Monthly Archive for December, 2004

The Rob Roy

Published on December 30, 2004 in Cork. 7 Comments

Rob

The first Cobh pub to be reviewed, plenty more to do here! I went down to see a friend of mine’s band playing there. They are called ‘The Daystars’. It was a good while ago. As you walk in the door there is seating on the left hand side. As you walk in a bit the bar is on the right. If you go around to the right there is a back room and this is where i saw the band playing. There are seats around the sides of this room. It is big enough and even though there is no actual stage there is an area for bands. It was a Sunday night when i was in there and the place was fairly busy. There was a good atmosphere there that night. The pints were ok in there. I only had the one pint of Murphy’s and it wasn’t great and i was drinking minerals for the rest of the night.

The toilets in the Rob Roy are located in the back room. I think there are ones at the front as well. The ones i used were ok. They were relatively clean. Overall i thought that the pub was decent enough and even though i went down to see the band i was quite impressed with the pub. Cobh has an abundance of pubs and i’d like to check a few more of them out sometime in the future. The Rob Roy is a decent pub and i might pop back again some day!

Toilet rating: 6/10
Pint rating: 6/10
Overall rating: 6/10

Final comment: As said Cobh itself is worth a visit to check out the loads of pubs that are there.

Cronins

Published on December 30, 2004 in Cork. 0 Comments

It is probably the most well known pub in the town of Crosshaven. I have been in there a few times. It is situated down near the town car park near centra. Cronins does an excellent summer trade as Crosshaven attracts quite a lot of summer visitors. It also does well during Cork week down there. As you walk in there is seating on the right and the bar is on the left. As you walk down along you go into another area and the bar continues through. There are nice seating areas in here. To the left there is another area where they had a pool table the last time i was there. Cronins is nice to pop into during the day and they do a very decent pot of tea. The pints of Murphy’s in there are very good and i have never had a complaint about them. It does a good regular local trade all year long. There is some nice seating located outside as well.

The toilets are fine in Cronins. Any time i have been in they have been very clean. The pub enjoys a very scenic location looking out over Cork harbour and the Crosshaven Yacht club is in the vicinity. If you take a spin to Crosshaven a visit to Cronins is a pleasure. It has a traditional Irish feel to it and it is quite comfortable. Even though it’s not too far from home i haven’t gone there that much.

Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 7/10

Final comment: Cronins is a great pub to visit and it’s worth it. Check it out.

O’ Dwyers

Published on December 29, 2004 in Kerry. 2 Comments

O’ Dwyers is a pub in Waterville Co. Kerry. It is located on the main street in the village and is owned by legendary Kerry footballer and manager Mick O’ Dwyer. It is also a B+B. As you walk in the door there is a nice seating area to the right and the bar is in front of you. There is a great open fire to the right as well which is where we sit for the comfort. The pub is long and narrow and there is seating on the right of the bar down to the back. It is a very welcoming pub and is very popular among locals. It has a traditional Irish feel to it. The stout in here is especially good. Guinness is your best bet or Smithwicks. As stated before Murphy’s doesn’t travel well outside of Cork. The bar is quite small. The last time i was in it was out of season so the place was quiet enough and people were just watching the tv. It would definitely be great for a trad session.

The toilets are located down the back of the pub and are basic enough but clean. There is a long corridor that brings you down to them. I haven’t met Mick in there but have met some of his family around. They appear to be nice people and their pub is nice also. There are some interesting pictures on the wall which is something to look out for. I haven’t been down that direction for a while but hope to get down a bit in the new year. If you visit Waterville a trip to this pub is important. It’s very cozy and great to enjoy a few pints in.

Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 7 and a half/10

Final comment: O’ Dwyers is one of the many great pubs in Waterville. There are a good few and are all worth checking out

Pine Lodge

Published on December 28, 2004 in Cork. 0 Comments

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Pine Lodge is a pub located in Myrtilleville Co. Cork. It is a pub renowned for its live music. Most decent Cork bands have played down there at some stage. It has a nice location overlooking the sea on an elevated site. It’s like an old mansion house and is a very impressive building. As you walk in the main door the bar is located on the right. There is seating all around this area. The main action is in the back section where the stage is located. There is some seating in front of the stage and standing room. There is a small bar located in here as well. The last time i was there, there was a pool table in the back section as well. They had a video game thing with a few different games which was fun. It is an intimate enough venue and even though it’s been a while since i’ve been there i enjoyed the last trip and the band was excellent too. The pints in Pine Lodge are good from what i can remember. They attract a lot of stout drinkers down there.

