I had previously said I thought I'd done all the pubs people expected me to have visited, but I hadn't. This was one. I've identified another but that can wait until I do visit it.
One of the generally identified pubs that retain their Victorian era interiors, after having featured in TV shows and movies and getting an overall name for its authenticity; this pub which is in a residential square and off the beaten track is usually extremely busy. When compared to other pubs which are equivalently hidden away - N1123 Slatts or 1012782 The Hideout this pub may as well be in Temple Bar
However, it isn't. Drink prices reflect its suburban location - change from a fiver is possible for a pint. There's no TV, there's a limited food menu with extremely limited hours and a fairly restricted range of drink; but that is what you go there for.
There's not many pubs in Dublin that are consistently known by an unofficial name, and this is probably the best known. There is some acceptance of the name by the owners, the Kavanagh family who have operated the pub for hundreds of years, but the pub is definitely called John Kavanagh and not The Gravediggers. But nobody will really object to either name.
Sunday 6 May 2018
N0233 The Bald Eagle / Cross Guns
A large, primarily craft beer bar in Phibsboro - this was my original intended target for dinner but was so busy I went to the N2405 The Whitworth instead and called back in a good while later when it had calmed down.
The outside of the premises presents it as two bars - the Bald Eagle and Cross Guns - but they are entirely the one pub inside. There is one main bar, and they use the same doors, toilets and smoking area.
The current setup, and name, is very recent; but the pub itself is quite old - the low and locally sequential licence number show it predates the regional licence numbering system. Most recently it was "Smiths of Phibsboro", a TP Smith Group pub but it has also been Bushes and O'Mahoneys (and possibly other names)
The outside of the premises presents it as two bars - the Bald Eagle and Cross Guns - but they are entirely the one pub inside. There is one main bar, and they use the same doors, toilets and smoking area.
The current setup, and name, is very recent; but the pub itself is quite old - the low and locally sequential licence number show it predates the regional licence numbering system. Most recently it was "Smiths of Phibsboro", a TP Smith Group pub but it has also been Bushes and O'Mahoneys (and possibly other names)
N0236 Brian Boru
Another, and the last for me, of Phibsboro's traditional pubs. There reaches a point where you can't write much more about decent boozers with nice interiors other than basically saying just that - if I'd worked my way North to South rather than South to North it'd have got more text.
Mentioned in Ulysses (admittedly, quite a few pubs are), there have been repeated attempts to redevelop its quite large site, but none have progressed to date.
N2405 The Whitworth
This pub was known as the Porterhouse North for most of its life, and is now "The Whitworth At The Porterhouse", suggesting that the name change may be reversed in future.
Situated in an art deco former car dealership, and incorporating the small former Glasnevin railway station, this is probably the most architecturally interesting pub in Dublin. Drink options are the normal Porterhouse lineup of their own extensive range brewed in Bray and some guest beers; food is pretty decent and the pub is big enough that you will probably find a seat on all but the busiest nights.
As an anecdote, my sister lived on Whitworth Road when this was still a car dealership and the alarm had a habit of going off at 17:01 on the Friday of a bank holiday weekend and running until 09:00 on the Tuesday morning. It was the Friday of a bank holiday weekend when I visited - no alarms to be heard!
Situated in an art deco former car dealership, and incorporating the small former Glasnevin railway station, this is probably the most architecturally interesting pub in Dublin. Drink options are the normal Porterhouse lineup of their own extensive range brewed in Bray and some guest beers; food is pretty decent and the pub is big enough that you will probably find a seat on all but the busiest nights.
As an anecdote, my sister lived on Whitworth Road when this was still a car dealership and the alarm had a habit of going off at 17:01 on the Friday of a bank holiday weekend and running until 09:00 on the Tuesday morning. It was the Friday of a bank holiday weekend when I visited - no alarms to be heard!
N0234 The Hut
Unlike the previous post, this traditional pub in Phibsboro does turn up on the regular lists of surviving Victorian pubs in the city. It doesn't seem much more Victorian than the Bohemian but is recognised as such by others anyway.
Of the 16 pubs recognised for their age and authenticity this is probably the one you're most likely to be able to find a seat in on a busier night - a bit outside the city (the new Luas extension makes it accessible) and entirely off the tourist track
Of the 16 pubs recognised for their age and authenticity this is probably the one you're most likely to be able to find a seat in on a busier night - a bit outside the city (the new Luas extension makes it accessible) and entirely off the tourist track
N0232 Bohemian House
A former JG Mooney pub and another of Phibsboros good traditional Dublin pubs. The bar here feels entirely Victorian but doesn't appear on any of the 'standard' lists of remaining Victorian interiors - but the dark wood, partitions and flooring/ceiling all seem to be that old.
Situated in a particularly nice looking terracotta brick building on Doyles Corner, this premises used to actually be operated by the Doyles of N0235 across the road who gave the name to the crossroads
Situated in a particularly nice looking terracotta brick building on Doyles Corner, this premises used to actually be operated by the Doyles of N0235 across the road who gave the name to the crossroads
N0209 Clarkes Phibsborough House
This is the first in a series of an evening in Phibsboro(ugh). For a small enough suburb, Phibsboro seems to have the densest collection of traditional pubs in the entire county and this is one of them
Exceptionally quiet - noise wise, there were plenty of customers - this was a slightly strange experience. The other customers were either watching the racing or talking extremely quietly. One TV showed a low-rent UK music station but was muted and the racing was down quite low.
A power cut which affected the entire area occurred while I was in the pub - unfortunately it was the early evening in May as I would have liked to see if the barman tried to light the bar with candles or similar!
Exceptionally quiet - noise wise, there were plenty of customers - this was a slightly strange experience. The other customers were either watching the racing or talking extremely quietly. One TV showed a low-rent UK music station but was muted and the racing was down quite low.
A power cut which affected the entire area occurred while I was in the pub - unfortunately it was the early evening in May as I would have liked to see if the barman tried to light the bar with candles or similar!
Saturday 5 May 2018
May 2018 licence update
The May 2018 licence update appeared yesterday evening. Likely due to how late Aprils was and how early this is in comparison, there are minimal changes and no additions, removals or renumberings.
Tuesday 1 May 2018
S4478 Radisson Blu Royal
This is the city centre Radisson, for the avoidance of confusion.
Decent hotel. Look elsewhere to use as a pub - they don't make much of the relatively central location and with new bars opening up nearby at a constant rate I doubt there's much point.
Decent hotel. Look elsewhere to use as a pub - they don't make much of the relatively central location and with new bars opening up nearby at a constant rate I doubt there's much point.
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