What do people think of Bull & Castle since it was done up?

I went in here for a pint when they reopened to have a look. The place looks grand (there was nothing wrong with it before to be fair) but I was disappointed they only had 4 or 5 craft beers on top & a greatly reduced bottle selection. I seen they have Amber Ella on tap now which is great news. Has anyone else been in? What do people think?

the beer revolu

For a review of a Beerhall and steakhouse there is little talk of the beer.
Not much opinion on the food either.
Did you actually eat and drink there or just pop your head in for a look?

Passenger

What have they changed exactly? Must mosey in for a gander at the weekend.

BeerNut

I'm in two minds. If I'd never been in the place before I'd probably love it: it's obvious that quite a bit of money has been spent and I like the stockyard-style lighting, that the long-redundant carvery area has been made into extra seats and that there's more of a consistent style about it, rather than the improvised conversion of a dodgy pub function room into a beer specialist by tacking some Delirium Tremens and Westmalle enamels on the wall. I haven't sat in the new banquette seating that goes around the edge, but it looks comfy.

The biggest downside for me is the death of the beerhall benches, replaced by low stools. I'd rather have back support than a soft seat: my arse can take the hardship; my spine less so. The beer selection is indeed reduced somewhat and -- shock, horror -- two each of Guinness and Heineken taps. But I get the impression that this is still a work in progress. The now-opaque cold room no longer has any draught gear in it and everything is pumped up two floors from the basement, so that's a reduction in capacity right away. Apparently there are plans to have a beer engine plumbed similarly. I hope they'll expand the draught selection a bit more, but I'm confident that there'll always be something I'll drink, and these days there are plenty of other places with the new stuff when it comes out. They've ceded some of the beer specialist ground to the Cottage Group and I doubt they're too bothered.

My two-mindedness is encapsulated by the gents: it no longer stinks, it's clean and everything works. But where there were two urinals, there's now only one. On a relatively quiet Wednesday night I had to queue for a wee. Twice. That's the bit that will still bug me after I've got used to everything else.

adamski8

Well the gents is a hige improvement despite the now 1 urinal. Who wants to piss that close to another man anyway. Rarely did i see two people there. It was never big enough for two. The whole gents though is way too small for the capacity. You would have thought they would have expanded it. The guinness and heino are a hugh dissapointment.

Seaneh

adamski8 wrote: »

Well the gents is a hige improvement despite the now 1 urinal. Who wants to piss that close to another man anyway. Rarely did i see two people there. It was never big enough for two. The whole gents though is way too small for the capacity. You would have thought they would have expanded it. The guinness and heino are a hugh dissapointment.

They have always had heino, maybe even guinness...

irish_goat

Seaneh wrote: »

They have always had heino, maybe even guinness...

Just one tap for each though...sometimes neither, depending on who was working.

the beer revolu

the beer revolu wrote: »

For a review of a Beerhall and steakhouse there is little talk of the beer.
Not much opinion on the food either.
Did you actually eat and drink there or just pop your head in for a look?

Popped in for a few pints on Easter Sunday. But ended up only having one & leaving. The new seating is very comfy & as beer nut said the place looks fantastic. I was never mad about Bull & Castle (I normally forgot it was there!) but it did provide a venue to have a good pint & watch a match before heading elsewhere. Hopefully they'll start putting more craft stuff on tap again.

Bigcheeze

adamski8 wrote: »

The guinness and heino are a hugh dissapointment.

Why, do they strap you to a dentist's chair and force you to drink it ?

BeerNut

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Why, do they strap you to a dentist's chair and force you to drink it ?

"Porter-boarding".

irish_goat

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Why, do they strap you to a dentist's chair and force you to drink it ?

2 more crap taps = 2 less craft taps.

Bigcheeze

irish_goat wrote: »

2 more crap taps = 2 less craft taps.

They get a lot of passing tourist traffic there so having G makes sense for them.

Also, if you've ever had trouble getting a group of friends to go there or the Porterhouse "because they don't have Guinness", this is actually good news for you.

Just because it's craft doesn't mean it's good. Plenty of forgettable craft pale ales have been coming to the market recently.

