Nancys Gone Quiet?

MrLaurel

Had to meet up with a few friends from college who are back from abroad and we went to our college local, Nancy's. I've never seen it so quiet. What's going on? Got a shock when we went in there last night

Jimbob1977

I heard that House (previously Sin Bin) and The 101 (previously Bentleys) are taking a huge chunk of Nancy's business.

tototoe

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

I heard that House (previously Sin Bin) and The 101 (previously Bentleys) are taking a huge chunk of Nancy's business.

Nancy's was always uncomfortably packed, never enjoyed it like that. It's all a bit dated in Nancy's imo.
101 and Maggie choos are well done and run imo. Busy but loads of areas to move around. House is ok depending on what you are looking for.
The 27th can be quiet anyway as Stephens night is generally a big night out.

Gary Owen

Judging by the amount of empty kegs outside there this morning they had a very busy Christmas .

dominatinMC

MrLaurel wrote: »

Had to meet up with a few friends from college who are back from abroad and we went to our college local, Nancy's. I've never seen it so quiet. What's going on? Got a shock when we went in there last night

My friends and I used to frequent Nancys quite a lot up until this year (out of a lack of alternatives if I'm being honest), but I think all the new bars/nightclubs which have opened recently in Limerick have affected Nancys. As another poster alluded to, it was nearly always uncomfortably packed in Nancys, so we were only too happy to avail of the new alternatives. Over Christmas, we were up around Catherine St. in Ma Hogans, The Commercial, & Jerry Flannerys new bar, and they were all packed. 101 and House seemed to be busy most nights too, so maybe there is a shift away from Denmark St. towards other parts of town, which is no harm I guess.

Berty

Haven't been to Nancy's in so many years. I despised having to queue to get into a place you couldn't move in.

Now I tend to spend evenings further up the street passed Roche's street which years ago would have been unheard of. Now that's there's a lot of choice up there I won't be going near Nancy's again.

Stanford

As mentioned above, several new clubs have opened in Limerick in the last year or so in competition to Nancys who ,for years, have gotten away with packing people in like cattle at a mart if you are stupid enough to put up with that kind of treatment

Sinead Mc1

Same as above and it's no harm. Nancy's had the Monopoly on the pub scene for ages. They must have been raking it in but they never gave anything back. Don't think it's too much to ask that you can lock the door behind ya in the loo! The place was very run down in parts. Especially in comparison to the likes of 101 and House. People actually want to be comfortable on a night out! Maybe now they'll put some money into freshening it up.

Cookiemunster

Funnily enough they had a write up on thejournal.ie just before Christmas https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjixJihpMPfAhWoShUIHSALB68QzPwBegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejournal.ie%2Fnancy-blakes-limerick-4400154-Dec2018%2F&psig=AOvVaw0LNTqr2IPI8jSP2CfK1Dx7&ust=1546112561162382

They're probably not as busy as they used to be, but it's not exactly dead in there either. They're not in danger of closing any time soon.

Gallee

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

I heard that House (previously Sin Bin) and The 101 (previously Bentleys) are taking a huge chunk of Nancy's business.

Very true. Most of my gang have abandoned Nancy “Blokes” for the places that have actually spent money doing them up. 101 mostly. I was there in Nancies a few weeks ago on a Sunday night and the crowd was fair rough. Even lads in tracksuits which was unheard of a few years ago. Jerry Fla’s has a significant effect in Nancies too. All the girls in our group are not going to go back to the jacks that’s the same in 20 years and messy courtyard. Too many old guys hanging around looking for young ones the same age as their grandkids. Everything has a cycle I suppose but a renovation should be the first thing as the crowd isn’t going back there. Personally I like the place but the choice is bigger now.

The nightlife in Limerick is spread out these days and its great to see it. Was in 101 last night with friends who are home for Christmas. They couldn't get over how spoiled for choice they were when it came to late bars. When they left Ireland, Nancys would have been the spot for late pints if you wanted to avoid clubbing. Limerick night life has changed hugely in the last 2 years for the better. Long may it last.

johnmolloy554

Deep down, I still like the place for all it's "charms" but it's just not the place to be any more. The pints have never been good and the toilets need a total overhaul. When you compare the place to 101 and House, it's just not good enough any more. It's from the era when everyone drank pints of Bud and wore 501s.

Reputable Rog

Pints are dreadful there as they are in Tom Collins since they took over that place.

