There's been a few reported closures of premises in the past weeks - more than there has been for quite a while recently at that. All of these were on my list to go to so are worthy of mention.
1010077 WJ Kavanaghs has apparently closed again, having only reopened relatively recently. Both recent incarnations have been craft beer pubs
N0808 Sunnybank House Hotel has permanently closed - much of the accommodation here has been used as emergency accommodation by DCC for some time so I'd guess its going to be used as a "family hub" now
S0025 East Side Tavern has closed permanently - I have to admit that I wasn't aware this was open and had it recorded as closed from when it was Eamonn Doran's briefly.
With Token opening (as a bar - it is already open as a restaurant) imminently on Queen Street; N0055 74 Talbot (formerly Mother Kellys) reopened and S1455 Bohans listed as renovated and for lease its likely that the number of open premises will return to where it was rapidly and hopefully the slight upward trend in open premises continues.
Pages
▼
Monday, 19 June 2017
Sunday, 18 June 2017
The "foreign" pubs of Dublin
I decided the word "ethnic" would make me sound like a UKIP member, "foreign" isn't much better but I can't think of anything less bad!
I find this topic interesting as there are Irish pubs in pretty much every city or even large town in the world - including places that don't get much tourism at all let alone Irish tourists. Most are themed but a decent number exist to serve Irish communities in those places. As Dublin continues to grow as both a tourism destination and an inward migration destination, its obvious that we're going to have lots of bars themed for or serving other nationalities.
Parnell Street turns up frequently in this listing - many licenced premises and cheaper rent (in the past anyway) would be contributing factors here.
Korean
N0107 Hop House on Parnell Street - formerly the Shakespeare and still bearing that signage - is the longest running and is an intriguing mix of regular Dub pub and Korean restaurant.
It has more recently been joined by 1010804 Drunken Fish in the former excise stores on Mayor Street which similarly has a major food element but also a large bar. Often the quietest bar near the 3Arena on a gig night, its worth a visit for anyone looking for a pint with a seat after a gig.
Chinese
N2808 King7 is a Chinese Karaoke bar on Capel Street. That combination may not make that much sense initially, but it is more of an Asian fusion bar than any country specifically.
In the past, there was also N2805 Seven Stars (formerly Bonga) across the road, but it has been closed for some time and redirects people to King7 via signage on the door.
There was also the Ice Bar on Parnell Street in the premises of the infamous Blue Lion that was considered to be a Chinese bar by many.
Czech
Dublin has two Czech bars, one a bit more authentic than the other.
S1472 Pifko on Ushers Quay is the less central, and less tourist-visited of the two; and also emphasises their Slovak products on their website.
S0107 Czech Inn on Essex Gate would probably have a lower proportion of Czech custom due to the aforementioned tourists.
Brazilian
Three Spirits (Formerly D-One) on Capel Street is a Brazilian bar and restaurant - one of the pubs I've yet to be to so can't really say much else currently.
Japanese
Two branches of the Yamamori restaurant chain hold full pub licences - 1010212 Yamamori Izakaya on Georges Street and 1010576 Yamamori on Ormond Quay. The latter has more of a restaraunt setup to the front and a bar at the back that can be accessed from Strand Street; with the Georges Street setup being much more of a pub - there is a Yamamori restaurant across the road.
S4187 Ukiyo on Exchequer Street claims to be "Japanese/Korean"
Thai
N2760 Koh on Millennium Walk is a Thai restaurant with a full pub licence for its cocktail bar
Australian
This is a severe stretch, but... N2610 Woolshed is a sports bar with the vaguest of Australian themes to it. It was formerly Outback, which had a bit more.
Now re-themed, S2860 Harrys on the Green used to be "Down Under at Major Toms" which closed in 2009 and reopened as the current premises. This also had an extremely vague Australian theme.
No longer operational:
Polish
Currently, N0099 Dublin Supporters Bar on Parnell Street is about as Dublin as it can possibly be, but it was previous Zagloba which I believe to have been Dublin's only Polish bar
Nigerian
In the early 2000s, there was a Nigerian bar called Forum on Parnell Street. I can't find out for certain where it was although I believe it may have been been in N0104 which is currently a Booze2Go off-licence trading with a full pub licence.