The toilets weren’t too bad. It was a busy night and the toilets were ok. Pine Lodge attracts music lovers from all over the city. It is a good drive from the city but people still seem to make the journey. The place could have changed a lot since i’ve been down there. I would like to head down again and must watch out for a gig i’d be interested in. If you enjoy live music and want to catch a decent live band then Pine Lodge is a place you can do it.

Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10

Final comment: Pine Lodge would also be nice to visit during the day as there are some great views. You’ll be guaranteed a good time if you like live music.

O’ Keeffe’s

Published on December 28, 2004 in Cork. 0 Comments

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O’ Keeffe’s was my favourite pub visited in Mallow. It is situated on Davis street. I spent a couple of weeks up in Mallow working and i was walking along one night and decided to pop in here. As you walk in the main door there is seating to the right and as you walk down on the left as well. The bar is on the right and continues down towards the back of the pub. There is seating situated on the left across from the bar as you walk down along. It is a very long but narrow pub. When i went in, i was on my own and its definitely the kind of pub you can do that comfortably. I ordered my pint and sat and watched a film. There was two oul fellas arguing at the bar and another guy decided to try and intervene. He was told where to go and i laughed and thought this is the kind of pub that i like! The pints of stout were excellent and i didn’t feel one bit awkward. I chatted with one guy about nothing in particular and enjoyed the bit of banter that was going on.

There are two lots of toilets in O’Keeffe’s. There is one across from the bar and the other is down a stairs at the back of the pub. The one at the front across from the bar is a strange sort of place. It wasn’t in a very bad state but could have done with a bit of a clean. The one downstairs was ok. I think there are two gent’s toilets but only one woman’s. It kind of reminded me of the Cogan’s of Mallow. I paid a return visit another night and it was busier than the previous night. Its not the sort of pub thats very exciting but you can have decent pints and a bit of craic with the regulars.

Toilet rating: 6/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: O Keeffe’s is an oul mans pub and its on the main street in Mallow. It was fun to visit while i was there.

The Overdraft

Published on December 28, 2004 in Cork. 1 Comment

The Overdraft is a pub and restaurant located in Minane Bridge, a couple of miles outside Carrigaline in Co Cork. It is a good distance out and it has a very tranquil location. It looks like a big house from the outside and there is car parking next to it and also across the road. The restaurant is renowned for its good food, especially its fillet steak. The pub is very small and is next to the restaurant. As you walk in the door there is seating to the left and straight ahead. The bar is off to the right and it’s small too. Apparently sources say that the bar counter was taken from the old ‘Munster and Leinster’ bank at 66 South Mall. That’s now AIB bank. This is a very interesting piece of history from this great city. There are more seats across from the bar and that constitutes the place. The pints of Murphy’s are very good in the overdraft. It does a good local trade in the pub and the restaurant is popular with locals and people from all corners. There is a great fire in the bar and there is a beer garden outside.

The restaurant is the main feature of the Overdraft. The toilets are small and are well kept and you’d expect that with the restaurant being the main trade. I have only ever been in the pub while waiting to be seated in the restaurant and it always seems to be busy enough. A visit to the overdraft is definitely worth it. You can take a stroll in Tracton woods which isn’t far. You will have to drive to get there and back but for a few pints and a bit of grub it’s great. Pop down and check it out.

Toilet rating 8/10
Pint rating: 7/10
Overall rating 7/10

Final comment: The Overdraft is a place you must visit once. It is one of the finest restaurants in the area and the pub is charming. There’s music in the bar on Sundays which may be worth checking too.

The Oyster Creek

Published on December 28, 2004 in Cork. 0 Comments

The Oyster Creek is a pub located near Belgooly and on the back road to Kinsale. It’s not a pub you would come across unless specifically going there. It is very isolated in it’s position. I have been there a couple of times and it’s always been for lunch. I have only ever had one pint in the pub. There is a big car park at the back with ample car spaces. There are enterances at the front and back. If you walk in the front enterance there is seating to right and left. Off to the left is a nice area thats good to sit in. If you walk straight on there is a corridor that will bring you to the toilets. The bar is to the right as you come in, in a different section. There are tables across from the bar as you walk down and a few tables straight ahead. During the summer they also have seating outside. The food down there is very good and they are always very busy around lunchtime. I cannot really comment on the quality of their drink. I also have never been in there at night.

The toilets are small enough but have always been in very good condition on any visit i have paid. I was talking to a friend of mine and this pub would be her local. She said that on a typical Saturday night it’s busy up to about nine o clock but then the place empties. To be honest it’s a nice place to go during the day but i wouldn’t consider it during the night as it’s just too far out. If your looking for a different place to have lunch it’s definately worth a visit.

Toilet rating: 8/10
Pint rating: From what i can remember: 6/10
Overall rating: 7/10

Final comment: As said it’s nice place to go for a bit to eat or an afternoon drink but you’d want a dedicated designated driver on standby! The food is nice and it’s worth going to for that one reason.

