Are Wetherspoons buying Fowlers in Malahide?

antimatterx

I've heard rumours that Wetherspoons are interested in buying Fowlers in Malahide. Does anyone have any insight into this?

I hope it's not true as it will really cheapen the village.

pinkypinky

Agreed it's sub-optimal but nothing the public can do about it if so, beyond not frequenting it.

endacl

Tell that to all the young fellas looking for cheap pints.

antimatterx

antimatterx wrote: »

I've heard rumours that Wetherspoons are interested in buying Fowlers in Malahide. Does anyone have any insight into this?

I hope it's not true as it will really cheapen the village.

I wouldn't say it has cheapened Blackrock.

Anyway, if I was JD I wouldn't be rushing into any major purchases in the current climate.

PCros

They bought The Old Borough in Swords and I think they've done a better job than the last proprietors.

Spanish Eyes

The Forty Foot in DL is a nice enough spot. Lovely views and outdoor space (very important these days). I wouldn't be a snob about it, diversity is good. As long as it is well run, it's a choice for those who may enjoy cheaper drinks in Malahide. It is not Cannes we are talking about here.

The Forty Foot does not have seats at the bar either, it is all table service even before Covid. Will come back very easily whereas other places might not be in a position to do so as quickly.

L1011

The Forty Foot feels like drinking on a ferry. I initially compared it to an airport bar, but they have more life to them.

odyssey06

L1011 wrote: »

The Forty Foot feels like drinking on a ferry. I initially compared it to an airport bar, but they have more life to them.

Some of us like drinking on ferries, and this is the closest thing on dry land to it

I've been there some sunny fridays where if anything the balcony had too much life to it!
Wish I was there now...

But in terms of Malahide ... it seems a bit smaller in size than the other spoons location. And Gibneys is already there. Spoons as well could be a bit overwhelming.

scoobydude

L1011 wrote: »

The Forty Foot feels like drinking on a ferry. I initially compared it to an airport bar, but they have more life to them.

The one in swords is the same. Kip

Inquitus

scoobydude wrote: »

The one in swords is the same. Kip

Aye I went once, early days, never been back.

The Davestator

scoobydude wrote: »

The one in swords is the same. Kip

It has its place! I like it as a group meet up as there are loads of tables and never an issue with space in my experience. Few cheap pints where the music is not overbearing and you can have a chat is a good thing IMO.
I realise its not a popular opinion but I really don't care!

cbreeze

I've tried the DL one (inside) and the Silver Penny in Abbey St. Not yet to Swords one. Security at the Abbey St one said they can fit 920 customers. JDW will most likely go for a large site so they can recoup the small markup on their beers.

If you have about 10 to 15 minutes or even more to wait for a bus its handy to go in an sit down without ordering - the staff don't notice you and certainly don't care whether you are ordering or not!

kravmaga

scoobydude wrote: »

The one in swords is the same. Kip

Ive been in the Old Borough in Swords under Wetherspoons management and it is run much better than the previous Irish owners.

I lived in the UK for many years and Wetherspoons is a very successful pub chain

Pkiernan

I'm concerned it'll attract more of the roving DART using raiders and pillagers.

That will ruin the Village.

Dublin Spur

would be nice to have the option - hope it happens

antimatterx

Dublin Spur wrote: »

would be nice to have the option - hope it happens

It will ruin what is a great pub.

Dublin Spur

antimatterx wrote: »

It will ruin what is a great pub.

I have no problem with Wetherspoons, they offer something different and there would still be 3 other pubs to go to if it is not to your liking.

What will be will be......

Anyone know if there's a shred of truth in this ?

Inquitus

antimatterx wrote: »

It will ruin what is a great pub.

Aye, I like Fowlers its less chaotic then the other Pubs.

antimatterx

Dublin Spur wrote: »

I have no problem with Wetherspoons, they offer something different and there would still be 3 other pubs to go to if it is not to your liking.

What will be will be......

Anyone know if there's a shred of truth in this ?

Fowlers is my pub of choice which is my issue

antimatterx

Inquitus wrote: »

Aye, I like Fowlers its less chaotic then the other Pubs.

Same. I hope its just a rumour.

The White Wolf

endacl wrote: »

Tell that to all the young fellas looking for cheap pints.

Young fellas flock to the likes of Gibneys anyway and as another poster pointed out, Weatherspoons hasn't caused any grief for Blackrock.

