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If you owned your own pub

2

Comments

  • #32
    abouttobebanned
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭abouttobebanned


    some further, interesting thoughts here


  • #33
    prinz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    I was at the perfect pub once, in Belgium it was. I think the owners left Belgium though so it's probably no longer there. If I owned my own pub I'd recreate it. Great spot, suited me to the ground.


  • #34
    D'Agger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,385 ✭✭✭✭D'Agger


    I'd open a 21's bar called Blackjack - red and black colour theme to keep with the name.

    Darts board & pool table as mentioned several times already is a must...I'd also try have different music on different nights - acoustic Mondays, Chilled Out Thursdays etc.

    The drinks promotion I'd put on would be something along the lines of Beer of the week & Cocktail of the week(Cocktail area seperate from the bar). The important thing about the cocktail is that it's actually made by somebody who knows what they're doing and not overpriced.


  • #35
    Orando Broom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,351 ✭✭✭Orando Broom


    Pubs, If it hasn't a family name in all likelihood it will be a kip. If it has a pool table it will attract knackers. These are two irrefutable facts.

    Places with clever names have no heritage or history. A good pub must have heritage and tradition. It must be rooted to the community within which it exists. You transplant a theme into a location all you have is a veneer that people will tire of.

    A great pub is great because it is a refuge from your daily grind. It is a place you can go in comfort, regardless of your circumstances, and relax and unwind.

    Pool tables are knacker magnets and cause rows because some uneducated twerp thinks he can **** balls better than an other uneducated twat.

    for the record my pub would be a place where I'd encourage the arts. I'd encourage aspiring artists to hang their wears, musicians to come in and play, writers to find their muse in the pub, poets to try their luck with a few verses. I'd try to encourage it to be a focal point of creativity within the community. They would co-exist with the builder the doctor and the office worker however. No one select group would be given favour over the other.

    In the past the pub was dental surgery, doctor's practice, barber and grocer and a myriad of other trades. That is what is lost from pubs, the above and beyond drinking element of the Irish pub.


  • #36
    prinz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    Orando Broom wrote: »
    A great pub is great because it is a refuge from your daily grind. It is a place you can go in comfort, regardless of your circumstances, and relax and unwind.

    for the record my pub would be a place where I'd encourage the arts. I'd encourage aspiring artists to hang their wears, musicians to come in and play, writers to find their muse in the pub, poets to try their luck with a few verses..

    My idea of escaping the grind, relaxing and unwinding is not listening to some Michael D Higgin's type..


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  • #37
    Orando Broom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,351 ✭✭✭Orando Broom


    prinz wrote: »
    My idea of escaping the grind, relaxing and unwinding is not listening to some Michael D Higgin's type..

    I'm sorry to hear things are going rough for you in the poem factory.


  • #38
    ottostreet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭ottostreet


    Orando Broom wrote: »
    for the record my pub would be a place where I'd encourage the arts. I'd encourage aspiring artists to hang their wears, musicians to come in and play, writers to find their muse in the pub, poets to try their luck with a few verses. I'd try to encourage it to be a focal point of creativity within the community. They would co-exist with the builder the doctor and the office worker however. No one select group would be given favour over the other.

    LOL!


  • #39
    Orando Broom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,351 ✭✭✭Orando Broom


    ottostreet wrote: »
    LOL!


    Fair enough. I take it you dislike the following Pubs

    O'Donoghues Merrion Row
    Grogan's/castle Lounge South William St.
    Sin é - Cork
    The Oval - Cork


    off the top of my head they'd be four pubs I'd model my pub on taking an element of each of their personalities. O'Donoghues a creative hub for musicians and poets for a generation in Dublin, Gave a local to Luke Kelly (a poet and musician) The Dubliners and Seamus Ennis to name but a few.

    Grogan's a working art Gallery, FYI.

    Sin é and The Oval both pubs open to musicians and artists of all stripes.


