Monthly Archive for July, 2005

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The Five Mile Inn

Published on July 11, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

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Five Mile is basically a road junction and a very confusing one at that! It lies between the towns of Ballygarvan and Ballinhassig. This is a pub that i have always wanted to go into and ventured in last night. Yesterday was one of the nicest days of the year. The heat was intense and the sun shone for the whole day. There was people sitting out the front of the pub as we went in. All these pub reviews bring you to such diverse and interesting places. Thats one of the main attractions of doing them to be honest. This is one of those places. We went into the left and ordered our drinks. This is a small area and there is a pool table and games machine in another area. We went into the bar/restaurant area and sat here. There was just three other people in the bar. It is a very comfortable bar but is old fashioned. It reminded both of us as a typical country pub. The pint of Murphy’s was great and i could not fault the quality of the pint. It is a pub that i felt very relaxed in from the mnoment i went in.

The toilets consist of one cubicle and some urinals. It was well kept when i used it. The Five Mile Inn is located on a busy road but there isn’t a huge number of people living in the immediate area. I am very glad that i paid this pub a visit and was impressed with it. They serve food during the day and i am sure that they would welcome you and appreciate your custom if you pop in.

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

Final comment: The Five Mile Inn is not the most exciting pub around but it offers comfortable surroundings to stop off for a drink.

The Elm Tree Bar and Restaurant

Published on July 9, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

The other and more enjoyable trip we paid was to The Elm Tree Bar and Restaurant. This is also situated in Glounthaune. I have heard people talking about this place in the past and decided to take a look. It is renouned for its summer barbecues in the courtyard which can cater for an impressive 300 people. There is ample parking available outside. I was very impressed by the extremely modern interior and good service. The moment we walked in we were asked if we would like a menu. As we were just there for a drink they took our order and brought them to our table. It has a very good reputation for providing decent food. I had a pint of Murphy’s and Jen had a glass of wine. The pint was very enjoyable and was good quality. This pub has everything you’d expect from a modern pub that is run very well.

The toilets were fine when i had a look at them but that was at around four o’ clock when it was relatively quiet. There was a few people eating food in the bar and it smelled very very nice. This is most certainly a pub worth visiting. They provide live music for a party if you have it there. I would recommend a visit because no matter what kind of pub you like, this has a universal appeal.

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

Final Comment: The Elm Tree is a fine pub with a convenient road side location. I will definately pay a return visit.

The Island Gate

Published on July 9, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

Took a trip out Glounthaune way today and paid a visit to The Island Gate Bar and Restaurant. There is parking available at the front. To be honest the pub section is quite small with two nice sections by the windows. I ordered a white wine and a 7up and that came to 6 euro 40. We sat near near the window. There was a few people there and they all seemed to be enjoying food. It looked to be nice. I always thought that The Island Gate was just a restaurant but the bar section is a comfortable spot for a drink. The seating is comfortable in the pub. It is hard to gauge how busy a pub gets during the day but at a guess i would say that food is the main business here. Jen had breakfast here before and said that it was very good.

It was grand to stop off and have a look at this place. I would say that if i was to head back it wouldn’t be for the pub. If you are passing and are peckish then it cpuld be well worth a visit. We didn’t stay long and i didn’t have a look at the toilets.

Overall rating: 5/10

Final Comment: The Island Gate is not my favourite pub visited but it is fine. Have a look for yourself.

Allens

Published on July 6, 2005 in Tipperary. 0 Comments

Allens bar (and I can only presume restaurant) is located in Clonmel town. I stopped there one lunchtime some months ago and since then have been back there about half a dozen times. Allen’s is a spacious bar with an equally spacious (or so I hear) beer garden overlooking the river Suir. They have always had a good selection in their menu at lunchtime and today was no exception. I strolled in around half past one to find no more or fewer people there than I have come to expect from my previous visits. Any time I have eaten here I have never had to wait for a table, something which is refreshing for an establishment which is no doubt one of the most popular in the town.

Today my choice was cajun chicken followed very closely by two pints of icy water supplied by a member of staff sympathetic to the plight of my sizzling tongue. They seem to have the pick of friendly staff; I have been served by the same person on practically every stop here. The food is excellent, it’s reasonably priced, the staff are helpful, the surroundings are fantastic and from reading posters dotted around the bar I see they are hosting live music this Friday followed by a barbeque on Sunday night in celebration of the end of a local festival.

It seems pointless to say I’ll go here again. I go here every time I’m passing Clonmel around lunchtime.

McCarthys Bar

Published on July 6, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

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Nohoval is a quaint little village that we had several problems in finding last night. We took the alternative misguided route but eventually ended up in the village. Sign posts for Nohoval are sparse (well thats my excuse anyway!). We stopped outside McCarthys Bar. It has a road side location. There was a few people at the door and we passed them and went in. There is a small area inside the door and the bar counter is here. I was immediately impressed by the place as was Jen. The roof here is very low and the first thought i had was of the bar in Heartbeat on TV. There is a bigger area where there is some seating and it was quite busy there last night. We spotted a pool table in an area behind the bar and seeing as the table was free we decided to have a game. There were two ladies behind the bar and one of them was extremely friendly to us. She cleared up the area for us and was very chatty. Jen was very impressed with the glass her wine came in and i got an impeccable pint of Murphy’s. They really took their time letting it settle and got it just right. The lights above the pool table were turned on and we had two fun games. Before we went in we had every intention of reviewing another pub but we really liked this place so we stayed. I got a 7up and Jen another wine and we soaked up the country ambience! It is a locals pub but we were made to feel very welcome.