Cuban
Long closed, N1490 Floridita opened in the Irish Life Mall replacing Life. Cuban owned and based on the famous bar of the same name in Havana, the location simply didn't work and the physical bit of the building it was in has since been removed.
I find this topic interesting as there are Irish pubs in pretty much every city or even large town in the world - including places that don't get much tourism at all let alone Irish tourists. Most are themed but a decent number exist to serve Irish communities in those places. As Dublin continues to grow as both a tourism destination and an inward migration destination, its obvious that we're going to have lots of bars themed for or serving other nationalities.
Parnell Street turns up frequently in this listing - many licenced premises and cheaper rent (in the past anyway) would be contributing factors here.
Korean
N0107 Hop House on Parnell Street - formerly the Shakespeare and still bearing that signage - is the longest running and is an intriguing mix of regular Dub pub and Korean restaurant.
It has more recently been joined by 1010804 Drunken Fish in the former excise stores on Mayor Street which similarly has a major food element but also a large bar. Often the quietest bar near the 3Arena on a gig night, its worth a visit for anyone looking for a pint with a seat after a gig.
Chinese
N2808 King7 is a Chinese Karaoke bar on Capel Street. That combination may not make that much sense initially, but it is more of an Asian fusion bar than any country specifically.
In the past, there was also N2805 Seven Stars (formerly Bonga) across the road, but it has been closed for some time and redirects people to King7 via signage on the door.
There was also the Ice Bar on Parnell Street in the premises of the infamous Blue Lion that was considered to be a Chinese bar by many.
Czech
Dublin has two Czech bars, one a bit more authentic than the other.
S1472 Pifko on Ushers Quay is the less central, and less tourist-visited of the two; and also emphasises their Slovak products on their website.
S0107 Czech Inn on Essex Gate would probably have a lower proportion of Czech custom due to the aforementioned tourists.
Brazilian
Three Spirits (Formerly D-One) on Capel Street is a Brazilian bar and restaurant - one of the pubs I've yet to be to so can't really say much else currently.
Japanese
Two branches of the Yamamori restaurant chain hold full pub licences - 1010212 Yamamori Izakaya on Georges Street and 1010576 Yamamori on Ormond Quay. The latter has more of a restaraunt setup to the front and a bar at the back that can be accessed from Strand Street; with the Georges Street setup being much more of a pub - there is a Yamamori restaurant across the road.
S4187 Ukiyo on Exchequer Street claims to be "Japanese/Korean"
Thai
N2760 Koh on Millennium Walk is a Thai restaurant with a full pub licence for its cocktail bar
Australian
This is a severe stretch, but... N2610 Woolshed is a sports bar with the vaguest of Australian themes to it. It was formerly Outback, which had a bit more.
Now re-themed, S2860 Harrys on the Green used to be "Down Under at Major Toms" which closed in 2009 and reopened as the current premises. This also had an extremely vague Australian theme.
No longer operational:
Polish
Currently, N0099 Dublin Supporters Bar on Parnell Street is about as Dublin as it can possibly be, but it was previous Zagloba which I believe to have been Dublin's only Polish bar
Nigerian
In the early 2000s, there was a Nigerian bar called Forum on Parnell Street. I can't find out for certain where it was although I believe it may have been been in N0104 which is currently a Booze2Go off-licence trading with a full pub licence.
Cuban
Long closed, N1490 Floridita opened in the Irish Life Mall replacing Life. Cuban owned and based on the famous bar of the same name in Havana, the location simply didn't work and the physical bit of the building it was in has since been removed.
Friday, 16 June 2017
June 2017 Licence Update
There's a lot of removals this month but all concentrated in a few suburban areas so its possible there was a licencing court timing issue with the bank holiday, so I'm only going to list the additions and any removals that are actually shut
Added:
1011716 Idlewild, Fade Street - I assumed this was part of the Market Bar, but it isn't.
N2252 Wrights, T2 Depatures Dublin Airport - I don't know how this got an old sequence number
Removed:
N0741 Edenmore House, Edenmore - closed for some time.
