff.
The Greyhound = Did have a dodgy crowd and staff. Re-opened for the xmas and will close again to be refurbished shortly. Pint surprisingly good.
12th Loch = strange seating arrangements makes it feel unfriendly. Clicky groups and couples. Nice during the day with nice food.
The Carpenter = Great staff, nice surroundings, (only proper bar staff in the area), nice food but can feel lifeless.
Myos = awful looking pub, full of pretentious idiots.
.

py2006, I'm going to assume you're old enough to drink in a public house, so surely you can up with a better way of describing a pub or it's clientele in a less infantile manner?
You're entitled to have those opinions, but posting them here is only likely to get people's backs up, so they're not particularly helpful.

ciaran76

A pub I havent seen mentioned is the Hartstown House.

I have gone there in the past on occassion and from someone who lived in Hartstown for a long time I wouldnt consider it my local or anything like that.

The Guinness is good there whenever I have been but I havent been there since 2009.

Again a clicky crowd (arent most pubs anyway)in there but thats cos most people there are from the area and would drink there week in week out.

Diddler1977

What about Salmon's?:eek:

RoryMurphyJnr

wildlifeman wrote: »

best carpenter worst roselawn

+1

chucknorris

Diddler1977 wrote: »

What about Salmon's?:eek:

By all accounts it's great on a Sunday if your from the locality....don't knock the local shops

py2006

Gaspode wrote: »

py2006, I'm going to assume you're old enough to drink in a public house, so surely you can up with a better way of describing a pub or it's clientele in a less infantile manner?
You're entitled to have those opinions, but posting them here is only likely to get people's backs up, so they're not particularly helpful.

Forums are for opinions mate!

Apologies if you disagree but that is the nature of a forum. I presume you are referring to the word "dodgy" which is a far friendlier word than what I could have used.

On reflection, I possibly should have said some of the crowd.