Monthly Archive for May, 2005

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Heuston Station

Published on May 6, 2005 in Dublin and Outside Munster. 0 Comments

Heuston station is the main railway station situated in Dublin 8. We were coming from an international rugby match at Lansdowne road in the past and as we had a bit of time to spare we popped into the bar at the railway station. Slightly apprehensive i followed Fos in and we got seats across from the bar. Being from Cork and used to the facilities in Kent station i was pleasantly surprised at the set this pub had. It was spacious and although busy still had quite a few free seats. I think i decided not to have a pint of stout so i got a pint of beer instead which is very unusual. There was a guy on guitar playing and singing and i thought he was quite good but was receiving no appreciation for his effort from uninterested commuters. The pint was ok but didn’t get a chance to finish as our train was ready to go so we went for it.

The toilets are up to the usual standards of railway stations which isn’t great. The ones i have used are in poor condition plus you have to pay to use them. It is not going towards their upkeep it seems. I only paid a flying visit to this bar and if i was very early for a train i may head back there again.

Toilet rating: 3/10
Pint rating: 5/10
Overall rating: 5/10

Final comment: You can’t expect a great lot from a bar such as this. In fairness it is quite a nice place. If your in Heuston station you can take a peek.

The Raven Bar

Published on May 6, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

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Located on a corner between two streets is The Raven Bar. We went in there earlier tonight for a pint. This is known as one of Cork’s popular nightspots yet this was my first visit tonight. They sometimes have a bouncer at the door. As you walk in there is seating on the right and left and the bar is straight ahead. If you walk to the left and down past the bar there is another section here that i only saw for a couple of seconds. To be honest i thought this pub would be bigger. The pint of Murphy’s i consumed was a very decent one it has to be said. We got a seat even though it was relatively busy. There was a good mixture of customers there tonight. Most were respectable and well dressed. They have chairs and tables outside to cater for the needs of the smokers among us.

The toilets are located up a steep lot of stairs. The gents have a strange sign that needs to be interpreted and could be difficult after too much drink. They are small toilets but were well kept. I have seen the Raven very packed as i have passed on previous nights. It has a good name and is somewhere to consider going in the hub of Cork nightlife. See it for yourself.

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

Final comment: The Raven Bar is a grand pub. We only stayed for the one and it was fine. It’s a modern bar catering for modern tastes.

Kennedys

Published on May 6, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

This is the second pub of this name to be reviewed in the one city. We were in the Kennedys on South Main Street earlier tonight waiting for Karaoke to start but it never did so we went on a dodgy trip (for some uncomfortably sickening) in Ryan’s white van up to Blarney Street. This is where this Kennedys is situated. I thought i would be able to sing but the karaoke is on there tomorrow night. We decided to head in and have a look. We walked in and took a right. This section was quite busy and there was no obvious seats available. There are seats to the left as you go in and the bar is on the left. There are seats across from the bar. Just then this very pleasant young lady asked the reviewers of this site if they wanted a free pint of Murphy’s. What kind of question is that?! Much to our delight there was a Murphy’s promotion on in Kennedys and three free pints came our way and i got two as Fos didn’t want his. He stuck with the Budweiser and wasn’t too impressed. You can’t please him!! Anyway we wandered in to the back section and were surprised to see an impressive area that had plenty of seating. The Murphy’s was of very good quality and the fact that they were free added to the taste. If anybody wants to offer us at this site a free pint, we will be more than happy to test it for you! This section is spacious with plenty of seating and a electronic board behind the bar with a listing of upcoming events. It was quieter in this section and we vacated a very comfortable seat. They have the usual tv’s dotted around as seen in many modern pubs.

The toilets are located out the back and there is also a smoking area here where many people appeared to be congregating. The toilets themselves were clean enough and quite spacious. The only problem i had was trying to turn on the tap to wash my hands. It turned out to be quite an effort. The three of us that visited Kennedys were all suitably impressed with this establishment. A roadside location they have live music most weekends going by their flyers on the walls. From our visit tonight i certainly have no problems recommending Kennedys.

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

Final comment: I have driven past this pub many times. It’s size is deceiving from the outside. I’m sure people on Blarney street and the surrounding areas value this pub.

The Head Of The River

Published on May 5, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

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This pub is now called ‘The Bierhaus’

The Head of the River is a pub on Popes Quay in Cork. Now, it has been a good few years since this establishment was visited but it is remembered well. We were coming from the Franciscan Well on a busy night in the city and we passed this place as we were walking along Popes Quay and seeing as it was quiet, ventured in. We sat just on the left as you go in the door and the bar is on the right. There are seats across from the bar. It is a small place overall and i passed it today and it appears to be have been modernised and has a very impressive exterior. To be honest i cannot remember if it was called by this name when we were there. El Gauchos is a restaurant next door and is one of the city’s most popular. Quite a lot of people head into the pub for pre dinner drinks. I had a pint of stout on the night and i can remember commenting that it was a good one. I haven’t paid a return visit since i was there but it looked impressive today.

