Wetherspoons - The Great Wood

AlanG

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/agribusiness-and-food/jd-wetherspoon-to-open-pub-in-blanchardstown-1.2003900

I know this is mentioned in the Light Nightclub thread but it really deserves a thread of it's own.

Cheap food and drink. Good selection of craft beers. Possibly no music or TVs. Here is a selection of the likely deals:
http://www.jdwetherspoon.ie/flash/flipping-book/#/16/

Biggest issue will be what type of crowd they get but i could see this taking a lot of food business in the center during the day. How they manage the night crowd will make or break the place.

TheDoctor

Big fan of the one that open in Blackrock over the summer.
Food is decent and priced reasonably, but the price for drink is mental!
Place is fairly busy even throughout the weekdays.

jeffk

As I said in that thread if they get any of the crowd the Budda bar got then they are finished

Hopefully it’s something different from what we have and not just well it’s cheaper to drink here so let’s go here.

oblivious

AlanG wrote: »

i could see this taking a lot of food business in the center during the day. How they manage the night crowd will make or break the place.

Spoons are the largest sell of coffee in the UK, I could see then taking some of that business from the center


Also there craft beer options and cask ale too, that with the meal promotions (curry Thursday) it's is a good day for the consumers

ongarboy

I'd say the demographic who go to Wetherspoons is more family or meals oriented. Not sure that will attract a crowd that just want to go boozing all day and who may or may not be prone to causing trouble. I'd imagine such types would find Wetherspoons a bit too sedate and boring for their liking.

I think this type of outlet will be a welcome addition to D15.

jeffk

Think a merger of threads or comments from the Light thread is needed

oblivious

If we can also get Galway Bay brewery to take over the old Grayhound pub too, I would be a very very happy man

Larbre34

I've been in the Three Tun Tavern (Wetherspoons) in Blackrock a few times. Its much better for a quick pint and a bite after work or on a weekend afternoon than a night out.

No idea what style they might apply to the new bar in Blanch, but as far as Blackrock goes I would say:

Pros:

Cheap drink (Pints typically €2.50, but can be down to 1.99 and 400ml soft drinks are 1.25)

Cheap food (good variety and fair standard too, you would get TGIs style dishes for 50% less)

Clean and well run (it is a new bar still though)

Cons

Stock management (in Blackrock they have been cleaned out of their more interesting beers on several occasions, this is mainly due to a resurgent after work crowd, and no doubt will improved when they review their growth)

Atmosphere (It feels like a combination between a family food place and an airport. No pub like buzz even when full in the evening)

Lack of table service (Yes, they are keeping costs down, but everyone who wants a pint or food as to queue at the same bar, which can get very congested and which means there isnt a bar as such in the place, its just a counter)

Toto Wolfcastle

If they have decent management they should be able to keep any trouble away. They will probably attract troublemakers because they sell cheap alcohol but if they manage that from the start it should be okay. Wetherspoons are generally hit and miss. I've been in two of them and they were awful but others seem to be fine. A bit of competition is always good and hopefully the spread of Wetherspoons will mean better value in other pubs.

oblivious

Larbre34 wrote: »

Atmosphere (It feels like a combination between a family food place and an airport. No pub like buzz even when full in the evening)

Lack of table service (Yes, they are keeping costs down, but everyone who wants a pint or food as to queue at the same bar, which can get very congested and which means there isnt a bar as such in the place, its just a counter)

That's standard spoons experience. They always come across to me as some where to get a meal or have a few pint, not really for some where to send a whole night.

AlanG

oblivious wrote: »

If we can also get Galway Bay brewery to take over the old Grayhound pub too, I would be a very very happy man

I was surprised that they didn't go for the greyhound but I guess being in the center should give them much more food business. Galway bay would be great for the Greyhound alright.

oblivious

AlanG wrote: »

I was surprised that they didn't go for the greyhound but I guess being in the center should give them much more food business. Galway bay would be great for the Greyhound alright.