  • #40
    ottostreet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭ottostreet


    Orando Broom wrote: »
    Fair enough. I take it you dislike the following Pubs

    O'Donoghues Merrion Row
    Grogan's/castle Lounge South William St.
    Sin é - Cork
    The Oval - Cork


    off the top of my head they'd be four pubs I'd model my pub on taking an element of each of their personalities. O'Donoghues a creative hub for musicians and poets for a generation in Dublin, Gave a local to Luke Kelly (a poet and musician) The Dubliners and Seamus Ennis to name but a few.

    Grogan's a working art Gallery, FYI.

    Sin é and The Oval both pubs open to musicians and artists of all stripes.

    I don't know them. In fairness though, my work within the pub industry is not what you'd describe as 'the arts'.


  • #41
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Sitec wrote: »
    I always thought "AfterHours" would be a good name for a pub.
    Maybe the pub should have mini debating groups! :pac:
    Could get lively! :eek:


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  • #42
    Local-womanizer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,798 ✭✭✭Local-womanizer


    I would call it after meself i would say.

    Old style pub with open wood burning fires.

    A good selection of Whiskeys and other Spirits.

    Good Guiness,very important.

    No Tvs and only music on a low volume.

    Then maybe one night a month a Traditional Irish Music night.

    The staff would have to be well trained but more importantly well mannered.

    Too many pubs nowadays are too loud and disco-y. I like to go to a pub with a good atmosphere where you can have a conversation without shouting.

    As for the well-mannered staff,if you look after your customers,they will look after you.

    There is a lot to be said for keeping it low key and simple.


  • #43
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    I wouldn't open just a pub to be honest. It's far to narrow a business model, to me it's like opening a restaurant that only sold bowls of soup. It would have to have something else that it earned it's money off and also sold drink.

    I'd open something that had a hostel on top, a quiet bar and a place for communal activity's that also sold drink IE: space for people to do things like practice for bands or run lan gaming seasons.

    Alcohol is just one product that people can't really use al day every day so if you want to be doing business on a daily basis you can't depend on selling alcohol.


  • #44
    Dyr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,246 ✭✭✭✭Dyr


    Orando Broom wrote: »
    . O'Donoghues a creative hub for musicians and poets for a generation in Dublin, Gave a local to Luke Kelly (a poet and musician) The Dubliners and Seamus Ennis to name but a few.

    O'donohue's is a creative hub for govt officials, civil service knobs and visiting bureaucrats.


  • #45
    pablomakaveli
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,752 ✭✭✭pablomakaveli


    I'd call my pub The Donkeys Bollocks. I don't know why though.

    I'd have a pinball machine in the corner next to a pacman machine.

    I'd have a jukebox that electrocutes anyone that tries to select a song by the Script.

    I'd have a cannon by the entrance so any troublemakers can be shot out of it instead of just being thrown out.

    I'd have a topless barmaid tuesday to attract male customers and then fleece them by charging double for drinks. This will work because no straight man can refuse boobs.


  • #46
    the_syco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,310 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    punchdrunk wrote: »
    "The mop & Bucket"we wouldn't try and give you some Huzzar & aldi cola when you were expecting a "smirnoff & Coke"
    I'd actually do a cheap version with the cheapest coke I could find, call it "Cola n Huzzar" and sell it for €2 a go. I'd have a few seats looking at a wall which I'd paint white for the footie matches, and point a projector towards for the matches. I'd put a 2 inch thick glass between the barman and the customer, and have the "bar area" 3 meters wide. I'd have three of these areas, all connected to the basement that has the drink. This would ensure a safe getaway, and also so that more drink can be given up with ease. I'd provide pints in plastic glasses, and only sell plastic bottles, no glass bottles. I'd employ ex-soviet bloc military as doormen.

    I'd call it ChavLand.


  • #47
    tolosenc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,889 ✭✭✭tolosenc


    The Clunge & Chunder

    And I'd have reasonably priced drinks.


  • #48
    Orando Broom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,351 ✭✭✭Orando Broom


    Bambi wrote: »
    O'donohue's is a creative hub for govt officials, civil service knobs and visiting bureaucrats.

    That's Doheny & Nesbitts, FFS and more importantly McGrattens. see Mr. B. Ahern. Jesus. Know your ale house.


