The Brog Closing?

Cool_CM

Saw an update on Facebook earlier on the Brog's page saying that they are closing down after the Jazz Weekend.

Apparently the place is being completely refurbished and reinvented as an upmarket cocktail/tapas bar.

The systematic destruction and cleansing of Cork's dive bars continues...

(Am in work at the moment so will post link later)

Mr.Prodston

I'm absolutely disgusted by this and there are a lot of unhappy people evidenced by the response on Facebook.

hufpc8w3adnk65

I can confirm the place has already begun extensive renovations and will be allot more "up market " when finished.. Think a cross between sober lane & Long Island

Milly33

Oh no what a shame haven't been there in years but twas the last of the nicer cozy pubs left. Uck facelift I hope they don't go overboard

Faith

Jaysus :eek:

Bad news folks. Been told today that An Bróg is closing permanently after the Jazz Weekend. Its being renovated completely in November, new name, music policy etc. There was talk of fancy cocktail menus and tapas menus too and other upmarkety type stuff. Cant remember much else, it was all a blur after I heard we're closing. Sorry about this folks. Bit of a shock to say the least, really didnt think it was gonna come to this

I haven't been there in years because it attracts such a young crowd, but fúck I'm sad to hear that. I had some brilliant times there up until a few years back. I even met the love of my life there!

It was always going to be on the cards after Ernest Cantillon took it over, but I didn't think it would close entirely.

Mr.Prodston

http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/1101/business/ernest-endeavours-212576.html

They’ll then turn attention to the highly popular ground-floor Bróg complex, keeping the name and the feel, and will start a food business (likely to be Mexican) in the premises as well, given its proximity to the English Market.

I'm so annoyed, if they were to do anything it would restore it to what it was rather than what it became in the last 2 years. It's so different to anything else in town and is always very busy. It just feels like the rug has been given a sharp tug

usersame

Gutted but I have faith in the gentleman involved

An Bróg isn't now what it used to be

Fox_In_Socks

Never quite "got" the attraction to it from people that I know.

Gbear

It's a student bar with **** pints.
I've had tremendous craic there but tapas sounds interesting.

Although presumably "up market" means "expensive".

Danger781

I used to love the Bróg but in the past year or two it has gone completely downhill..

- There is always an odd smell in there every time I go in there. It always feel unclean or damp or something.
- I've never gotten a nice pint in there. Ever.
- After 11pm the price of pints goes past a fiver. Utter madness that is.
- One of the bouncers at the door is a dick. But on the plus side they have Steve!

who_me

Yeah, used to love the (smaller) Brog from my student days. I don't think the smell is new! I think the smoking ban just uncovered a lot of previously masked smells. It's a pity it's going as it offered a bit of variety to the norm.

Danger781

who_me wrote: »

Yeah, used to love the (smaller) Brog from my student days. I don't think the smell is new! I think the smoking ban just uncovered a lot of previously masked smells. It's a pity it's going as it offered a bit of variety to the norm.

BDSM offers variety from the norm.

Faith

Danger781 wrote: »

BDSM offers variety from the norm.

BDSM is tiny, in fairness.

Lia_lia

When I was heard this I was like "Ha! Don't care. Hate the place."

But in fairness I've probably been on more enjoyable nights out in the Brog than any other pub in Cork. Used to absolutely love the place in my first few years of college, but then I think I just grew up a bit..

Why on Earth are they changing it into an "upmarket" tapas style bar? I can pretty much guarantee they'll make less money. There are enough upmarkety places in Cork. And where will all the (non Reardons/Havanas crowd) students go now? Hrmm.

hoodwinked

MrMac84 wrote: »

and will be allot more "up market " when finished.. Think a cross between sober lane & Long Island

sober lane isn't up market! :pac:

Lia_lia wrote: »

Why on Earth are they changing it into an "upmarket" tapas style bar? I can pretty much guarantee they'll make less money. There are enough upmarkety places in Cork. And where will all the (non Reardons/Havanas crowd) students go now? Hrmm.

i reckon they are changing it to suit the crowds going upstairs to voodoo rooms, similar to havana's/reardons had before when they used be over 23's...

