Tuesday 12 November 2024

RetroReview: S3731 Farrier & Draper, South William Street (as Spy)

Ah, my youth, where the feck did that go...

A premises divided across multiple rooms of a Georgian mansion, this was definitely more interesting as Spy than it is now; but its probably still worth a look. I was a regular attendee here in 2006-8; but not since.

Monday 11 November 2024

November 2024 Register Update

This months update is delivered with thanks to Revenue's Statistics Department; who delivered me a replacement file when I noticed the original one was missing the county - which would have made it extremely hard to do an ingest and comparison on!

New licences:

1021114 Premier Inn, Newmarket Square - this means all operating Premier Inns are now on the public licence register; and I assume the few still in development will too

Reappearences:

N0029 Goya Lounge, North Strand - the former Strand House (not the current pub of that name), not currently trading 

Renumbering:

S341 Schoolhouse Hotel, Northumberland Road renumbered to 1021502

 

Saturday 9 November 2024

S0061 The Shelbourne Hotel

This was a "saving it for formal attire" premises, as I suspected I might have trouble getting served in my normal clothes. And indeed, nobody in the bar I went in to - the hotel has multiple, with the No. 27 Bars seeming to be the least formal - was dressed even vaugely like I would normally do. Chinos and a polo shirt might do it; and there were definitely people wearing runners.

However, the offering isn't stuffy - they do have an oysters menu, but they also offer burgers, toasted sandwiches and similar bar food; and a substantial tap list including multiple independent Irish offerings - Rye River are highlighted as a supplier of Irish products on their website, an element I wish more places serving tourists would do, rather than just relying on Guinness to be the Irish option on the menu.

The food isn't cheap, but also isn't obscenely priced; and the pints are actually close to reasonable - you can certainly pay a lot more in a lot less nice surroundings nearby.

Thursday 7 November 2024

RetroReview: S3723 Guinness Storehouse

This has to be the least likely "drank there with work" place, surely - but, I did.

First time was doing an outside broadcast from the Gravity Bar; where they were extremely welcoming hosts - food and drink on tap (quite literally) for myself and the presenters.

Second time was a work Christmas party in a side bar further down the structure.

I've never actually done the tourist tour of the place.

Tuesday 5 November 2024

Saturday 2 November 2024

RetroReview: S3718 Peader Kearneys

A very traditional Dublin pub, named after the author of the lyrics of our National Anthem, who once lived on the site - surely this is one of Dublin's older pubs?

Nope, its one of the newer ones - indeed it was the first pub in Dublin, possibly in Ireland, to have a licence moved in from outside its local area "at par" - one licence for one new pub, rather than requiring the extinguishment of multiple licences as was the norm for standalone pubs.

I think I visited here shortly enough before starting the blog, when I vaguely thought I'd like to try every pub - but I didn't take any notes. I think I had severe trouble getting a seat, though.

Friday 1 November 2024

Revisted Pubs: October 2024

There's a bit of a bias towards places I used to go to when I worked in the city centre here; but that was not intentional.

However, from the November writeup, it probably will be. As of the time of writing, I'm (deliberately) between jobs, starting a new one in the city centre on Monday - expect to see plenty of the old regulars come back, and some of my more recent ones (Kealys, McGraths) drop away.

N0002 Madigans Connolly - long gap before the train to Rush, writeups from their to come

N0006 Brew Dock - hiding from the rugby crowds and waiting for a train

1015426 Rubys - dinner spot one night

S0077 Nearys - regular meeting location

S0035 Mulligans - to wash away the horrors of a newly visited place beforehand (writeup to come)

1003568 The Old Spot - I was rather (>45mins) early for the place I was intending to go to open

N1130 The Foxhunter - the only bus I could get out of the city that wasn't crammed was a C1 that doesn't go anywhere near my house, so I had to change buses at the last common stop. Which happens to be outside here...

S0083 Beer Temple - food and pints in a decent spot to get a seat in before a gig in...

1001292 The Olympia Theatre - never calling it that stupid name