I had passed it on to them so who know, but they opened a pub in Rathgar the other week

Tiger Mcilroy

AlanG wrote: »

I was surprised that they didn't go for the greyhound but I guess being in the center should give them much more food business. Galway bay would be great for the Greyhound alright.

Isnt the greyhound owned by superquinn though and in fairness the interior was fairly tatty they last time i was in there and would they want to invest in somebody else property...anyways if they are going to give an alternative to the city centre prices being charged by the likes of the bell and roselawn then its only a good thing.

dodzy

jeffk wrote: »

As I said in that thread if they get any of the crowd the Budda bar got then they are finished

Hopefully it’s something different from what we have and not just well it’s cheaper to drink here so let’s go here.

A harsh reality Jeff. If they don't police it correctly from the outset, it'll be in the toilet in no time as there'll be no shortage of lurchers folk, that I personally would not let within an asses roar of the place, queuing on opening day. Nothing surer.

Larbre34

So which are the well run pubs with the decent crowds in the area? Any of the ones Ive dropped into in Blanch village have been sketchy.

amdublin

Any free wifi?

If not I can see no reason I'd have a coffee there during the day.

As for drinking there at night - no atmosphere, no amdublin

R1_Pete

oblivious wrote: »

If we can also get Galway Bay brewery to take over the old Grayhound pub too, I would be a very very happy man

I thought exactly that as I drove by it last night!! Would love it!

miamee

I see the Greyhound are opening back up soon. Looking for waiting and kitchen staff so I guess it will be a restaurant of some description. I wonder if the new owners/licencees knew about Wetherspoons before they went for it?!

Murt10

miamee wrote: »

I see the Greyhound are opening back up soon. Looking for waiting and kitchen staff so I guess it will be a restaurant of some description. I wonder if the new owners/licencees knew about Wetherspoons before they went for it?!

Same crowd as run Paidi Ogs, I believe. Short term lease, so they can exit it as soon as they like or the competition becomes too much.

L1011

amdublin wrote: »

Any free wifi?

If not I can see no reason I'd have a coffee there during the day.

As for drinking there at night - no atmosphere, no amdublin

Pretty sure there is, and it also goes out on a UK IP address rather than an Irish one due to kit being shipped over from HQ.

R1_Pete

Larbre34 wrote: »

So which are the well run pubs with the decent crowds in the area? Any of the ones Ive dropped into in Blanch village have been sketchy.

Strawberry Hall..

chucknorris

The Bell is still the number 1 pub in my book.

It has a bar for the old fogies, a lounge for the young and good looking people like myself, a function room for events that seem to be booked every single week, a really good food set-up and the staff are there a long time and have built up a rapport with customers.

It's a decent night on winter nights and excellent outside on summer days.

oblivious

R1_Pete wrote: »

I thought exactly that as I drove by it last night!! Would love it!

Yes it would, but spoons will proved some proper competition for pubs and choice for consumers. There range is not Galway bay but its a hell of a lot better than the Diageo et al cosy cartel that is Irish pubs

Nicoleye

I'm taking from this that it wouldn't be a late bar so, even though I tend to be in the city centre a late bar wouldn't go astray in blanch (apart from status *shudder*)

Larbre34

Nicoleye wrote: »

I'm taking from this that it wouldn't be a late bar so, even though I tend to be in the city centre a late bar wouldn't go astray in blanch (apart from status *shudder*)

1 a.m. closing in the Blackrock Wetherspoons, food available till 11 p.m.

Not to say thats what they will do in Blanch but its not unprecedented

oblivious

Looks like planing has been granted with a few conditions

http://planning.fingalcoco.ie/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=FW14A/0148&theTabNo=2

oblivious

Work has started on the new premises this week

septictank

oblivious wrote: »

Work has started on the new premises this week

The lads arrived over the weekend and some are staying with a friend of mine who has a B+B, booked in for 7 weeks.

Gerlad

The pub will be called The Great Wood and hopes to open in June. No live music but there will be sports shown if on terrestial TV. The Paddy Powers beside it will be kept relatively busy so.

miamee

http://publin.ie/2015/the-wetherspoons-in-blanchardstown-has-name/

Listed there. They've a new Facebook page too but I can't link to it now.