Mc Love

Some amount of choice when you think of it! No mention of the establishment though

Stab*City

Nancy's is a complete dump. Bouncers don't have a clue. The smell of farts and sweat in there on a busy night is something to behold.

Stab*City

Mc Love wrote: »

Some amount of choice when you think of it! No mention of the establishment though

Choice?? Now that's funny. 100 'late' bars with the same music/decor is not choice in my eyes.

badboyblast

Stab*City wrote: »

Choice?? Now that's funny. 100 'late' bars with the same music/decor is not choice in my eyes.

:D:D:D:D:D

Mc Love

Stab*City wrote: »

Choice?? Now that's funny. 100 'late' bars with the same music/decor is not choice in my eyes.

Its better than having everyone squeezed into one bar! At least there's newer places to go, and I include Ma Hogans in that too.

PetKing

101 and House are not the natural successors to Nancy's. Very different crowds go to both. There's the air of Snapchat Instagram socialites to both you just don't get in Nancy's. I've no time for pubs up their hole about what they are, who I should be, and how I should dress in 2019.

Berty

PetKing wrote: »

I've no time for pubs up their hole about what they are, who I should be, and how I should dress in 2019.

Your comment reminds of the late 90s. As a bloke if you weren't wearing black shoes and trousers you weren't getting in. Some places wouldn't let you in in Jeans FFS.

ongarboy

I think what has happened is that the next generation (ie those under 25 or maybe even under 30) never started going to Nancy's in the first place and opted for other/newer establishments/venues. The crowd who treated Nancy's (i.e. over 30s) as their local gradually fizzled out as marriage, children, mortgages, creche fees, middle age etc took over. The fact that Nancy's never reinvented itself is a double edged sword - for some, it's a tired, stuck in a time warp venue that hasn't moved with the times which will still appeal to some (a shrinking some) for nostalgia but for others (subsequent generations), it will not be on their radar if it doesn't meet what they considered minimum standards. If Nancy's clientele doesn't generate buzz or trends on social media then it might as well not exist to anyone who has grown up in a world where a social media presence is the bare minimum for awareness/engagement/endorsement etc.

The descriptions in other posts on fashion and drink choice, methods for hooking up (either through wanted or unwanted advances) and acceptable toilet and hygiene standards etc suggest Nancy's golden days are over. The days of singing along in unison to "Don't Look Back in Anger" while spilling Bud on your mates boot cut jeans are numbered!

Stab*City

Mc Love wrote: »

Its better than having everyone squeezed into one bar! At least there's newer places to go, and I include Ma Hogans in that too.

I don't mind squeezing into a bar if its worth it. Which Nancy's isn't. Why cant any of these venues go out on a limb and try something different. All copying each other. The outback, The courtyard the f**king back alley more like. And whats the deal with all the stupid animal names? The spotted dog, the black wolf, the pink unicorn. Are the venues so unoriginal they cant even come up with a name that does not involve the hue of an animals coat? The only decent acts they book are 20 years out of popular culture anyway.

PetKing wrote: »

I've no time for pubs up their hole about what they are, who I should be, and how I should dress in 2019.

Same.

Berty wrote: »

Your comment reminds of the late 90s. As a bloke if you weren't wearing black shoes and trousers you weren't getting in. Some places wouldn't let you in in Jeans FFS.

Isn't it awful thats its 2019 and the bouncers of Nancy's et al still have the mentality of 25 years ago?!?!

Berty

Stab*City wrote: »

And whats the deal with all the stupid animal names? The spotted dog, the black wolf, the pink unicorn. Are the venues so unoriginal they cant even come up with a name that does not involve the hue of an animals coat?

It goes back 100's of years when people were not educated much or at all and catered for those who couldn't read "good" :pac:

Pictures of the taverns on the signs(which they still do in the UK) would be of, lets says a "Spotted Dog", so you'd recognise it by the picture and not the words on it.

Traditions die hard.

Stab*City

Berty wrote: »

It goes back 100's of years when people were not educated much or at all and catered for those who couldn't read "good" :pac:

Pictures of the taverns on the signs(which they still do in the UK) would be of, lets says a "Spotted Dog", so you'd recognise it by the picture and not the words on it.

Traditions die hard.