BeerNut

irish_goat wrote: »

2 more crap taps = 2 less craft taps.

Not sure about that. The macros aren't sharing tap space the way they used to: they're in a totally separate section further along the bar.

irish_goat

BeerNut wrote: »

Not sure about that. The macros aren't sharing tap space the way they used to: they're in a totally separate section further along the bar.

My assumption would be that Guinness and Heino offered a few incentives to the owners if they added an extra tap. Unless both taps are running off the same keg it means there's less room in the cellar for craft.

Bigcheeze wrote: »

They get a lot of passing tourist traffic there so having G makes sense for them.

Funnily enough, I found tourists were the ones more likely to drink craft beer in the B&C than locals. They've normally just done the Guinness tour, already had a pint of it and are open to trying whatever else is available. If they find a bar that doesn't sell the usual muck it's a lot more of a novelty than a regular Irish person would view it.

nosietoes

I think the focus is definitely shifting to being a gastro pub that serves cocktails and craft beer despite the bar men and their fondness of great beer.

The prominence of the double Guinness/Heineken is annoying but O'hara's has an equally if not more prominent tap with three of their beers.

The seating is definitely more sensible as the tables can be broken up into smaller groupings but I must say aesthetically the copper bar and ceiling drives me bonkers... I don't know if it's the reflection or the new lights but when sitting at the bar it's blinding and roasting hot.

It definitely made me feel like walking the bit further for a more chilled pint in The Headline.

maguic24

Deleted User wrote: »

I went in here for a pint when they reopened to have a look. The place looks grand (there was nothing wrong with it before to be fair) but I was disappointed they only had 4 or 5 craft beers on top & a greatly reduced bottle selection. I seen they have Amber Ella on tap now which is great news. Has anyone else been in? What do people think?

When did this happen?

maguic24

maguic24 wrote: »

When did this happen?

Was closed from 07/04-17th or 18th

longdicksilver

Was there and I thought it was great

Passenger

Do they still have the tables/seating outside?

BeerNut

Yes, it's just upstairs that's been renovated.

Dont be at yourself

Popped in last week to catch the football. Didn't notice much of a difference, except for the smaller selection, and cheaper prices (€4.50/pint).

It's a bit of a weird atmosphere: it's a little too stark and open, with too many high tables, to really settle in for a chat and a session, and despite the large projector, they wouldn't put the commentary on for the football, so they're not going to get the sports crowd either. Its function-room roots clearly show...

rubadub

BeerNut wrote: »

The biggest downside for me is the death of the beerhall benches, replaced by low stools.

Any time I have been there people have positively commented on the benches. I was there over christmas with a large group and everyone was remarking how good the benches were, it meant your chairs could not be easily nicked if you went off somewhere, and people found it easier to change around and sit next to several people over the course of the night, there was no "thats MY chair" business.

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Also, if you've ever had trouble getting a group of friends to go there or the Porterhouse "because they don't have Guinness", this is actually good news for you.

That's why I would welcome it, I doubt the large group I mentioned would have all agreed to go there if they didn't have them.

I am really surprised that the pubs who have no heineken on tap do not at least get the 5% imported bottles in, or import proper 5% kegs, which could possibly be cheaper than buying via the normal avenues, my local supervalu had 5% cans cheaper than the irish 4.3% next to it on the shelf. I know most heineken drinkers I know would make a point to go there if they did.

adamski8

irish_goat wrote: »

2 more crap taps = 2 less craft taps.

Exactly, i have to admit i didnt even notice they were there but i did notice not as many choices as before. i would have bet anyone before that they would be increasing their taps rather than decrease

Passenger

It's quite tidy now but the bar area is very bright and shiny with the copper background. It would be nice if they increased the selection on tap for sure but overall it's a decent redecoration.

Tenzor07

I actually liked it before the re-design....well, in particular the bar... now it's bright and open, which reminds me more of a hotel bar..

As mentioned, the Heino and Guinness taps are quite prominent at the bar, and seemed to be in regular use...

Left after a pint of Buckleys and headed up to the 57Headline bar instead, much much better selection of beers and no glare from shiny "Copper" plastic panels!