What's the roughest pub in Dublin city?

tylercheribini · 16-10-2019 5:35pm

GRACKEA wrote: »

Ahhh I have a soft spot for the Chancery. Around 9/10am is an amazing anthropology opportunity. On weekends though so you get a good mix!

Lads with scars on their face from forehead to chin always had me on edge.

BDI · 16-10-2019 5:51pm

Ballybough had a pub where an IRA man who was managing the pub was shot dead a year or two ago.

There’s a pub up from Meath street market on a street with a few antique shops that is just bleak. The povos with enough money to sit inside do but there is a contingent of povos who don’t have enough money to sit inside who turn up with a bag of cans or whatever and stand a door up and let their kids play about while they shout over to whoever is outside for a smoke like as if they are patrons of the pub too. This was a Sunday I think. I parked there to walk up to Meath street and jumped in the car and locked the door in a mad panicked scramble when I got back at like 6pm on a summer day. I don’t think the pub has a name just a door and some smokers. There was a little church on the corner of the street that tourist were stopping to photo. About three or four minutes walk from Meath street.

There’s another couple of bars just off the spire heading towards temple street that have smell bags sat outside at 3pm out of their heads with kids in buggies. Always busy on a weekday afternoon too.

BDI · 16-10-2019 6:04pm

sugarman wrote: »

The Lamplighter or Graingers?

Both are awful kips.

Which one?

ibarelycare · 16-10-2019 6:10pm

A favourite pastime of mine is a game called Danger Pints. A drink in some of the roughest pubs in Dublin. Generally you go in on a weeknight/weekend afternoon. Have one, max two drinks. Preferably sit at the bar for maximum enjoyment. Bonus points if there's been a murder or murder attempt. Ones I've frequented to date:

Barn House, Dolphins Barn
Finches, Neilstown
Jobstown House
Killinarden House, Tallaght
The Marble Arch, Drimnagh (my local)
The Black Forge, Crumlin
Cleary's, Kilmainham (surprisingly, this is the one I felt most uneasy in)

BDI · 16-10-2019 6:12pm

sugarman wrote: »

The one you were talking about on Meath St.

Oh right. It’s not on Meath street. If you leave the market main entrance and head left to the chemist a bit up the road then take a left directly at the chemist you walk by loads of flats or assisted living looking buildings on the left and little houses on your right. A bit up this road is a big republican mural thing visible in an estate to the left. Three or four minutes up this road lands you at this pub with a little church and a few antique shops in a cluster.

Mad I remember the little details of this little trek because I was so on edge that fateful summer day. I also tried to buy pork ribs from the butchers but they hadn’t got any left. Lucky really because I don’t think I’d have made it back to my car if I went down this road with a bag of pork ribs.

Looking at google maps it’s Francis street I’m talking about. Can’t tell which one is the tough pub and which one is the hipster pub.

One More Toy · 16-10-2019 6:12pm

ibarelycare wrote: »

A favourite pastime of mine is a game called Danger Pints. A drink in some of the roughest pubs in Dublin. Generally you go in on a weeknight/weekend afternoon. Have one, max two drinks. Preferably sit at the bar for maximum enjoyment. Bonus points if there's been a murder or murder attempt. Ones I've frequented to date:

Barn House, Dolphins Barn
Finches, Neilstown
Jobstown House
Killinarden House, Tallaght
The Marble Arch, Drimnagh (my local)
The Black Forge, Crumlin
Cleary's, Kilmainham (surprisingly, this is the one I felt most uneasy in)

Excellent this is what I was looking for. A concise list of where I might possibly get involved in a brawl or lose my life. Thank you

r93kaey5p2izun · 16-10-2019 6:21pm

The Finches is really not that bad. Try The Swallows in Deansrath. Chasers in Ballyfermot is intimidating due to the upstairs setup, but it's probably more depressing and grim than truly dodgy.

retalivity · 16-10-2019 7:08pm

BDI wrote: »

Ballybough had a pub where an IRA man who was managing the pub was shot dead a year or two ago.

There’s a pub up from Meath street market on a street with a few antique shops that is just bleak. The povos with enough money to sit inside do but there is a contingent of povos who don’t have enough money to sit inside who turn up with a bag of cans or whatever and stand a door up and let their kids play about while they shout over to whoever is outside for a smoke like as if they are patrons of the pub too. This was a Sunday I think. I parked there to walk up to Meath street and jumped in the car and locked the door in a mad panicked scramble when I got back at like 6pm on a summer day. I don’t think the pub has a name just a door and some smokers. There was a little church on the corner of the street that tourist were stopping to photo. About three or four minutes walk from Meath street.