Ok so there was a point to it, in bloody 1745! Its 2019 now like. The red hen, the lone wolf, the black dog. Anyway i guess my point is its all the same old hack here in Limerick and no wonder Nancy's is going down hill, they never bothered to evolve, some would say that's the beauty of it course they would they have so much time invested in the place.

topper75

Stab*City wrote: »

Ok so there was a point to it, in bloody 1745! Its 2019 now like. The red hen, the lone wolf, the black dog.

Hey! :mad: You are insulting people like me in 2019 who don't read good when they are blathered.

Cookiemunster

Stab*City wrote: »

Isn't it awful thats its 2019 and the bouncers of Nancy's et al still have the mentality of 25 years ago?!?!

I don't head into town too often these days, but I used to be a regular and always found the bouncers to be grand in Nancy's. Especially compared to the crowd across the road in Smyths.

What did you do to get on their bad side?

Mc Love

Apparently they had plans to develop the mill building beside Nancys but I'm not sure why that never got off the ground.

liam7831

Mc Love wrote:

Apparently they had plans to develop the mill building beside Nancys but I'm not sure why that never got off the ground.

It ground to a halt

Persiancowboy

As someone who left Limerick a long time ago (was home for a couple of days over Christmas) I find the idea of bouncers in Nancy Blake's absolutely hilarious!!

We were often brought there a small children as my parents and wider family knew Nancy quite well .....back then it was the most sedate pub you could imagine.

Been in there a few times in intervening years when it was taken over by her son Donal. It had acquired a reputation as a "trendy or cool" place to drink by then but still scratching my head as to why bouncers needed there!!

Are the Mulcahys still running it?

Cookiemunster

Persiancowboy wrote: »

As someone who left Limerick a long time ago (was home for a couple of days over Christmas) I find the idea of bouncers in Nancy Blake's absolutely hilarious!!

We were often brought there a small children as my parents and wider family knew Nancy quite well .....back then it was the most sedate pub you could imagine.

Been in there a few times in intervening years when it was taken over by her son Donal. It had acquired a reputation as a "trendy or cool" place to drink by then but still scratching my head as to why bouncers needed there!!

Are the Mulcahys still running it?

Yeah Donal Mulcahy still runs it and has expanded his empire to include Tom Collins' and the Woodfield Arms.

As to why it needs bouncers, well hundreds of drunk people in one of the citys largest pubs means that there's going to be trouble at some stage. And where it's located you try to also keep trouble out. The same as any large pub in the city center.

badboyblast

Burger King has bouncers in Limerick!!

Berty

Cant believe it could be legally allowed have the occupancy without bouncers due to licensing laws.

Also drunks being drunks it's really needed.

bar32

Slightly off topic but I blundered into Icon there on Sunday the 30th...for old times sake - hadn't been there in all of 2018 I reckon (which is great since I'm over 30 now and should know better!!). There was literally myself and my friend there when we walked in - only downstairs open (which is fair enough for a Sunday). Nobody came in during the 20 mins it took to drink a pint. Was chatting to the bar man and he said they only opened the 2nd floor twice during Christmas. Was really shocked by this. Remember the place being wedged every night over Christmas for the last 5 - 6 years (Can't comment on 2017/2018 as I wasn't around much). Can definitely see this place in trouble if that's the case.

Mc Love

Apparently if you play in a band that plays in Smyth's, they dont allow you play anywhere else in the city. Hope that comes back to bite them in the ass

BoardAtWork

Mc Love wrote: »

Apparently if you play in a band that plays in Smyth's, they dont allow you play anywhere else in the city. Hope that comes back to bite them in the ass

Yup, I've heard that too.

Apparently, some of musicians set up bands with different names but similar members to get around it.

dominatinMC

bar32 wrote: »

Slightly off topic but I blundered into Icon there on Sunday the 30th...for old times sake - hadn't been there in all of 2018 I reckon (which is great since I'm over 30 now and should know better!!). There was literally myself and my friend there when we walked in - only downstairs open (which is fair enough for a Sunday). Nobody came in during the 20 mins it took to drink a pint. Was chatting to the bar man and he said they only opened the 2nd floor twice during Christmas. Was really shocked by this. Remember the place being wedged every night over Christmas for the last 5 - 6 years (Can't comment on 2017/2018 as I wasn't around much). Can definitely see this place in trouble if that's the case.

