2017 was the first full year of this project,
As well as populating and maintaining the map (1350+ past and present pubs, all manually placed), I have visited 101 premises for the first time. December was the busiest month for this - 18 new premises; with January being the quietest with only 1.
This has had a net impact of only 88 on the target figure, due to changes in the total number of pubs; with 286 of 1004 licences listed having been visited as of today.
On the licencing side, there's been 24 additions - a few of which were existing pubs missing from the list but the bulk of which are actually new pubs; with 11 removals - most of which had been closed for years. In terms of actually open pubs, there is a small increase from closed premises reopening outweighing existing premises closing without licence cancellation.
I've visited everything from tiny pubs to huge venues, semi private bars (with public licences, of course) to transit locations with millions passing. Pubs visited go as far West as the Springfield Hotel, South as the Blue Light and North as, well, the airport - North County Dublin is in next years plans!
I've spent probably more time on this not actually in pubs - between trawling newspaper archives, Thoms Directories, the Dublin City Archive and other sources researching for the map, articles posted on the blog and other future projects.
Next years plans include the previously mentioned focus on North County Dublin - I have substantially completed the North city centre now yet have little done in NCD except for some premises in Swords (last visited in 2006). I intend to start taking photos some places to break up the text-only format and to start writing more on the history of pubs and licencing.
Pub #300 isn't too far away and I'll be trying to select somewhere important enough for it. #200 was the Blue Light and #250 the Long Hall so somewhere with history is essential.
Sunday 31 December 2017
Friday 29 December 2017
N0195 Mission
A sister bar to N0215 Dice Bar, sharing their access to some exclusive beers produced by/for the owners. I finally got to try one of these, having not known or noticed when visiting the Dice Bar.
This may actually be bigger than Dice Bar internally, having two and a half or three levels depending on how you count them, but operates much shorter hours - one staff shift six days a week seems to be the norm.
The corners around the O'More Bridge had three pubs until maybe ten years ago; at times recently there has been none as Mission itself is fairly recent and there has been a large number of short-term occupants of the building. Despite large quantities of apartments it seems the area doesn't have the volume of locals to support the number of pubs it once had.
This may actually be bigger than Dice Bar internally, having two and a half or three levels depending on how you count them, but operates much shorter hours - one staff shift six days a week seems to be the norm.
The corners around the O'More Bridge had three pubs until maybe ten years ago; at times recently there has been none as Mission itself is fairly recent and there has been a large number of short-term occupants of the building. Despite large quantities of apartments it seems the area doesn't have the volume of locals to support the number of pubs it once had.
1006953 Oscars Cafe Bar
A permanently busy premises in Smithfield which effectively seems to be more a restaurant with a bar licence than an actual pub at this stage. While not as restaurant-y as some of the other places like that (TGI Fridays, Captain Americas etc) it doesn't seem like somewhere you'd go for a pint on its own - the other pubs on Smithfield Square are more suited for that.
N0224 The Belfry
Recently reopened after one of the longest closures I'm aware of - around 8 years or so - this former tradtional 'locals' pub is now a stark, black painted premises both inside and out. It still had a substantial number of older, presumably local, patrons on the evening I visited.
Fairly reasonably priced (a common factor to Stoneybatters pubs, or at least most of them), this should be a good addition to the options in the area.
Fairly reasonably priced (a common factor to Stoneybatters pubs, or at least most of them), this should be a good addition to the options in the area.
N0196 The Barbers
A barbers with a pub in it; or possibly a pub with a barber in it. Its an interesting concept at least
The barber wasn't operating the day I was there, but the equipment is very much on show and the decor of the rest of the pub is to match, including much of the seating being barbers chairs or hairdryers.
The barber wasn't operating the day I was there, but the equipment is very much on show and the decor of the rest of the pub is to match, including much of the seating being barbers chairs or hairdryers.
N0223 Tommy O'Gara's
A traditional Dublin pub, although one that additionally serves a range of craft beer to match the demand of a rapidly gentrifying Stoneybatter. Cheap pints, racing and darts on the TVs, bar covered in the sports pages of the tabloids.
N0221 The Glimmer Man
A rambling bar and lounge in Stoneybatter with eclectic decor.