realistically lately how many from the brog were old enough (or dressed appropriately) to go upstairs to voodoo?
and considering the success of voodoo rooms,(and the sugar cube, and electric) it makes sense to add a pre club bar to cater to that crowd,


i had so many great nights in there of course i will be sad to see it go, but i got old, and dark pubs with cheap sloppy pints and bad smells full of 18 year olds just annoy me now *grabs and shakes walking stick*

Mr.Prodston

hoodwinked wrote: »

i reckon they are changing it to suit the crowds going upstairs to voodoo rooms, similar to havana's/reardons had before when they used be over 23's...

realistically lately how many from the brog were old enough (or dressed appropriately) to go upstairs to voodoo?
and considering the success of voodoo rooms,(and the sugar cube, and electric) it makes sense to add a pre club bar to cater to that crowd,


i had so many great nights in there of course i will be sad to see it go, but i got old, and dark pubs with cheap sloppy pints and bad smells full of 18 year olds just annoy me now *grabs and shakes walking stick*

It makes some bit of sense from a corporate point of view, of course it does when you put it like that. However the people who've been going to the brog for the last number of years are surely a future target market which they'd like to encourage inside once they graduate and start working. Fat chance of many of them ever going in on principle alone.

I've probably outgrown the place but that's more to do with how the place has regressed in the past 2 years more than anything else. I've only been there twice in 2013 but that's more to do with me not being out in Cork.

By all means they could upgrade the bar and make it a little more comfortable but I think it's down right disrespectful to all the customers that kept coming down the years for such a dramatic shift in emphasis. For many, well for me at the very least the place is ingrained as part of Cork's heritage.

The thought of ever eating tapas with classy decor and music in the background makes me laugh at how absurd it is.

I'm clearly very annoyed by this and just disheartened in general. On the flip side the outpouring of support can't help but make me smile.

ofcork

Most people going to voodoo are coming from the likes of soho/long island and electric so obviously the owners want to capture some of this business,one time they had bar rumba/mollies where the crowd would head to kaos/gorbys after.They don't have a feeder bar now as such I believe ernest cantillon is a partner in the whole venture.

hufpc8w3adnk65

Yes Ernest, Don Forde, Neil Cronin & Niall Kearney are the owners of the complex and it's general manager then is Phil the old Sober Lane manager

ofcork

Spot on don and neil have been there from day one I think niall got involved later in the ownership side.

Ardennes1944

Worst. Pints. Ever.

hufpc8w3adnk65

ofcork wrote: »

Spot on don and neil have been there from day one I think niall got involved later in the ownership side.

Yes Niall only has a small share in the place compared too the rest. Likewise Dons 2 sons both have a say in the running of the place without been actual owners

cantdecide

It'll be like the 'super-pub' phenomenon of the boom. We're not all dead classy like.

smurgen

Faith wrote: »

BDSM is tiny, in fairness.

bdsm is full of alternative, try hard posers.the brog was just full of easy going alternative folk,very laid back. stevie wong and john on the door are sound lads too. cant stand the fella with the curly hair Earnest put running the place.Here's hoping they don't ruin the place as its one of a few late bars in the city.

smurgen

ofcork wrote: »

Most people going to voodoo are coming from the likes of soho/long island and electric so obviously the owners want to capture some of this business,one time they had bar rumba/mollies where the crowd would head to kaos/gorbys after.They don't have a feeder bar now as such I believe ernest cantillon is a partner in the whole venture.

a feeder bar?most people are lucky to be able to afford to go to the club, never mind the pub before the club. people will rather drink at home for the most part before a club unless bar owners pull back the cost of their pints drastically.

AugustusMinimus

Who remembers when the Bróg was a lot smaller and the side bar was a completely different bar called "The Hairy Lemon" ?

brevity

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Who remembers when the Bróg was a lot smaller and the side bar was a completely different bar called "The Hairy Lemon" ?

I do! Had just started a course in Stiofain Noafa and a bunch of people said they were going to the hairy lemon. Fresh up from Kerry, so I was. I probably cycled in the link as well.

Good spot though.

minidazzler

It's going from something unique and original in Cork, to another Bar by numbers. Yay. Let's celebrate.

In the last 2 years the place has diverged greatly from what it once was though, with the price of pints skyrocketing (it was know for being cheap and easy after all) and the decor getting too much of a clean up, the lights turned up too bright.