  • #49
    G_R
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 5,028 Mod ✭✭✭✭G_R


    I dno what I'd call it, ill have to think about it.

    The actual bar would be divided in four, sports area, games area (pool table, arcade games, etc), young bar, and old bar.

    The young bar and games area would have music from a Jukebox, not too loud tho, you need to be able to hear each other speak.

    The old bar would have no music or TV.

    Live music on Fridays and Saturdays, in the Young Bar.

    I would try set the pub up near a college/uni and as such students would be welcome, and would receive a discount of 10%.

    There would be a special pint each night. It would cost €3. For example Miller on Monday, Carlsberg on Tuesday etc.

    I would not charge for dash's of bloody blackcurrent.

    Door policy would be quite strict, and all members of staff can bar someone. You piss off anyone of them you get asked to leave immediately. A second offence and your barred.

    Staff would have to be nice, im sick of having drink thrown at me.

    I would look in to a late bar licence. If it isn't too expensive I would get one, allowing me to stay open till 2.30am Friday and Saturday nights, thereby removing the need to go and pay into a real expensive nightclub and pay €7 for a bloody vodka.

    Thats just some musings, im sure i'll think of more.


  • #50
    saintsaltynuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,147 ✭✭✭saintsaltynuts


    Id call it The Saint and it would just be a bar for old lads.Id have four taps Guinness,Beamish,Smithwicks and maybe Budweiser for the old lads in summer.3 Euro for a pint of Beamish all day everyday and 3.60 for a Guinness.3 maybe 4 T.V.'S for the football and racing and your first pint free on a Monday night.Stew as well serves til 6 at 4 Euro a hearty portion.Lovely!Its a dream but one day who knows!


  • #51
    aDeener
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,487 ✭✭✭aDeener


    The Lock Inn


    it has probably been done though


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  • #52
    RichieC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,331 ✭✭✭RichieC


    1. The Hairy Hatchet Tavern

    2. I'd pride myself on lovely imported and hard to find beers, ales and wines with a great cocktail bar with a proper cocktail mixer. Live music on the weekends.

    I wouldn't stop scobies coming in but they wouldn't last a minute if they started acting the maggot.


  • #53
    Rick Deckard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,181 ✭✭✭Rick Deckard


    Lived in Galway for a couple of years back and nowhere beats;

    For touristy schmooze-O'Connors, Salthill.
    For chat (w/mates)-Taffs, Shop/Quay St.
    For chat (w/partner)-Noughtins, Quay St.
    For music-Sally Longs, Abbygate St.
    For sport (liverpool)-Monroes.

    So I'd probably rob the best of each of those places..
    Also rob a previous posters idea of a menu consisting only of Stew and crusty bread (could do a combo deal of stew w/pint of guinness for €5 on oap day)

    Call my establishment.. The Ramble Inn (robbed from Ramble Inn, Kilester)


  • #54
    stateofflux
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,563 ✭✭✭stateofflux


    aDeener wrote: »
    The Lock Inn


    it has probably been done though


    it has, there is one in loughlinstown....great name ...almost as good as 'Paddy field' chinese takeaway in monkstown farm....


  • #55
    jimthemental
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,004 ✭✭✭jimthemental


    Orando Broom wrote: »
    O'Donoghues Merrion Row
    Grogan's/castle Lounge South William St.

    There goes your argument that pubs with family names are crap. You can add O'Neills and Mulligans too.


  • #56
    grenache
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,477 ✭✭✭grenache


    I hope to own my own brewpub one day, or specialist off-licence failing that. I've always liked the "The Inn Between" as a name, not very original but its catchy and has a good ring to it.

    There would certainly be no undesirables allowed to frequent my pub, i would employ a doorman in the evenings. I'm big into cleanliness and hygiene so i would have toilets so clean you could eat your dinner off the floor. Fancy soap dispensers, music and dyson air blades would also be a highlight of my pubs restrooms.

    I would have a quiz night once a week, with live bands at the weekend and a trad session for tourists on Wednesday nights. Customer loyalty would also be rewarded by way of free drink coupons. My pub will have an extensive heated beer garden with a canopy roof, keeping my clientele dry and warm no matter what the weather.