Major Dad

I think this rumour has been officially denied by Fowlers, hasn’t it?

antimatterx

Major Dad wrote: »

I think this rumour has been officially denied by Fowlers, hasn’t it?

Has it? God I hope so.

Collie D

Slightly off topic but I noticed this thread. Is Fowler's properly open at the moment? Planning a walk out to Malahide one evening this week and a pint would be nice. Or preferably Duffy's. Will even take Gibney's as last chance saloon but only if there's no other option such as drinking paint thinner in a laneway

Websites for all of the above say dine out only but not sure whether that's due to lack of updating or not.

Inquitus

Collie D wrote: »

Slightly off topic but I noticed this thread. Is Fowler's properly open at the moment? Planning a walk out to Malahide one evening this week and a pint would be nice. Or preferably Duffy's. Will even take Gibney's as last chance saloon but only if there's no other option such as drinking paint thinner in a laneway

Websites for all of the above say dine out only but not sure whether that's due to lack of updating or not.

Not sure if they are open, but current guidelines only allow the serving of alcohol with a meal.

What are the basics? Pubs that serve food can reopen with table service only: no queueing at the bar or socialising away from your table. You must book, you must eat as well as drink, and you can keep your table for only 1¾ hours. A new group will be allowed to use the table after a 15-minute pause, for cleaning

Collie D

Thanks - yeah, should have clarified that in my post. I'll be eating something too. But I eat every day so the pint was the bit I was looking forward to most

I'll see if I get one of them on the phone - thanks again for response

Inquitus

Collie D wrote: »

Thanks - yeah, should have clarified that in my post. I'll be eating something too. But I eat every day so the pint was the bit I was looking forward to most

I'll see if I get one of them on the phone - thanks again for response

Seems you can book online:

https://mobile.menupages.ie/booking/index/5558

ThunbergsAreGo

Collie D wrote: »

Thanks - yeah, should have clarified that in my post. I'll be eating something too. But I eat every day so the pint was the bit I was looking forward to most

I'll see if I get one of them on the phone - thanks again for response

almost sure its not open

Collie D

ThunbergsAreGo wrote: »

almost sure its not open

Yeah, took a walk out this evening. Gibney’s the only one of the three open if anyone else was wondering. Gave it a miss. Sounded busy enough when I walked by.

The one in Blanch is a rough kip but then again Malahide ain’t Blanch.

antimatterx

They look to be opening tomorrow, although its surprising they did nothing during the lockdown the take in some money. No take away food, or take away pints.

carltonleon

With how the Wetherspoons’s owner behaved With his staff during the pandemic and with his comments etc, I will be ****ed if I ever set foot in one of his kips again and the one in Swords is on my doorstep and frequented by friends of mine but **** no way will I give them any business.....

GT89

If you don't like Wetherspoons don't go it's simple really

The Davestator

carltonleon wrote: »

With how the Wetherspoons’s owner behaved With his staff during the pandemic and with his comments etc, I will be ****ed if I ever set foot in one of his kips again and the one in Swords is on my doorstep and frequented by friends of mine but **** no way will I give them any business.....

Dont believe everything you read on facebook!

neris

The Davestator wrote: »

Dont believe everything you read on facebook!

If you want a laugh spoons customer service on twitter has had some good wind up's

TaurenDruid

The Davestator wrote: »

Dont believe everything you read on facebook!

This wasn't just facebook, though, was it. How yer man treated his staff during covid, plus his active backing of brexit - he can keep his cheap beer and microwaved "meals", I'll go to a decent Irish-owned bar selling real Irish beer, thanks all the same.

GT89

TaurenDruid wrote: »

This wasn't just facebook, though, was it. How yer man treated his staff during covid, plus his active backing of brexit - he can keep his cheap beer and microwaved "meals", I'll go to a decent Irish-owned bar selling real Irish beer, thanks all the same.

Again don't like it don't go. I'm sure Tim Martin couldn't give a rats what you think of his sucessful pub chain as clearly there is a demand for it.

The only that does annoy me about Spoons is when I was younger the bouncers would ID me at the door then they'd ID again when buying drinks at the bar never come across this practice elsewhere and found it a bit odd. No problem getting ID'd but no need to do it multiple times.

strangel00p

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

The one in Blanch is a rough kip but then again Malahide ain’t Blanch.