There’s another couple of bars just off the spire heading towards temple street that have smell bags sat outside at 3pm out of their heads with kids in buggies. Always busy on a weekday afternoon too.

The Liberty Belle, it always seems to have a few cushioned stools and waster outside it during the day.
They have a sign outside inviting tourists in to pull their own pint. I'd bet any that did wouldn't be rushing back anytime soon...

Nika Bolokov · 16-10-2019 8:17pm

Javion Vast Straw wrote: »

The Finches is really not that bad. Try The Swallows in Deansrath. Chasers in Ballyfermot is intimidating due to the upstairs setup, but it's probably more depressing and grim than truly dodgy.

Yeah the Swallows in Deansrath is far worse than Finches. Some fella strolled in there with a shotgun a few years ago looking for someone and one of the patrons, annoyed at the disturbance to his pint, battered the guy with the gun.

lunamoon · 16-10-2019 9:28pm

Noctors, without a doubt.

Geuze · 17-10-2019 9:04am

Porklife wrote: »

Veerrryyyy rough. Full of junkies who I reckon they serve cos they'd be scared not too. Men fighting in the doorway and actually smoking inside!!! You've to ring a bell to get into the off licence and you'd be lucky to make it out alive! Absolute kip!

I was there one night.

I sat at bar in right hand room.

Space beside me, and then a man in the next seat.

My friend arrived later and sat in the empty seat between me and the man.

The man then frisked my friend. He patted him up and down.

He told us that he is related to both the Hutchs and the Kinahans.

He was familiar with Blacklion prison.

He told us about late-night and early-morning drinking dens in Dublin.

I would return to that pub.

Roadtoad · 17-10-2019 9:20am

A buddy used drink in Finches. He said that on the way in the security would tap you down checking for knives etc. If you didn't have anything they would supply you!
Same guy would never produce a €20- or €50- there, as there would be too many pan-handlers looking for a free pint if they felt he was flush.

theteal · 17-10-2019 9:31am

ibarelycare wrote: »

A favourite pastime of mine is a game called Danger Pints. A drink in some of the roughest pubs in Dublin. Generally you go in on a weeknight/weekend afternoon. Have one, max two drinks. Preferably sit at the bar for maximum enjoyment. Bonus points if there's been a murder or murder attempt. Ones I've frequented to date:

Barn House, Dolphins Barn
Finches, Neilstown
Jobstown House
Killinarden House, Tallaght
The Marble Arch, Drimnagh (my local)
The Black Forge, Crumlin
Cleary's, Kilmainham (surprisingly, this is the one I felt most uneasy in)

Not to be pedantic but the Forge is Walkinstown. Also, it's not rough as such, it's just loud and uncomfortable. It's the kind of place you go to when you're young and dumb but then grow up and realise that not being able to hear yourself is not a fun night - although in saying that one of my close friend's parents still regularly drink there.

I went out with a Clondalkin (Greenfort iirc) girl for a while in my youth. She wouldn't bring me to Finches because she thought I was a bit too posh for it - I'm born and raised a minute around the corner from the Black Forge

miamee · 17-10-2019 9:42am

Deleted User wrote: »

The Oasis

Is it called The Cabra House now? I haven't been in there in over 20 years but it was rough then and from what I can tell hasn't changed much over time.

Gloomtastic! · 17-10-2019 9:45am

Noctors is gone, I think. It’s been closed every time I’ve passed recently.

Geuze · 17-10-2019 9:49am

ibarelycare wrote: »

Cleary's, Kilmainham (surprisingly, this is the one I felt most uneasy in)

Is this on Sarsfield road?

greenpilot · 17-10-2019 9:50am

"She wouldn't bring me to Finches because she thought I was a bit too posh for it"....

She may not have brought you to Finches for other reasons....he he ....

(gets coat...)

17-10-2019 9:51am

theteal wrote: »

Not to be pedantic but the Forge is Walkinstown.

I'd be a little more pedantic and call it drimnagh

It's in the Bermuda triangle of all three really.

Moghead · 17-10-2019 10:00am

I lived in Dublin years ago and I was told that the Swiss Cottage in Santry was a rough pub. I see its closed now but was it bad in its day?

17-10-2019 10:06am

Moghead wrote: »

I lived in Dublin years ago and I was told that the Swiss Cottage in Santry was a rough pub. I see its closed now but was it bad in its day?

It wasn't great. But far from being one of the rougher ones even in the area. The Black Sheep, The Towers & The Penthouse were all worse.