Can't say I'm saddened to hear this, the staff (well, mainly the bouncers) were always a shower of pricks in there. In the good old days, they would turn people away for any little thing which they didn't like...in a cruel twist of irony, it sounds like they are desperate for custom now.

ongarboy

dominatinMC wrote: »

Can't say I'm saddened to hear this, the staff (well, mainly the bouncers) were always a shower of pricks in there. In the good old days, they would turn people away for any little thing which they didn't like...in a cruel twist of irony, it sounds like they are desperate for custom now.

Well, as long as they have the rule for men whereby they forbid trainers, no matter how stylish, expensive or good they look and that you can only wear cheap black shoes (preferably purchased in Guineys or Shoe Zone and worn with white socks) then it's going to be off-putting.

Seriously though, nightclubs of the 1990s/2000s variety seem to be failing everywhere (apart from a handful in Dublin like Coppers that have the bigger population to support them). It's all late bars with dance floor/DJs. Tralee used to have 3 clubs similar to Icon and now has none. The legendary Club 92 in South County Dublin has also shut down due to lack of attendance.

Smart phones, social media, dating and hook up apps are a factor I think. Previously, clubs were virtually one of the few places you could potentially hook up with someone whereas it can be done anywhere and anytime through online means now. Millennials don't have a precedent or history of going clubbing every week so the demand is simply not there. If a club is deserted on one or two visits, you will most likely never go to it again either which further kills off a place.

brendanwalsh

Nancy's and icon are dead
House and 101 are the new kids on the block and thank God for that.
Nancy's made plenty coin for what was essentially an alley with a plastic roof.
the sickening smell of smoke on my clothes every time I went there is something I won't ever forget. Horrible horrible place.
Limerick is booming and people have money and house and 101 offer a classy trendy option to people who don't want to come home reeking of cigarettes and old man body odor. RIP Nancy blokes.

Sittingpretty

Persiancowboy wrote: »

As someone who left Limerick a long time ago (was home for a couple of days over Christmas) I find the idea of bouncers in Nancy Blake's absolutely hilarious!!

We were often brought there a small children as my parents and wider family knew Nancy quite well .....back then it was the most sedate pub you could imagine.

Been in there a few times in intervening years when it was taken over by her son Donal. It had acquired a reputation as a "trendy or cool" place to drink by then but still scratching my head as to why bouncers needed there!!

Are the Mulcahys still running it?

Same here, I remember eating tayto and drinking orange in the front bar after the market on a Saturday morning.

In my 20’s Nancy herself was still alive and it was our place of choice to end up every weekend. I used to sit at the top of the stairs with her dog.

We stopped going when it started to become WAY to popular and you had to be dressed like you’re going to a wedding AND queue to get in!

I’m an aul wan at 41 now though! I like a seat by the fire and a toilet with a lock!

Cookiemunster

brendanwalsh wrote: »

Nancy's and icon are dead
House and 101 are the new kids on the block and thank God for that.
Nancy's made plenty coin for what was essentially an alley with a plastic roof.
the sickening smell of smoke on my clothes every time I went there is something I won't ever forget. Horrible horrible place.
Limerick is booming and people have money and house and 101 offer a classy trendy option to people who don't want to come home reeking of cigarettes and old man body odor. RIP Nancy blokes.

Haha. If you hated is so much, why did you keep going back? Anyways it's going nowhere. It's not as busy as it used to be, but the odd time I pop in it's still busy. And if you didn't want the stink of cigarettes on your clothes, then maybe you should have stayed in one of the non smoking areas. You're obviously too young to remember what it was like before the smoking ban.

And as for House, if I want to pay €6 for a pint I'll head to Dublin. No thanks.

tommy249

brendanwalsh wrote: »

Nancy's and icon are dead
House and 101 are the new kids on the block and thank God for that.
Nancy's made plenty coin for what was essentially an alley with a plastic roof.
the sickening smell of smoke on my clothes every time I went there is something I won't ever forget. Horrible horrible place.
Limerick is booming and people have money and house and 101 offer a classy trendy option to people who don't want to come home reeking of cigarettes and old man body odor. RIP Nancy blokes.

Is 101 not owned by the same crowd that own Icon and Smyths?

brendanwalsh

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Haha. If you hated is so much, why did you keep going back? Anyways it's going nowhere. It's not as busy as it used to be, but the odd time I pop in it's still busy. And if you didn't want the stink of cigarettes on your clothes, then maybe you should have stayed in one of the non smoking areas. You're obviously too young to remember what it was like before the smoking ban.

