RetroReviews: N1099 Sackville Lounge

This tiny pub has probably caused more heartache for the pub aficionados/Pintmen of Dublin in the past few years. My first visit to it was probably only in 2015 or so, but its been a regular since - an experience shared with many others who go and want to go back.

The pub has closed, reopened, closed for COVID like everywhere else, and then published a statement that it was not reopening that has since been refuted but got significant media coverage, much of it never updated to reference the refutation. New owners, who operate other premises in the city are apparently prepared to reopen it immediately on it becoming legally possible.

A "one-manner", the entire pub area is about the size of a large dining room in a 70s or 80s suburban house; with the gents toilets in the basement and the ladies an utter afterthought upstairs; and used to be decorated with a full set of GAA jerseys. 

Prior to its first closure in January 2017, you could get the standard range of auld lad pub pints here, along with toasties - stored pre-made in a tiny fridge behind the counter; just as they should be in this kind of pub; but when it reopened in September 2019 there were some slight modernisations to the offering of drinks, and the toasties took a few weeks to come back. Despite the reopening being flagged for some time, there were plenty of people who were unwilling to believe it had happened and I had to send people photos from the pub when I managed to get in a few days after they opened the doors again!

I'm looking forward to returning here when it reopens again. As a public plea to the new operators - the slight rework before the 2019 reopening was sufficient (except maybe some further works to the toilets - but there's only so much you can do with Victorian fittings) - don't do anything else!

RetroReviews: N1074 Madigans North Earl Street

This pub is rather anonymous and as such I can't really remember anything - my Google Timeline says I was here though!

RetroReviews: N1070 Nealons

Oh Nealons. Saved from what appeared to be certain closure, but ruined in the process - showing how much of a pubs atmosphere is actually the staff.

I used to go to a regular meetup here. We went back after the new owners came in; for a single month, before moving up the street to N0084 The Black Sheep instead.

Its a beautiful pub internally; but its not what it was when Eddie was holding shop.

RetroReviews: N1062 The Flowing Tide

I've been here both under my own steam; and also when my sister got convinced that the band we'd just seen in The Academy may come in afterwards; as that is what they used to do after gigs. Realistically, they were now too old and boring to go on the lash after a gig and anyway, the metal cachet of the Flowing Tide isn't quite what it used to be (see reviews on that link claiming it was gone by 2010)

RetroReviews: N1061 Madigans Abbey Street

I know I've been here; and I can even tell you when - June 16th 2007 (was going to a gig in The Point) - but I can't remember anything else. 

RetroReviews: N0593 Downeys

"Make sure you don't go to Cabra after" was the command issued by my friends wife before we headed in to a game in Dalymount.

We did head to Cabra, as all the pubs in Phisboro were rammed and we wanted a quieter pint. As far as I remember the pub was fine, as was the chipper next door. I think she probably meant "don't go to Matts" though.

RetroReviews: N0304 The Harp / Carnegie Court Hotel

As previously mentioned, I worked in Swords a Very Long Time Ago, and this was our usual after work spot. It was the second-closest to the office but won our trade with the finger food.

Basically, when the kitchens closed in the evening they would fire any finger food that was left out to the regulars. Could end up being nothing depending on the day, or it could be a feast.

If you relied on getting a free dinner,  you could end up wobbling down to the chipper (remember, the kitchen has closed) - and this could be after hours of drinking if you were on a 4pm finish; which is something I'd never advise anyone to do now; but we were all young then.