    Apart from the stuff i brew myself i would sell mostly quality Irish craft beer, the likes of O'Haras, the Franciscan Well range, Galway Hooker, maybe some Porterhouse beers too. Along with quality European/American beers like Paulaner, Hoegaarden, Staropramen, Sam Adams, Goose Island, etc. I'd probably stock the bland mass produced crap like Heineken and Bud just to keep those with malfunctioning tastebuds happy.

    The beer garden would serve hot food on a Friday night and bbq food in the summer. Special promotions would include Beamish at 3 euro a pint permanently, cocktails lie Margaritas and Cosmopolitans at 4 euro a glass permanently. I would also hope to have a proper whiskey range with everything from Canadian Club to Kilbeggan to Tallisker 10 year old.


  • #57
    Senna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭Senna


    There's no money in drink alone. But if you could.find a good balance between reasonable bar food during the day and a regular crowd in the evenings your set. You do need a tv, believe me if pubs didn't have to pay sky up to €1500 a month, they wouldn't.


  • #58
    Mint Sauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    The Dogs Bo//ocks

    It would serve an array of bottles and draughts, with barrels as close to pumps as possible to ensure freshness, no ice/extra colds though.

    No additonal charge for any dashes, be that blackcurrent for your Guinness, a shandy top, or miawidi/lemonade/coke/pepsi for your short. A bottle with your short would be charged as normal.

    If you just want a glass of coke, or even pepsi, it would be served on tap, with no crazy mark up bottle prices.

    Free Finger/Basket food, spicy chicken strips, sausages, chips etc, during sporting events/special occasions.

    A small set menu during the day and various roast dinners on a sunday.

    Snugs and cosy areas if you dont want distractions.

    A few flat screens, capable of showing more than one sporting event at once, be that GAA, rugby, soccer or any other resonable request.

    Am still working on the free juke box, would be limited to three songs per person in a 24 hour period (not per visit), tokens for use would be obtained from bar.

    A games area (not room), with dart board, pool, and fussball table, no electronic games of any discription apart from a couple of retro table top games.


  • #59
    bonerm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,594 ✭✭✭bonerm


    I'd call it Inn Surance (and then burn the place to the ground).


  • #60
    Rick Deckard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,181 ✭✭✭Rick Deckard


    grenache wrote: »
    I hope to own my own brewpub one day, or specialist off-licence failing that. I've always liked the "The Inn Between" as a name, not very original but its catchy and has a good ring to it.

    There would certainly be no undesirables allowed to frequent my pub, i would employ a doorman in the evenings. I'm big into cleanliness and hygiene so i would have toilets so clean you could eat your dinner off the floor. Fancy soap dispensers, music and dyson air blades would also be a highlight of my pubs restrooms.

    I would have a quiz night once a week, with live bands at the weekend and a trad session for tourists on Wednesday nights. Customer loyalty would also be rewarded by way of free drink coupons. My pub will have an extensive heated beer garden with a canopy roof, keeping my clientele dry and warm no matter what the weather.

    Apart from the stuff i brew myself i would sell mostly quality Irish craft beer, the likes of O'Haras, the Franciscan Well range, Galway Hooker, maybe some Porterhouse beers too. Along with quality European/American beers like Paulaner, Hoegaarden, Staropramen, Sam Adams, Goose Island, etc. I'd probably stock the bland mass produced crap like Heineken and Bud just to keep those with malfunctioning tastebuds happy.

    The beer garden would serve hot food on a Friday night and bbq food in the summer. Special promotions would include Beamish at 3 euro a pint permanently, cocktails lie Margaritas and Cosmopolitans at 4 euro a glass permanently. I would also hope to have a proper whiskey range with everything from Canadian Club to Kilbeggan to Tallisker 10 year old.

    still don't think they'll buy it. ;)


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  • #61
    inforfun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,860 ✭✭✭✭inforfun


    1. Name is not really important. See no 2.
    2. People (including a few hot women) behind the bar that know how to run a bar.


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