Nice and warm with a stove running on a cold December day, reasonably priced drinks and what may not be quite an official policy of letting you bring your own food in as it doesn't serve any itself.
Wednesday 20 December 2017
1007597 The Bell
A 1960s/70s replacement building for a much older pub that was on the site before.
A quick diversion in to spatial history here:
Pubs in Blanchardstown are in general vast in size. This is because it has always remained in the old Dublin County Council area, and prior to the 2000s, had the "one mile" rule applied for new premises. This didn't quite work out as requiring them to be one mile apart, but did ensure they were relatively far away from each other, with the huge housing areas of Blanchardstown having pubs on almost a grid system.
If you look at the map, ignore the Blanchardstown Centre related licences and look at the Blakes Tavern pin this becomes quite obvious.
This added up to Blanchardstown having at times one of the worst, or the worst, pub to population ratio in the country and ensured that, just to serve demand, the pubs were gigantic. The Bell is no exception.
Like some of the pubs earlier in the day (which will be below this post), most of the tables were reserved for Christmas parties and the remaining areas were quite busy so I only found a perch near the toilets. Its a suburban pub, its nothing worth shouting about, but it does have a very good off licence adjoined. This is good both in range in and in refrigeration - huge range of conventional and craft beers, most chilled.
A quick diversion in to spatial history here:
Pubs in Blanchardstown are in general vast in size. This is because it has always remained in the old Dublin County Council area, and prior to the 2000s, had the "one mile" rule applied for new premises. This didn't quite work out as requiring them to be one mile apart, but did ensure they were relatively far away from each other, with the huge housing areas of Blanchardstown having pubs on almost a grid system.
If you look at the map, ignore the Blanchardstown Centre related licences and look at the Blakes Tavern pin this becomes quite obvious.
This added up to Blanchardstown having at times one of the worst, or the worst, pub to population ratio in the country and ensured that, just to serve demand, the pubs were gigantic. The Bell is no exception.
Like some of the pubs earlier in the day (which will be below this post), most of the tables were reserved for Christmas parties and the remaining areas were quite busy so I only found a perch near the toilets. Its a suburban pub, its nothing worth shouting about, but it does have a very good off licence adjoined. This is good both in range in and in refrigeration - huge range of conventional and craft beers, most chilled.
N0226 The Black Wolf
A very recent reopening of The Vineyard, which had been closed for some time. Vast in size, again.
Decor, drinks and food menu are pitched as being the younger market bar of those in Blanchardstown, and a decent pint of Founders was obtained for a slightly high price for suburbia. Bulk of the tables were reserved for Christmas parties, but I found a comfortable corner to watch the world go by on the main street despite that.
Decor, drinks and food menu are pitched as being the younger market bar of those in Blanchardstown, and a decent pint of Founders was obtained for a slightly high price for suburbia. Bulk of the tables were reserved for Christmas parties, but I found a comfortable corner to watch the world go by on the main street despite that.
N0228 The Greyhound
A pub which appears to be a combo of an old Georgian house and extensions, located in the car park of a small shopping centre. It's huge, as is the norm for Blanchardstown
Recently enough extensively refurbished - and most importantly, repainted, as the newer extensions were quite a hideous colour for a long time.
Seemed decent enough if very quiet due to the time of day
N2244 The Great Wood
Another Wetherspoon premises, and like the majority of pubs in Blanchardstown, absolutely vast. A former purpose built nightclub, it lay empty for years after its third (at least) incarnation closed down.
Its the least worst of the three Wetherspoon premises that I've been to in Ireland so far - some atmosphere, better staff and the usual range of dirt cheap drinks. I had no need to eat but my previous experiences of Wetherspoon food here have put me off anyway
Its the least worst of the three Wetherspoon premises that I've been to in Ireland so far - some atmosphere, better staff and the usual range of dirt cheap drinks. I had no need to eat but my previous experiences of Wetherspoon food here have put me off anyway
N0776 Skylon Hotel
This hotel has recently undergone a major refurbishment complete with a star upgrade. Despite being quite set back from the road, the bar is open to the public and is laid out entirely as a lounge designed mostly for food service.