The Silver Key

Published on December 23, 2004 in Cork. 3 Comments

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The silver key is a bar and restaurant out in Ballintemple, Cork. It’s just down the road from Temple hill, Cork constitutions rugby grounds. It has been done up in the past few years and is now a very impressive pub. I was in there for a few pints last Sunday night. There is ample parking outside and it has a prominent roadside location. There are two entrances into the pub and if you go in the one nearest the car park the bar is directly in front of you. There are seats to the left and right and if you walk straight on there is a separate section here. This can be closed off and used as a function room. You still have to use the main bar regardless. When you come in if you take a right and follow the bar down along there is seating on the right. After the bar there is seating on the left and right. The stairs up to the restaurant are here. It was very busy in there last Sunday with a mixture of both young and older people around. I was on Murphy’s and Paddy was drinking Beamish and the pints were spot on. The bar staff were very efficient and i got served promptly. It is a very modern pub with comfortable seating. The music was not too loud and you could chat comfortably.

There are two sets of toilets down stairs. The ones i used the other night were like a cave. That’s all i can describe them as. They were small but very clean. There was a nice atmosphere there on Sunday and for a Sunday night it was very busy. The Silver Key does very nice food as well and the restaurant is very popular. There is not a lot of competition in the immediate area so it grabs a lot of local people. I would recommend a visit to the ‘Key’ as it’s known to see the place for yourself.

Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: The Silver key is a bit out of the way if you’re not from the area but it isn’t too far from Douglas. This was my fourth visit in and i will definitely head back again.

Franciscan well

Published on December 23, 2004 in Cork. 4 Comments

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The north mall in the city is not a place you will find too many pubs. However you will find The Franciscan well here. It is a unique pub in that they brew their own beer. It opened its doors back in 1998. It is a little bit of a walk outside the city center but it is certainly worth the trek. It is located up an alleyway and in to the right. As you walk in the door the bar is straight in front of you. There is seating all around you. You will see the brewing equipment and big kegs behind the bar. It is certainly a very different experience to a normal pub. If you walk left and go up a few steps there is another section here with more seating. If you keep walking up you go out a door and you come into their beer garden. This is a great place to hang out during the summer and i’ve been to a few bbq’s there. There are plenty of benches here and they even open an outside bar during the summer. Their beers and stout are great. This is the first mention of beer in these reviews but they deserve mention here. Some of these you will come across are Shandon stout, Blarney Blonde, Rebel red, Purgatory pale ale, Friar weisse and Bellringer winter warmer which is 6.5%. I find the Blarney blond and the Rebel red to be nice but am not too gone on the Shandon stout. The drink is costly enough but you’d expect that.

The well does very good business and can get busy. The toilets are not great and are very small. They are located near the entrance to the beer garden. They have been messy any time i have visited. Overall it’s a great pub and a very interesting place to go if you’ve not ventured there before. For that something different it’s great. Check it out during the summer months when we have some sort of good weather to relax in their beer garden.

Toilet rating: 4/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: The Franciscan well is a super pub and i don’t mean that in terms of size. You are always guaranteed something different with their brews and you should head there just to sample some local Cork drink.

An Brog

Published on December 23, 2004 in Cork. 15 Comments

An Brog is a pub on Oliver Plunkett street near the Grand Parade. It is another of Cork’s late night bars. An Brog is a favorite with a lot of people and you are likely to come across all sorts of people inside. There is usually a bouncer hanging about but he’s normally not too fussy about any sort of dress code. If you look legal you’re fine! An Brog has doubled if not tripled in size in recent times. As you walk in there are seats on the right and on the left as you go in. I think there is a bar to the left in that small area. If you walk up along there is another bar in front of you. Standing at that bar there are a few seats to the left but most of the action is to the right. This is the new part of An Brog. It adds a huge amount to the place. There is another bar off to the left and seating pretty much all around. There is ample dancing room and normally the dj hangs around in here somewhere. An Brog plays quite alternative music from punk to rock to god knows what else. The pints can be good and bad. If it’s very busy (which it can get) the pints tend to deteriorate.

The toilets are generally messy and can get unusable when it’s very busy. That was the case on the last visit. On a quieter night they are probably much better. An Brog is generally a fun pub to visit. It’s not a place i always head to but i do enjoy it when i go in. I could go on for a while describing it but i’ll cut it short today. Christmas is coming and all that! Most people have been in here at some stage but if you haven’t then hop along.

Toilet rating: 4/10
Pint rating: 6/10
Overall rating: 6/10

Final comment: An Brog is a place to head to for late night drinking. It’s probably one of the better establishments around.