I was a dive in the classical sense without ever trying to be. And it was loved. While I love cocktails and cocktail bars, I won't be going to the new one on principal, which I know is a bit sad, but An Brog holds so many great memories for me, I'm not letting a bright gaudy monstrosity ruin it. Though, I'd guess their cocktails are gonna be mostly tiki with only the barest of fresh fruit used.

At least we still have Benny creating original bars each time.

shadowcomplex

Is the quad still open ?

minidazzler

shadowcomplex wrote: »

Is the quad still open ?

The Quad is now The Slate, it's similar to the brog of old, but too different to be a good replacement.

Knifey Spoony

minidazzler wrote: »

The Quad is now The Slate, it's similar to the brog of old, but too different to be a good replacement.

The Quad isn't the Slate. They were two separate bars and I think that where the Quad was is now part of The Bowery, although I have never been in there.

But, with the Quad gone and now the Brog going, there isn't much of a choice of bars that put on gigs and would draw a slightly alternative crowd.

murphym7

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Who remembers when the Bróg was a lot smaller and the side bar was a completely different bar called "The Hairy Lemon" ?

I used to go to the Cranog a lot back in the day, that was a great bar.

Oafley Jones

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Who remembers when the Bróg was a lot smaller and the side bar was a completely different bar called "The Hairy Lemon"

Hairy lemon on the left and they knocked into an crannog on the right. Never really cared for the place after it took over the other two.

Milly33

I used to love the hairy lemon, real cozy place and the staff were always nice. God another super pub, that's what puts us off heading to town theres too many of them. Now tis nice to have some bit a good mix is needed..

ncur

Danger781 wrote: »

I used to love the Bróg but in the past year or two it has gone completely downhill..

- There is always an odd smell in there every time I go in there. It always feel unclean or damp or something.
- I've never gotten a nice pint in there. Ever.
- After 11pm the price of pints goes past a fiver. Utter madness that is.
- One of the bouncers at the door is a dick. But on the plus side they have Steve!

Speaking of Steve, I keep on thinking I see him selling hot dogs during the day on Cornmarket Street. I'm passing by every now and again in the car so it's a swift glimpse. I'm hallucinating, right?

Faith

You might be right. One of the former bouncers (barmen?) has set up a hot dog business and they sell on Cornmarket street a lot.

razorblunt

I don't think the proposed pub could be deemed a "super pub".

I, for one, am happy with this, never liked the Bróg, worst pint (non stout) I've had in Cork, rank smell, horrible jax.
This new venture they're proposing could be a good idea if they go the Tapas route, for that area of town.

evilivor

razorblunt wrote: »

I don't think the proposed pub could be deemed a "super pub".

I, for one, am happy with this, never liked the Bróg, worst pint (non stout) I've had in Cork, rank smell, horrible jax.
This new venture they're proposing could be a good idea if they go the Tapas route, for that area of town.

I see that the former Boqueria is re-opening soon - new name - 6ix , new regime - not sure if it's doing tapas etc. - nice to see though.

hufpc8w3adnk65

evilivor wrote: »

I see that the former Boqueria is re-opening soon - new name - 6ix , new regime - not sure if it's doing tapas etc. - nice to see though.

Where's this?

Cool_CM

minidazzler wrote: »

The Quad is now The Slate, it's similar to the brog of old, but too different to be a good replacement.

The Quad is now the hallway into The Bowery.
The Slate was Bar Rumba.

I can't bring myself to like or drink in BDSM.

evilivor

MrMac84 wrote: »

Where's this?

Bridge Street - where the Boqueria was.

Nerdlingr

Had a great few nights in the brog years ago. Used to be the regular spot for a few late night drinks.
Great music, sh*t pints. What more could you ask for? Alas over the years I noticed the crowd becoming young and younger...and soon, for me, no more did I darken its doorway.
Seems like they change everything to move more 'upmarket' these days. They did the same to the oval. Cork needs a dingy dive for students. All this tapas and mexican food sh*te is no good! I demand sawdust on the floor!

Save An Brog

An Brog is closing. What will we do when we need a warm pint and a lopsided smile from a girl who OMg just love's this song! Don't take it away, like our page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Brog/600734173318056
Thank You.

Danger781

If you like getting pissed at half past one in the morning any day of the week regardless of how demented you already are, if you like picking up drunk girls at quarter past two on a cold wet Sunday night and dancing to "Killing in the Name of" twice in a row while desperately guarding your pint then please SAVE THE BROG!!!