Really, why do you think it is a kip? I've been there twice and its light years ahead of some of the filthy pubs in Dublin. Nicely laid out, very clean, pleasant bar staff, families having a meal and a cheap drink. I saw absolutely no problems on both occasions.

antimatterx

Has anyone been back since they reopened? How is it?

Stheno

antimatterx wrote: »

Has anyone been back since they reopened? How is it?

Yes I have usually sit out the back

Very good on distancing and making sure they have contact details

Mentioned the Wetherspoons rumour to the younger bearded guy who laughed and said do you think we'd have spent what we have to reopen if we were selling up?

antimatterx

Stheno wrote: »

Yes I have usually sit out the back

Very good on distancing and making sure they have contact details

Mentioned the Wetherspoons rumour to the younger bearded guy who laughed and said do you think we'd have spent what we have to reopen if we were selling up?

Sounds good, looking forward to getting back in for some dinner and a few pints. I miss it.

Do you have to book ahead, or walk ins?

Stheno

antimatterx wrote: »

Sounds good, looking forward to getting back in for some dinner and a few pints. I miss it.

Do you have to book ahead, or walk ins?

Walk ins only afaik I've been twice but during the day so don't know what its like in the evwning

2ndcoming

Very slightly off topic but I was in Malahide today and was a bit surprised by the campaign by most businesses against the pedestrianisation of New Street.

I would have thought it would be a massive boon to small businesses in a place like Malahide , especially when the alternative is having their little boutiques hidden behind parked cars.

Struck me as odd.

TaurenDruid

2ndcoming wrote: »

Very slightly off topic but I was in Malahide today and was a bit surprised by the campaign by most businesses against the pedestrianisation of New Street.

I would have thought it would be a massive boon to small businesses in a place like Malahide , especially when the alternative is having their little boutiques hidden behind parked cars.

Struck me as odd.

Yup, I don't get it. It's not like a massive amount of cars could ever park on New Street anyway - it's <i>much</i> more enjoyable as a pedestrianised street!

Stheno

2ndcoming wrote: »

Very slightly off topic but I was in Malahide today and was a bit surprised by the campaign by most businesses against the pedestrianisation of New Street.

I would have thought it would be a massive boon to small businesses in a place like Malahide , especially when the alternative is having their little boutiques hidden behind parked cars.

Struck me as odd.

Have you tried getting parking on the weekends in Malahide lately?
It's a nightmare, they've removed over 40 parking spaces.

I buy most of my clothes from one of those boutiques in Malahide, and at least 50% of the time I've tried parking there during the week and weekends since they introduced this, I've been unable to do so and given up.

It's not as if New Street has anything to offer tbh. They could have increased space for the bars/restaurants and put parking in the middle of the street much like the bicycle lanes are now protected in town.

Badly thought through, introduced before the bars/restauarants reopened etc

Now Swords Main St. is ripe for something like this from the Star to where McDonalds is.

You can’t shop if you’ve no means of getting it home.

PCros

Stheno wrote: »

Now Swords Main St. is ripe for something like this from the Star to where McDonalds is.

Now that would make sense!

Unfortunately Fingal's vision of temporary road closures for Swords is beside the Old School House which really isn't much to be honest.

pinkypinky

The pedestrianised area in Malahide only works because it's the summer. Fast-forward 6 weeks, no one will be hanging around outside. The Council is really invested in the idea but I don't think it's viable long-term. The lack of consultation with, in particular, the residents of Old St, was a mistake.

PCros

pinkypinky wrote: »

The pedestrianised area in Malahide only works because it's the summer. Fast-forward 6 weeks, no one will be hanging around outside. The Council is really invested in the idea but I don't think it's viable long-term. The lack of consultation with, in particular, the residents of Old St, was a mistake.

Well it is only temporary...it is only to run for 10 weeks and is finished on the 24th August.

But yes agree, any plans to extend probably won't happen especially on the back of recent weather.

pinkypinky

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the council tried to extend the trial. They've spent money on benches, etc. There's someone standing on the street all the time, who is presumably being paid.

Cyrus

they are doing this all over, blackrock and dun laoghaire are a nightmare now traffic / parking wise with the same thing, and you can drive the coast road from blackrock to DL any more.

re wetherspoons the ones in Blackrock and DL really dont add anything to either place, they could be worse but could be a lot better,

i quite liked Tonic back in the day!