Added:
1011716 Idlewild, Fade Street - I assumed this was part of the Market Bar, but it isn't.
N2252 Wrights, T2 Depatures Dublin Airport - I don't know how this got an old sequence number
Removed:
N0741 Edenmore House, Edenmore - closed for some time.
Monday, 5 June 2017
S4004 [I have no idea]
This was Lafayette and was closed for some time. Its now open again, but has no name above the door and the barman couldn't provide one either - but we already have a Bar With No Name (in S1308 Kellys Hotel) so I can't really call it that.
Apparently its about to have a complete refit but currently feels quite a bit like Cassidys two doors down.
The Wax Museum has taken much of the space in this building - the former Blood Bank - and has just relaunched officially after a soft-launch a while ago, so they should have a constant supply of tourists through the door when fully operational
The Wax Museum has taken much of the space in this building - the former Blood Bank - and has just relaunched officially after a soft-launch a while ago, so they should have a constant supply of tourists through the door when fully operational
S0192 Humphreys
This pub is both sequentially beside and actually beside the previous premises - they are two adjoining buildings. Similar in size to Smyths but a lot quieter - due I'd guess to not doing food. Preferred it to Smyths due to being that bit quieter.
S0191 Smyths
Pub #2 of a completely accidental sequential run of licence numbers - they were issued somewhat by area for older pubs but its never a guarantee that they'll even be close by
This is a busy suburban pub rather similar to my own local in Maynooth - bar and lounge areas, big smoking garden, food on offer and a big range of mostly macro pints.
This is a busy suburban pub rather similar to my own local in Maynooth - bar and lounge areas, big smoking garden, food on offer and a big range of mostly macro pints.
S0190 Taphouse
I nearly missed this place initially as I was using my map to find which pubs were somewhere near Ranelagh Luas stop and I'd put the pin for Taphouse in the wrong place. Not inspiring much confidence for anyone using my map as a tour guide!
Its obviously a pub from outside though, so it got a visit - and the pin has been re-placed.
Mostly a craft beer bar with what looked like a decent food menu and a large range of spirits. Every pub and food venue in the entire city seemed to be full of Mini Marathon runners relaxing after the race so the atmosphere was a bit different to what I'd expect is normal but it was fairly decent.
Its obviously a pub from outside though, so it got a visit - and the pin has been re-placed.
Mostly a craft beer bar with what looked like a decent food menu and a large range of spirits. Every pub and food venue in the entire city seemed to be full of Mini Marathon runners relaxing after the race so the atmosphere was a bit different to what I'd expect is normal but it was fairly decent.
S0250 The Eagle
This is the one on Dundrum Main Street - as there are three pubs with the same name in South Dublin! From the exterior I was expecting something quite different to what I got inside.
Very traditional Dub pub - bookies slips, racing on every TV, cheaper than the average pub in the area. There's a larger lounge adjoining with its own entrances and indeed its own name (The Nest) but its all one premises.
Very traditional Dub pub - bookies slips, racing on every TV, cheaper than the average pub in the area. There's a larger lounge adjoining with its own entrances and indeed its own name (The Nest) but its all one premises.
S4500 Brickyard
A recent enough reopening, this large premises in the buildings on top of Balally Luas stop promotes itself as a gastropub. The food menu lives up to that, with a decent selection of beers also.
The layout and decor are a bit more towards a more generic suburban lounge (which it was before) than a gastropub but I'd say I'm definitely putting a more city centre centric view on what a craft or gastropub should look like than is really required.
The layout and decor are a bit more towards a more generic suburban lounge (which it was before) than a gastropub but I'd say I'm definitely putting a more city centre centric view on what a craft or gastropub should look like than is really required.
Thursday, 1 June 2017
N0020 Red Parrott
Another locals bar that I imagine is rammed on match days. Quite large, with a sort-of snug away to the side of the lounge in a single storey extension looking out on two aspects - unfortunately the HSS Hire shop blocks any view of the canal.