As suburban hotel bars go, its nice. I'd stick to the pubs across the road, though.
As suburban hotel bars go, its nice. I'd stick to the pubs across the road, though.
N0146 Cat & Cage
One of the older pubs in Dublin, this former roadhouse is now a slightly rambling gastropub. With beers on offer from sister pub S0005 JW Sweetmans it probably has the best selection of the premises in upper Drumcondra by a decent margin.
I didn't sample the food, having just had a mediocre steak in a nearby restaurant (along with a nearly 7 euro bottle of lager!)
I didn't sample the food, having just had a mediocre steak in a nearby restaurant (along with a nearly 7 euro bottle of lager!)
N0155 The Slipper
Located across from DCU, this pub has an odd mix of local regulars - from an older community - and students from DCU venturing beyond the on-campus bars. One of the cheaper pints I've had recently and snooker on the TV - would have remained for another except I was meeting someone!
N0208 McGowans
This pub is actually so generic, despite its huge size, that I repeatedly forgot the name and had to check a map to remind myself where I'd been
A vast sports bar / music bar / late bar in lower Phibsboro. There are similar venues elsewhere a similar distance from the city centre and all the way out to the suburbs.
A vast sports bar / music bar / late bar in lower Phibsboro. There are similar venues elsewhere a similar distance from the city centre and all the way out to the suburbs.
N0063 Cumiskeys
This is the Broadstone/Dominick Street pub with this name - there being more than one even in Dublin 7!
A traditional Dublin city centre pub that is now starting to see trade from the DIT Grangegorman campus. The closest pub to the Dominick Luas stop, its one of many detailed in Publin's list of premises that are now served by the recent extension.
A traditional Dublin city centre pub that is now starting to see trade from the DIT Grangegorman campus. The closest pub to the Dominick Luas stop, its one of many detailed in Publin's list of premises that are now served by the recent extension.
S0027 The Lombard
A small-ish city centre pub with B&B rooms. This is the nearest pub to the Dublin City Library and Archive where I spent a morning in the research room digging through directories of various kinds for the map. After that I went here for lunch
The food is acceptable but nothing exciting, the range of drink decent and the staff were friendly. It's not somewhere I'd usually be near except when at the DCLA but I'll probably drop in again after another visit.
The food is acceptable but nothing exciting, the range of drink decent and the staff were friendly. It's not somewhere I'd usually be near except when at the DCLA but I'll probably drop in again after another visit.
Tuesday 12 December 2017
Closing and (Re)openings (Jun-Dec 2017)
I last covered the openings and closings of Dublin pubs back in late June. There's been a huge amount of change since then - this is only what I'm aware of, at that!
First up, the changes from previously reported status. S0025 East Side Tavern, which was announced as permanently closed back in June, is neither permanently closed or closed at all - it has reopened and is operating under the same name. 1013114 Token has received its upgrade to being a pub and has been visited.
Then we have reopenings. S0007 Tramline, formerly Play and twentyone has opened, now on to Hawkins Street rather than D'Olier street (and has been visited).
N0224 The Belfry in Stoneybatter has reopened after an extremely long closure, as has N0060 The Legal Eagle. Comparatively, S4607 Mulligan and Haines has opened a very short period of time after Sweeneys Hotel closed down on the same site/licence. N0099 The Luggage Room both closed (as the Dubliner) and reopened in the time period.
After all that, we have had the largest set of new openings since I have detailed stats for (2010).
Two new Press Up Entertainment venues in the same overall building have opened - 1013039 Robertas and 1013229 Dollard & Co are, respectively, a bar and a food hall in the overall set of buildings containing the Clarence Hotel, Worksman Club and Liquor Rooms.
A number of premises which are not specifically pubs have also opened with pub licences - 1013149 Urban Brewing is a new microbrewery, restaurant and bar in the CHQ building; 1013164 Pearse Lyons Distillery and 1012980 Dublin Whiskey Museum are tourist venues now licenced to sell samples after tours/exhibits and 1013276 Omniplex Cinema Rathmines is as the name suggests, a cinema - this is likely a response to the Stella reopening across the road (licence number for this is not yet known)
And finally, we have the closings. Fortunately, there aren't a huge amount.