When they closed down one by one, the Swiss did "inherit" a lot of different elements of scum but it wasn't too bad.

theteal · 17-10-2019 10:08am

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd be a little more pedantic and call it drimnagh

It's in the Bermuda triangle of all three really.

That geographical line can be a bit of an anomaly but that side stretching up as far as St Mary's (and possibly the bingo junction) is Walkinstown. The strangeness is further compounded by the fact that Drimnagh Castle is actually addressed as Walkinstown too.

Anyway, if you're in the area OP, just go to the Halfway

theteal · 17-10-2019 10:15am

greenpilot wrote: »

"She wouldn't bring me to Finches because she thought I was a bit too posh for it"....

She may not have brought you to Finches for other reasons....he he ....

(gets coat...)

yup, I did mention that, the uncomfortable laughter in response was a little strange I will admit. . . .

eusap · 17-10-2019 10:33am

The patriots in Kilmainham, an english colleague was staying in the hilton and i had to go rescue him from the pub.............

robbie67 · 17-10-2019 10:37am

miamee wrote: »

Is it called The Cabra House now? I haven't been in there in over 20 years but it was rough then and from what I can tell hasn't changed much over time.

its suppose to be for sale, very few go into it now

ibarelycare · 17-10-2019 11:30am

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Noctors is gone, I think. It’s been closed every time I’ve passed recently.

Yeah it is. A lot of the clientele have started drinking in Lagoona in the IFSC, which results in a very strange mix on a Friday afternoon/evening of corporate after-work drinkers, and really rough folk.

eusap wrote: »

The patriots in Kilmainham, an english colleague was staying in the hilton and i had to go rescue him from the pub.............

Definitely wouldn't class the Patriots as rough. It's a mix of locals and tourists, and they do really decent grub from the Italian restaurant upstairs (you can eat it in the pub if you want).

Although the first time I was in there they played the national anthem at the end and everyone stood up.

ShyMets · 17-10-2019 12:45pm

Does anyone remember the The Fleet on Fleet St, now part of Dolyes. Its gone about ten years. But my God, you got some class of character in that place.

Birneybau · 17-10-2019 12:49pm

eusap wrote: »

The patriots in Kilmainham, an english colleague was staying in the hilton and i had to go rescue him from the pub.............

The Patriots is absolutely fine

Porklife · 17-10-2019 12:59pm

Easy Rod wrote: »

Think that’s a different pub up the road you’re thinking of - Graingers?

Possibly, I just moved to the area and there are quite a few dodgy pubs knocking around!!

machaseh · 17-10-2019 1:15pm

If I would take me mate on a Bad Pubs of Dublin tour, I'd choose the following ones. Mind you I have only been living here for 2 years, so my experience is a bit limited.

- Kiltipper Inn, Kiltipper Tallaght. It's actually not too bad of a pub I like it but there's some rough people with tracksuits there. Also being extremely far out of town makes it quite unique to visit, most dubliners would never come here if they werent from the area.
- Swiss Cottage has sadly closed but it was quite a rough pub.
- Lloyds on Amiens street near conolly station
- Molloy's Pub near conolly station
- Berkeley Inn on Berkeley Street (I even suffered discrimination there)
- Donaghmede Inn, better known locally as the Donaghmede Bin. It is truly the worst pub in Dublin I'd say. Absolutely no atmosphere, just a grey block of concrete in a suburban shopping mall. Fights or people tampering with the ATM are not uncommon.
- Dicey's, not really a pub but yeah...
- River Bar. I wouldnt even dare to enter.

One More Toy · 17-10-2019 1:17pm

machaseh wrote: »

If I would take me mate on a Bad Pubs of Dublin tour, I'd choose the following ones. Mind you I have only been living here for 2 years, so my experience is a bit limited.

- Kiltipper Inn, Kiltipper Tallaght. It's actually not too bad of a pub I like it but there's some rough people with tracksuits there. Also being extremely far out of town makes it quite unique to visit, most dubliners would never come here if they werent from the area.
- Swiss Cottage has sadly closed but it was quite a rough pub.
- Lloyds on Amiens street near conolly station
- Molloy's Pub near conolly station
- Berkeley Inn on Berkeley Street (I even suffered discrimination there)
- Donaghmede Inn, better known locally as the Donaghmede Bin. It is truly the worst pub in Dublin I'd say. Absolutely no atmosphere, just a grey block of concrete in a suburban shopping mall. Fights or people tampering with the ATM are not uncommon.
- Dicey's, not really a pub but yeah...
- River Bar. I wouldnt even dare to enter.

Excellent. Very interested in the ones near Connolly

What's the roughest pub in Dublin city?

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