^From the above page

Yeah.. That's literally promoting the closure of the Brog..

the beer revolu

Where will the youngsters who don't wear Gant shirts and rugby shirts who don't fit in Reardon's or "The Wash" go now?
I haven't been in An Bróg in a good few years and to be honest, would probably never have gone again but I do think the city needs a biggish pub for the more alternative kids.

Fred's is too small and a bit metal orientated.
BDSM is too shiny and expensive.

Where will they end up?

minidazzler

Danger781 wrote: »

^From the above page

Yeah.. That's literally promoting the closure of the Brog..

Not really, that IS the Brog. A place with no fights, and just one drink thief, everyone else was just getting their drink back.

In 5 years of going there, for 2 years going a minimum of twice a week, I've NEVER seen a fight in the Brog, I've seen and done everything else. From a couple full on shagging on the couch to getting bollix naked myself, because why not? But never any agro. It's the kinda fcuked up place that was perfect for the people who love it.

And now it's changed so much that it's just not that anymore. I really wish the Sober Lane crowd had never gotten involved in the complex.

gimmick

Save An Brog wrote: »

An Brog is closing. What will we do when we need a warm pint and a lopsided smile from a girl who OMg just love's this song! Don't take it away, like our page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Brog/600734173318056
Thank You.

Stupid webpage made to get "likes". Its not going to do any good.

Had fun times in the Brog years ago, but moved on as I got older.

Im sure there will be some dumping ground for the students and alts once it closes. There always is.

But on reasons why its closing, sure there was always lots in there, but were most people drinking more than a pint or 2? Good chance the answer to that is no.

AugustusMinimus

murphym7 wrote: »

I used to go to the Cranog a lot back in the day, that was a great bar.

Ah yes. Wasn't the name changed to An Brog around 2000 ?

Is Mick V still doing the quiz there on a Monday night ?

ofcork

Faith wrote: »

You might be right. One of the former bouncers (barmen?) has set up a hot dog business and they sell on Cornmarket street a lot.

That's stevie wong,hotdogs known as saucy pups.

hoodwinked

minidazzler wrote: »

Not really, that IS the Brog. A place with no fights, and just one drink thief, everyone else was just getting their drink back.

In 5 years of going there, for 2 years going a minimum of twice a week, I've NEVER seen a fight in the Brog, I've seen and done everything else. From a couple full on shagging on the couch to getting bollix naked myself, because why not? But never any agro. It's the kinda fcuked up place that was perfect for the people who love it.

And now it's changed so much that it's just not that anymore. I really wish the Sober Lane crowd had never gotten involved in the complex.

things went downhill before the sober lane crowd got involved, and while years ago (im talking 5 years or more ago) the crowd was as such you knew everyone in there to see if not made friends with them all, these past few years its changed drastically in terms of who goes there, i've heard of massive brawls in there with broken glass involved and much rougher/younger crowds, (and you'd see them going in/coming out) on your way to voodoo.

the only way to clear a pub/club's reputation after that downhill spiral is massive refurbishment,new look, new crowd and even that doesn't work sometimes.

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Ah yes. Wasn't the name changed to An Brog around 2000 ?

Is Mick V still doing the quiz there on a Monday night ?

there was still a monday night quiz im not sure who does it though...

razorblunt

minidazzler wrote: »

Not really, that IS the Brog. A place with no fights, and just one drink thief, everyone else was just getting their drink back.

In 5 years of going there, for 2 years going a minimum of twice a week, I've NEVER seen a fight in the Brog, I've seen and done everything else. From a couple full on shagging on the couch to getting bollix naked myself, because why not? But never any agro. It's the kinda fcuked up place that was perfect for the people who love it.

And now it's changed so much that it's just not that anymore. I really wish the Sober Lane crowd had never gotten involved in the complex.

Like an old shoe, it's lost its sole.

murphym7

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Ah yes. Wasn't the name changed to An Brog around 2000 ?

Is Mick V still doing the quiz there on a Monday night ?

My alcohol damaged brain is trying to put the pieces together of that whole building. My memory is that The Brog expanded into the space where the Crannog was.

Was there a time when The Brog, Hairy Lemon and Crannog all co-existed for a while together? And then the Brog took over all the space (kind of like the Borg!) My memory is sketchy to say the least, good times though!