S1526 Rosie O'Gradys has closed for redevelopment of the site (there will likely be a new pub here after this, S0041 Neds has closed for redevelopment (there will be a new hotel here), S1493 McCauleys has closed but is up for rent again. N0858 Bram Stoker Hotel has become an emergency accommodation hub.
First up, the changes from previously reported status. S0025 East Side Tavern, which was announced as permanently closed back in June, is neither permanently closed or closed at all - it has reopened and is operating under the same name. 1013114 Token has received its upgrade to being a pub and has been visited.
Then we have reopenings. S0007 Tramline, formerly Play and twentyone has opened, now on to Hawkins Street rather than D'Olier street (and has been visited).
N0224 The Belfry in Stoneybatter has reopened after an extremely long closure, as has N0060 The Legal Eagle. Comparatively, S4607 Mulligan and Haines has opened a very short period of time after Sweeneys Hotel closed down on the same site/licence. N0099 The Luggage Room both closed (as the Dubliner) and reopened in the time period.
After all that, we have had the largest set of new openings since I have detailed stats for (2010).
Two new Press Up Entertainment venues in the same overall building have opened - 1013039 Robertas and 1013229 Dollard & Co are, respectively, a bar and a food hall in the overall set of buildings containing the Clarence Hotel, Worksman Club and Liquor Rooms.
A number of premises which are not specifically pubs have also opened with pub licences - 1013149 Urban Brewing is a new microbrewery, restaurant and bar in the CHQ building; 1013164 Pearse Lyons Distillery and 1012980 Dublin Whiskey Museum are tourist venues now licenced to sell samples after tours/exhibits and 1013276 Omniplex Cinema Rathmines is as the name suggests, a cinema - this is likely a response to the Stella reopening across the road (licence number for this is not yet known)
And finally, we have the closings. Fortunately, there aren't a huge amount.
S1526 Rosie O'Gradys has closed for redevelopment of the site (there will likely be a new pub here after this, S0041 Neds has closed for redevelopment (there will be a new hotel here), S1493 McCauleys has closed but is up for rent again. N0858 Bram Stoker Hotel has become an emergency accommodation hub.
Thursday 7 December 2017
S0029 O'Donoghues
This is the pub on Merrion Row - there being multiple premises with similar names.
A noted music pub, its impossible to make your way in to any of the rooms here and not see multiple bits of Dubliners memoriablia - this being the pub they're most commonly collectively connected with out of the hundreds they performed and drank in.
The premises these days is a bit of a labyrinth, with traditional areas either side of a huge smoking area, and upstairs rooms which can be comparatively very quiet, but may be privately booked at a given time
My attention was drawn to a large poster in the back corner bar of Dublin pub fronts from at least 20 years ago; complete with a map - which, unfortunately, light conditions and the few pints consumed in the earlier pub made it impossible to photo in decent detail. I will return during a quieter, brighter time to get info from this.
S0153 The Ferryman
This and the next post are a little late due to how busy I've been in the life that pays for doing this...
One of the last of the dockers pubs - the map shows the volume there used to be along both sides of the river - this has long since changed in to being an after-work spot for the banking and tech industries that now work in the docklands.
The building has been extensively renovated and now trades as The Ferryman Hotel. Its a bit more twee on the interior than I imagine it was 20 years ago, with random road signs and old photos you'd expect in a theme bar.
One of the last of the dockers pubs - the map shows the volume there used to be along both sides of the river - this has long since changed in to being an after-work spot for the banking and tech industries that now work in the docklands.
The building has been extensively renovated and now trades as The Ferryman Hotel. Its a bit more twee on the interior than I imagine it was 20 years ago, with random road signs and old photos you'd expect in a theme bar.
December 2017 licence update
Huge differences to trawl through this month, but very little change
Renumbered
1013363 Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley formerly N2503.
Duplicate
S4542 A never seen before theatre licence for The Globe on George's Street (not on my records back to 2011)
Renumbered
1013363 Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley formerly N2503.
Duplicate
S4542 A never seen before theatre licence for The Globe on George's Street (not on my records back to 2011)
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