2017 was the first full year of this project,
As well as populating and maintaining the map (1350+ past and present pubs, all manually placed), I have visited 101 premises for the first time. December was the busiest month for this - 18 new premises; with January being the quietest with only 1.
This has had a net impact of only 88 on the target figure, due to changes in the total number of pubs; with 286 of 1004 licences listed having been visited as of today.
On the licencing side, there's been 24 additions - a few of which were existing pubs missing from the list but the bulk of which are actually new pubs; with 11 removals - most of which had been closed for years. In terms of actually open pubs, there is a small increase from closed premises reopening outweighing existing premises closing without licence cancellation.
I've visited everything from tiny pubs to huge venues, semi private bars (with public licences, of course) to transit locations with millions passing. Pubs visited go as far West as the Springfield Hotel, South as the Blue Light and North as, well, the airport - North County Dublin is in next years plans!
I've spent probably more time on this not actually in pubs - between trawling newspaper archives, Thoms Directories, the Dublin City Archive and other sources researching for the map, articles posted on the blog and other future projects.
Next years plans include the previously mentioned focus on North County Dublin - I have substantially completed the North city centre now yet have little done in NCD except for some premises in Swords (last visited in 2006). I intend to start taking photos some places to break up the text-only format and to start writing more on the history of pubs and licencing.
Pub #300 isn't too far away and I'll be trying to select somewhere important enough for it. #200 was the Blue Light and #250 the Long Hall so somewhere with history is essential.
Sunday, 31 December 2017
Friday, 29 December 2017
N0195 Mission
A sister bar to N0215 Dice Bar, sharing their access to some exclusive beers produced by/for the owners. I finally got to try one of these, having not known or noticed when visiting the Dice Bar.
This may actually be bigger than Dice Bar internally, having two and a half or three levels depending on how you count them, but operates much shorter hours - one staff shift six days a week seems to be the norm.
The corners around the O'More Bridge had three pubs until maybe ten years ago; at times recently there has been none as Mission itself is fairly recent and there has been a large number of short-term occupants of the building. Despite large quantities of apartments it seems the area doesn't have the volume of locals to support the number of pubs it once had.
This may actually be bigger than Dice Bar internally, having two and a half or three levels depending on how you count them, but operates much shorter hours - one staff shift six days a week seems to be the norm.
The corners around the O'More Bridge had three pubs until maybe ten years ago; at times recently there has been none as Mission itself is fairly recent and there has been a large number of short-term occupants of the building. Despite large quantities of apartments it seems the area doesn't have the volume of locals to support the number of pubs it once had.
1006953 Oscars Cafe Bar
A permanently busy premises in Smithfield which effectively seems to be more a restaurant with a bar licence than an actual pub at this stage. While not as restaurant-y as some of the other places like that (TGI Fridays, Captain Americas etc) it doesn't seem like somewhere you'd go for a pint on its own - the other pubs on Smithfield Square are more suited for that.
N0224 The Belfry
Recently reopened after one of the longest closures I'm aware of - around 8 years or so - this former tradtional 'locals' pub is now a stark, black painted premises both inside and out. It still had a substantial number of older, presumably local, patrons on the evening I visited.
Fairly reasonably priced (a common factor to Stoneybatters pubs, or at least most of them), this should be a good addition to the options in the area.
Fairly reasonably priced (a common factor to Stoneybatters pubs, or at least most of them), this should be a good addition to the options in the area.
N0196 The Barbers
A barbers with a pub in it; or possibly a pub with a barber in it. Its an interesting concept at least
The barber wasn't operating the day I was there, but the equipment is very much on show and the decor of the rest of the pub is to match, including much of the seating being barbers chairs or hairdryers.
The barber wasn't operating the day I was there, but the equipment is very much on show and the decor of the rest of the pub is to match, including much of the seating being barbers chairs or hairdryers.
N0223 Tommy O'Gara's
A traditional Dublin pub, although one that additionally serves a range of craft beer to match the demand of a rapidly gentrifying Stoneybatter. Cheap pints, racing and darts on the TVs, bar covered in the sports pages of the tabloids.
N0221 The Glimmer Man
A rambling bar and lounge in Stoneybatter with eclectic decor.
Nice and warm with a stove running on a cold December day, reasonably priced drinks and what may not be quite an official policy of letting you bring your own food in as it doesn't serve any itself.
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