Athlone thread

Lewis_Benson

veryangryman wrote: »

When the 60 second walk to the fair green car park is considered "bad location no parking" , i despair.

People want to park their car beside the table at the restaurant.

flazio

Or at least on the same side of the road as their destination. Imagine having to wait for a gap in traffic or the green man on the traffic lights in the pouring rain trying to cross from the car park to the restaurant. It'd certainly put me off.

Lewis_Benson

Lewis_Benson wrote: »

People want to park their car beside the table at the restaurant.

I recently rebuilt part of the driveway to allow people to park right up to the front door as the missus was convinced we would get more visitors if they can be closer to the door.:rolleyes:

Made no difference though....

L.Jenkins

Might be a market for a drive through Chinese take away :P

Blanco100

seems to be a few pubs on west side of town taking the mick in terms of food offerings.

Castle Inn and Snug are very busy I see, also noticed the fiddlers is open. Wonder are the guards just leaving them at it?

Lewis_Benson

flazio wrote: »

Or at least on the same side of the road as their destination. Imagine having to wait for a gap in traffic or the green man on the traffic lights in the pouring rain trying to cross from the car park to the restaurant. It'd certainly put me off.

Hmmm
Not sure if serious or taking the piss...

veryangryman

Blanco100 wrote: »

seems to be a few pubs on west side of town taking the mick in terms of food offerings.

Castle Inn and Snug are very busy I see, also noticed the fiddlers is open. Wonder are the guards just leaving them at it?

Rule of thumb is that they check places around 11ish from my observations. Rest of day the places are increasingly aware they won't get checked so....

White lighting

Blanco100 wrote: »

seems to be a few pubs on west side of town taking the mick in terms of food offerings.

Castle Inn and Snug are very busy I see, also noticed the fiddlers is open. Wonder are the guards just leaving them at it?

What rules are these pubs breaking? As far as I am aware all three pubs you are trying to slander are adhering to the ridiculous government guidelines.

Blanco100

White lighting wrote: »

What rules are these pubs breaking? As far as I am aware all three pubs you are trying to slander are adhering to the ridiculous government guidelines.

are the fiddlers serving food? genuine question. Not trying to slander anyone.

White lighting

Blanco100 wrote: »

are the fiddlers serving food? genuine question. Not trying to slander anyone.

I was away all weekend so wasn't in but speaking to a barman who works in the fiddlers they were make food upstairs and serve to customers downstairs. Pizza oven and other equipment were added to the premises last week.

Blanco100

White lighting wrote: »

I was away all weekend so wasn't in but speaking to a barman who works in the fiddlers they were make food upstairs and serve to customers downstairs. Pizza oven and other equipment were added to the premises last week.

genuinely had no idea the fiddlers served food.

flazio

They didn't pre crisis but you got to move with the times.

veryangryman

The land that was st mels park has been sitting there left to waste for 15 years now. Why has it not been repurposed or used for something else? Seems a waste.

flazio

veryangryman wrote: »

The land that was st mels park has been sitting there left to waste for 15 years now. Why has it not been repurposed or used for something else? Seems a waste.

Any ideas? Bear in mind it's still very close to an area with strong anti social behaviour so it would need to be able to resist that.

veryangryman

True but that thinking would have stopped the Greenway, Sports Centre and the New pitch being built.

It seems such a waste

L.Jenkins

The grass area where Saint Mels once was, is big enough to house a few apartment blocks. Well designed and decent looking apartments of course. Space in Athlone isn't exactly in short supply, but 2 and 3 bed houses are a dime a dozen.


Makes me wonder, when is the 600+ houses between the sports centre and garrycastle expected to begin? That's if it's still going ahead.

Mearings

L.Jenkins wrote: »

The grass area where Saint Mels once was, is big enough to house a few apartment blocks. Well designed and decent looking apartments of course. Space in Athlone isn't exactly in short supply, but 2 and 3 bed houses are a dime a dozen.


Makes me wonder, when is the 600+ houses between the sports centre and garrycastle expected to begin? That's if it's still going ahead.

Don't forget they have to build the bicycle bridge first. Housing provision should not interfere with more important Co. Council schemes.

cena

Has Mardyke frames closed down?

L.Jenkins

cena wrote: »

Has Mardyke frames closed down?

I assume you're referring to the shop across from the Office Centre, near the bistro. It unfortunately appears that they have in fact closed. A shame really, as my family would even use their services when they were on Connaught street back in the 90's

cena

L.Jenkins wrote: »

I assume you're referring to the shop across from the Office Centre, near the bistro. It unfortunately appears that they have in fact closed. A shame really, as my family would even use their services when they were on Connaught street back in the 90's

That's the one. Shame. Lovely family to deal with

toodleytoo

Is Maisies going to open back up? Their website seems to be gone.

L.Jenkins

Is Maisies what the Palace Bar used to be? There's a handful of buildings in town that seems to be cursed. No business that occupies them for a time seems to last.

Murdoc90

L.Jenkins wrote: »

Is Maisies what the Palace Bar used to be? There's a handful of buildings in town that seems to be cursed. No business that occupies them for a time seems to last.

Yep, Maisies was doing very well pre covid, was great to see. They had just introduced Handsome Burger from Galway upstairs too.

L.Jenkins

It makes me wonder now, what the future has in store for pubs and restaurants, especially those of the rural kind. The occasional economic crash has hurt businesses in the past, but a pandemic dragging on this long surely will do more than just sting.

flazio

Once the pandemic is over something has to take its place. It might not be what was there originally but something has to go there.

carq

it is odd that maisies have not reopened ?
they have food on site

L.Jenkins

L.Jenkins wrote: »

It makes me wonder now, what the future has in store for pubs and restaurants, especially those of the rural kind. The occasional economic crash has hurt businesses in the past, but a pandemic dragging on this long surely will do more than just sting.

I think it will be more to do with their return on investment than anything else, if a business had spent (borrowed) a large sum recently, then the lockdown will have a far more adverse affect on them, sufficient to kill them off.
Where as a long established business with few debts will be far more able to ride out the storm.

horseofstone

Great win for Athlone Town fc in the fai Cup tonight winning 5-3 in extra time over wexford youths. Well done to all concerned.

veryangryman

horseofstone wrote: »

Great win for Athlone Town fc in the fai Cup tonight winning 5-3 in extra time over wexford youths. Well done to all concerned.

Cmon the town! Good to see some decent news here

flazio

Noticed this weekend that the Great Gas self service pumps beside Ganlys are gone. Shame that, saved my bacon once when I had an unexpected airport run when a delayed flight landed after the last bus.