Zaph

Facebook page here and Twitter here

ongarboy

Opening date for Wetherspoons The Great Wood mentioned as June 23rd below with another one in Swords next month.

http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/jd-wetherspoon-ireland-2113344-May2015/

oblivious

ongarboy wrote: »

Opening date for Wetherspoons The Great Wood mentioned as June 23rd below with another one in Swords next month.

http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/jd-wetherspoon-ireland-2113344-May2015/

That has been pushed back to the 30th of this month, according to their twitter feed

Larbre34

The Great Wood? Really? Spoonies are supposed to be into their local connections for names. Who in Blanch has a massive wood right now?

oblivious

Larbre34 wrote: »

The Great Wood? Really? Spoonies are supposed to be into their local connections for names. Who in Blanch has a massive wood right now?

The Great Scaldwood is its proper title. Part of the forest would have been in the area of where the blanchardstown centre now resides. Old Irish forest that was maintained by the local lords till Cromwell came. One of the last wolf's in Ireland was killed there.

The name was also chosen by public pole in the Northside people I believe

oblivious

Looks like we are to have a beer garden at Blanchy Spoons

dodzy

The Great Scaldwood

Blanchy Spoons - I can see that sticking

Beta Canis Majoris

Great to see some more jobs being created in the local economy, but I have heard mixed opinions on how they treat staff.

dickwod1

Lets reserve judgement and wait til the place opens and we see for ourselves.

dodzy

dickwod1 wrote: »

Lets reserve judgement and wait til the place opens and we see for ourselves.

Let's do one better, and go there opening day/evening and see for ourselves?

A "D15 Boards Blancy Blanchy Spoons Brigade"......of sorts

Dravokivich

I second the motion!

dodzy

Dravokivich wrote: »

I second the motion!

Let's do it so!

30th June looks like the date ? So, who's on board ??????

( Can't beat a Tuesday evening beer ! )

Gaspode

Sounds suspiciously like a plan......

Dobbit

Drove past it last night after the cinema and it was all lit up inside, looking really well!

Polar101

oblivious wrote: »

Looks like we are to have a beer garden at Blanchy Spoons

While I like beer gardens, I don't think the Blanchy Spoons garden will be that great, unless one likes to watch cars passing by.

oblivious

Polar101 wrote: »

While I like beer gardens, I don't think the Blanchy Spoons garden will be that great, unless one likes to watch cars passing by.

The cheap pints will do me fine

Arciphel

Lads, I have a few tickets for the soft opening of The Great Wood this Saturday. Complimentary meal and a drink, times are between 4pm and 5.45pm. It's a good opportunity to see the place, and gives the staff a chance to iron out any wrinkles. If people want tickets drops me a PM, I'll give preference to people who have posted in this thread ;-)

jeffk

Arciphel wrote: »

Lads, I have a few tickets for the soft opening of The Great Wood this Saturday. Complimentary meal and a drink, times are between 4pm and 5.45pm. It's a good opportunity to see the place, and gives the staff a chance to iron out any wrinkles. If people want tickets drops me a PM, I'll give preference to people who have posted in this thread ;-)

Fek it, at some day after wedding carry on, would have loved to go :mad:

Fair play to you!

amdublin

Arciphel wrote: »

Lads, I have a few tickets for the soft opening of The Great Wood this Saturday. Complimentary meal and a drink, times are between 4pm and 5.45pm. It's a good opportunity to see the place, and gives the staff a chance to iron out any wrinkles. If people want tickets drops me a PM, I'll give preference to people who have posted in this thread ;-)

Oh yes please!!!!!

amdublin

amdublin wrote: »

Any free wifi?

If not I can see no reason I'd have a coffee there during the day.

As for drinking there at night - no atmosphere, no amdublin

There's my post

Arciphel

amdublin wrote: »

Oh yes please!!!!!

drop me an oul PM so!