I don't generally write up a revisit to a pub even if it has been altered significantly - the excuse I'm using for the Wetherspoons in Swords and a few other places, but this is up there for significance of the change.
The Tap, as was, was a fairly normal locals pub but closed before I ever got to go there. Taproom 47 had a very troubled introduction, taking over a year to open; and got squashed by the pandemic only about three months in - but I visited it during that time.
Somewhere else I visited during that time, during a pub-bagging expedition I eventually wrote up in January 2020, was Soup in Dun Laoghaire. My partner rather likes ramen - I'm fine with it, but would never go out of my way for it - so a highly rated ramen bar on the way was an obvious place to pop in to.
On the way out of Lockdown 3.0 in 2021, Soup announced that they were opening a second premises in what had been Taproom 47. Initially, I wasn't sure if this retained the bar licence - but on seeing that it was offering full bar service I assumed that it probably was. This was confirmed the easy way - by asking the premises itself; with confirmation that they are operating under the pub licence and even doing some limited off-sales of craft cans (with takeout pricing) as this is allowable for a pub.
So I dropped back in. A lot has changed, with some bits not changed at all. The menu is now even more solidly Irish craft, there are cocktails, and obviously there's ramen and the associated sides available. There's relatively limited seating inside (for the size of the pub - which is big), with what I'm guessing should be sharing tables appropriately spaced out leaving lots and lots of space when its all couples at tables; and a small number of outdoor seats.
You can still drop in for drinks - and on a Tuesday, when I visited, Bonobo is (currently) closed so this provides some additional choice; but it is primarily a restaurant now. Regardless, I'm sure I'll be back.
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