And as for House, if I want to pay €6 for a pint I'll head to Dublin. No thanks.

Ah, an old fogey hanging onto nostalgia. Nothing wrong with that. We will agree to disagree. I didn't keep going back, once I realised it was a glorified smoke stenched alley dressed up as a pub I abstained from going.

I'd be willing to be Nancy's will be gone in the next 24 months, heard off a few people that they're struggling. BTW, I could have gone to the small cramped non smoking sections, but that wouldn't have helped avoid the stench of BO and piss that was in every section!

RocketRaccoon

bar32 wrote: »

Slightly off topic but I blundered into Icon there on Sunday the 30th...for old times sake - hadn't been there in all of 2018 I reckon (which is great since I'm over 30 now and should know better!!). There was literally myself and my friend there when we walked in - only downstairs open (which is fair enough for a Sunday). Nobody came in during the 20 mins it took to drink a pint. Was chatting to the bar man and he said they only opened the 2nd floor twice during Christmas. Was really shocked by this. Remember the place being wedged every night over Christmas for the last 5 - 6 years (Can't comment on 2017/2018 as I wasn't around much). Can definitely see this place in trouble if that's the case.

Delighted to read this. A horrible clubs run by horrible people with horrible ***** on the door.

I worked there for a while when I was younger and I can honestly say it was the worst job I ever had. The managers were disgusting human beings and I understand the older guy is still there managing the place.

dominatinMC

tommy249 wrote: »

Is 101 not owned by the same crowd that own Icon and Smyths?

Think so. The same guy owns Texas Steakout as well, and a few other places around Limerick. Can't think of the name though..

Gary Owen

dominatinMC wrote: »

Think so. The same guy owns Texas Steakout as well, and a few other places around Limerick. Can't think of the name though..

Tony Enright.

Cookiemunster

brendanwalsh wrote: »

Ah, an old fogey hanging onto nostalgia. Nothing wrong with that. We will agree to disagree. I didn't keep going back, once I realised it was a glorified smoke stenched alley dressed up as a pub I abstained from going.

I'd be willing to be Nancy's will be gone in the next 24 months, heard off a few people that they're struggling. BTW, I could have gone to the small cramped non smoking sections, but that wouldn't have helped avoid the stench of BO and piss that was in every section!

Jesus, that's the first time I've ever been called an old fogey! I though I had to be at least 20 years older before I qualified for that term :eek:

Listen kid, it's nothing at all to do with nostalgia. I don't actually go there that often anymore, but your hatred of the place is a bit OTT. I've been to (and like) 101. Same with the Commercial. House thought is something that Limerick has always had one of. A bar that has notions, charging Dublin prices, full of Limericks wannabes. Funnily enough Clohesseys was the same when it first opened at the same location. Same with Aubars at the start.

BTW Donal Mulcahy also owns Tom Collins and the Woodfield. He's doing quite well. As I said Nancys will be fine.

RocketRaccoon

I'd be willing to wager that House will be closed before Nancys.

Irish_rat

Don't drink as much these days, but when I venture out have noticed the massive difference in Limerick's nightlife. Used to go to Nancy's few times a week before wouldn't touch the place now given the much better alternatives.

101 is good and the bar just opened next door is even better. House offers something different and you could spend literally the whole night up that side of town. Costello's was packed for the nights I was out over the Christmas!

Reputable Rog

brendanwalsh wrote: »

Ah, an old fogey hanging onto nostalgia. Nothing wrong with that. We will agree to disagree. I didn't keep going back, once I realised it was a glorified smoke stenched alley dressed up as a pub I abstained from going.

I'd be willing to be Nancy's will be gone in the next 24 months, heard off a few people that they're struggling. BTW, I could have gone to the small cramped non smoking sections, but that wouldn't have helped avoid the stench of BO and piss that was in every section!

How much are you willing to bet?

Reputable Rog

dominatinMC wrote: »

Think so. The same guy owns Texas Steakout as well, and a few other places around Limerick. Can't think of the name though..

Kieran Enright from Ennis owns Smyths and was previously a partner in Reardens in Cork.
He had a similar but smaller bar in Ennis back in the day.

nim1bdeh38l2cw

Nancy's need to fix the jacks, they're a disgrace in this day and age!