I can’t remember what the toilets are like but i know they are up the back of the pub. I can’t really say whether i recommend it or not but it’s good to know that it’s there. If anybody can shed a bit more light on this pub please do so.

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

Final comment: The Head of the River is situated across from North Main Street and is not that far out but is not somewhere that is usually considered. It’s one on the list to return to.

Turners Cross Tavern

Published on May 2, 2005 in Cork. 3 Comments

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“Packed to the doors” was the phrase I used. Could I have been more wrong? Possibly, but not likely. I made the mistake of presuming that a large pub in a prime location would be busy on a bank holiday Sunday night. I judged a book by it’s cover once again and made an ass of myself. On entering, I wondered why the small area in front (presumably for the people that loath noise above any pre-defined decibel level) was empty.

Walking through yet another set of double doors leading to the rear of the bar revealed the source of the noise; a wedding band had somehow broken in and set themselves up in a convenient stage like location. The customers fell into a wide age range of between 35 and 70 (yes, I am being sarcastic), not at all what I had imagined. It’s not like I’m complaining, I’d rather be in the company of a group of people that know how to relax and have fun than a shower of alcoholics that want to get drunk and start fights any day of the week.

The wedding band rolled out their arsenal of wedding band songs and unlike many others, managed to make quite a decent job of performing them. Quite a relaxing place to stop for a few drinks and while not the most exciting places in Cork city, enjoyable all the same. A convincing local’s bar, it’d be my second choice as my local if I lived in Turners Cross. As I don’t, I’ll have to admit that it’ll be a little miracle if I see the inside of this place again. There is a very nice beer garden at the back of the pub, just to mention it.

The Evergreen

Published on May 2, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

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Deceptive from the outside, I really wasn’t expecting the high ceilings or sheer size of establishment from the appearance of the outside. Everyone is welcome here, be you 18 or 80. Both ends of the age spectrum were suitably represented on my Sunday night visit. It seems like a pub who’s clientelle are mainly composed of locals. Is that a strange statement or does it just sound strange in my head? People living in the immediate vicinity is perhaps a better explanation. I can’t see anyone travelling great distances to drink here so tonight the bulk of the drinkers could possibly have been from the Turners Cross locality. There was a one-man-band in operation with a hugely suspect backing track and he managed to provide adaquite background noise throughout our visit.

It was a nice extra to be offered a stool by a gentleman collecting glasses. Suitably busy not to run into bankruptcy but not uncomfortably packed to the gills. Should you visit? Will I re-visit? I think the only reason for either is if there is a specifically planned event taking place or if there is a reason for being there. It’s perfectly nice and offered a pint similar to anything I’d expect from a busy city centre pub but I can’t see myself going back in there just because I fancy a drink somewhere in Turners Cross. Am I being too harsh? Possibly. Was the half hour I spent in there too little time to fully appreciate all it has to offer? Quite likely. I’m sure if interviewed, some of the locals could offer a list of reasons to drink here. Same story the whole world over.

A nice layout and nice atmosphere. Nothing original or special. Somewhere to bring your parents & old granny after Sunday lunch perhaps?

PJ Turners

Published on May 2, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

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Can’t say a bad word about this place. While it might not be sporting the latest in classy decor or high class fixtures & fittings it is in fact, a nice place to have a drink when out & about in Turners Cross. The aroma of disinfectant/dettol surrounded the area where we decided to sit, perhaps that’s the reason nobody else chose those seats?!? It wasn’t exactly a ‘deal breaker’ lets say. It was quiet enough to have a chat yet not resembling a scene from a morgue. The Murphys is just about the same as any pub in the area.

I was hugely impressed to experience a full-blown trad seisun(sp?) in progress as we left the pub; that’s something you don’t often get these days. I have previously visited this pub, although not in a review sense. The manager was kind enough to oblige me by allowing me to view CCTV footage of my driving test. That could be a reason why in my mind at least, this pub is well worth a visit. Or in my case, a future re-visit. Nice pints, nice atmosphere. Although on my next Sunday night stop I’ll position myself closer to the front of the pub to take in the trad.

As a fairly inconsequential footnote (as far as I’m concerned anyway) the toilets are a disaster. Given that I never actually saw them I’ll have to take Eoin’s word for it. I suppose it would be more of an issue if I spent any length of time in the pub in the future. Either that or I’ll bring my own bucket. Both are acceptable.