1002655 Generator

A youth hostel with a bar - not a common combination! Generator are an internal brand of "trendy" youth hostels, but the presence of a bar predates them operating here as this was once Chief O'Neills Hotel and briefly a Park Inn. When Chief O'Neills, they operated sightseeing trips up the adjoining chimney which was once part of the Jameson Distillery, but this no longer operates as the chimney is apparently no longer safe

The Jameson connection is reflected in the decor inside - there are chandeliers made from Jameson bottles - but it does feel a bit like you're drinking in a school dining room at times (which I've actually done at an event in Portugal...) but without the kid sized chairs.

Its an interesting addition to the drinking venues of the city none the less; and they do definitely invite custom from outside - there were massive signs advertising their burgers, which I unfortunately didn't get to try as I'd had one some hours beforehand.

N0219 Walshs

In contrast to the previous entry (L Mulligan Grocer), this pub both looks like and actually is a traditional Dublin boozer. Large lounge, small bar, one shirt and tie wearing barman and change from a fiver for (some) pints. Nice place to spend a bit of time

N0222 L Mulligan Grocer

Almost certainly the most gastro of Dublin's gastropubs; L Mulligans is located in Stoneybatter which is more generally a haven for traditional Dublin pubs. It still resembles one inside, having been one for many years, but a quick look at the food menu - or even the taps - changes that perception.

One wild boar burger and a pint of 9% Trouble Brewing Fresh Prince of Kildare later and any ideas that this is similar to nearby pubs (see next entry for one) are gone. The food menu is mostly Irish sourced and everything has a beer or whiskey pairing suggestion; and the beer selection is good and varied.

It doesn't have the market for craft pubs entirely to itself in the area - nearby N0196 The Barbers (which I tried to visit the same day, but it appears to have limited opening hours on bank holidays) would be somewhat similar;

S0120 Whelans

Somehow, in many years going out in Dublin, I'd never actually been to Whelans. Thinking it through, I think that many of the bands I like that'd likely to play here had been playing larger venues when I was younger. Anyway, that ended last night as Therapy? played an acoustic set in the main room to a packed crowd. Great gig, great venue.

1011789 Flannerys

This vast pub on Camden Street was extremely quiet and only partially open - but it was 6pm on a Tuesday evening, so that's to be expected. Service was in the "Vintage Bar" to one side which is primarily a whiskey bar, with the beer garden also open. By contrast to some other recent visits, this pub is surprisingly cheap for its location - €5 lager deep in to the southside is rare. Friendly barman - appeared to be the only one working there at the time - and a nice enough place to pass the time before crossing the road for the reason I was here, which the next post will cover.

S0066 & S4526 Capitol Lounge

Its like 2006 never ended!

(This pub has a pub and theatre licence on the same premises)

S0039 Long Stone

This wasn't actually my intended premises to visit at this stage - I was heading for S0041 Ned's which has recently had planning permission put in for replacement by a hotel and will presumably be closing at some point. There was, however, two men having an extremely loud argument in the doorway so I decided to go somewhere else.

Not that the Long Stone was particularly much better for noise - there was a very, very loud group inside the front door. Nearly everyone else who came in to the pub either went to the smoking area or as far away down the back as possible due to these.

However, there's not much a pub can do about that, so not really something to judge a place on! Decent range of pints, had a good dinner fairly quickly provided also. Coincidentally, the Long Stone also has planning permission applied for for its demolition but that is likely to be on a much longer time scale.