The toilets are a bit like walking into a big refrigerator. The gents were freezing last night. They were also a bit smelly. There is one cubicle but there is no lock on the door. Overall it was alright. There is an area out the back of the pub for people wishing to smoke. There is a bar and restaurant called Finders next door and we will probably head back to check that out some other night. McCarthys is a really nice pub and has a lot of character.

Toilet rating: 5/10
Pint rating: 9/10
Overall rating: 9/10

Final comment: McCarthys bar is certainly worth a visit. The drinks are reasonably priced, the service is good and you receive a friendly welcome, local or not.

The Southern Star

Published on July 6, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

Across from High Street post office, at the point that High St, Capwell Rd and Southern Rd meet is The Southern Star. It always struck me as being a bit out of the way as far as going for a pint in the city is concerned so I wasn’t at all surprised to see what appeared to be a very local crowd last night when I went in for a pint on a break from all the intense photo taking action (?). Almost everyone at the bar was reading a newspaper, take from that what you wish…

The bar itself is smaller than I had imagined with two small rooms off to the side and back. One appears to be a pool room while the other has a dart board and some kind of neglected games machine standing against a wall. I plonked myself down in front of the window and watched TV for a few minutes whilst sipping my pint. The Murphy’s was good, nothing less than I’d expect from a pub that takes more pride in it’s pints than in it’s appearance.

Not that I’m saying it’s a run-down hell hole or anything, it’s just what I’d have expected from all those years of driving past it catching a quick glimpse in the open door. Not an establishment that would handle huge crowds very well, it falls into the category of “comfortable local” nicely. I’d have no hesitation in going back there if I was in the area, although next time I’d bring a newspaper and sit at the bar.

The Sweep

Published on July 6, 2005 in Waterford. 0 Comments

Located on the Waterford side of Kilmeaden town, approx 15 mins outside the city is The Sweep. I’ve often passed it on the way to Waterford with a huge amount of people sitting outside sipping on pints and eating their lunch. Granted of course you’d prefer a nice sunny day to do that. On my last trip to Waterford I called in for lunch on the way home, possibly because sitting in the God awful traffic jams in Kilmeaden (caused by the building of footpaths!?!) made me hungry.

It’s a nice sized pub with one main room that looked more like a restaurant than a bar and one or two small rooms off it to the rear. The area that the bar covers seems too small to accomodate lots of thirsty souls but I haven’t been in there at night so can’t form a true impression of the place.

It’s a nice place to have lunch and they seem to have a good selection available to suit most tastes. After all, it’s impossible to please all the people all the time. You’ll know you’ve passed this pub during the summer months, it’ll be the one with masses of people sitting outside it looking happy and refreshed as you whizz by.

Pfizer Sports Club

Published on July 1, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

As far as i am aware it is the joint sports club of Pfizer and ADM. There is a pub in the sports club and they also have a big hall for functions. It enjoys a scenic location overlooking Cork Harbour. There is a golf course and pitch and putt course on the grounds. There also also a couple of soccer pitches. Outside there is ample parking available. The bar in the sports club is quite spacious. I have been in there a good number of times. There are plenty of seats and the bar counter itself is small and located at the back of the pub. As you sit enjoying a drink you can look out the windows at the great scenery. I have had a few pints of Murphy’s in there but it has been a while so i can’t remember what they were like. It is certainly not a pub i would consider going for a night out and would only head there if something was actually on.

The toilets are located outside of the bar off the corridor and from what i can remember they were always alright. I think the sports club does well from the functions in their hall. If you ever end here pop in for a drink to the bar.

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

Final comment: Pfizer Sports Club is a great asset to the area. Its grounds provide a lot of entertainment and fun.

Mulligans Bar

Published on July 1, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

Mulligans Bar

This was the last one we visited last night. I have been in here a few times in the past. This is renouned as one of Cork’s sports bars. It is situated almost directly across from the rejuvenated Cork bus station. The downstairs bar is small and can get very busy and quite cramped. On last nights visit it was quiet and we had no problem getting a seat. Service was prompt at the bar. We sat at a table in the middle of the pub. As far as i know there is a bar upstairs as well and i am not sure if this is used for functions. As a sports bar, it is especially known as a ‘hurling’ bar. It might be a good place to go and watch a Cork game. I didn’t get a pint so i can’t comment on their stout. Ryan might be able to shed some light on that.

Mulligans

The toilets are a bit of a climb to get to. Their condition was ok but the smell in there was discusting. Mulligans Bar is a nice stop off for a drink. It is a place that i may head into again.

Toilet rating: 5/10
Overall rating: 7/10

Final comment: Mulligans Bar is very convenient for those needing to catch the bus home.

O’ Flaherty’s Bar

Published on July 1, 2005 in Cork. 0 Comments

O' Flaherty's Bar Cork

O’Flaherty’s bar is at Parnell Place as well. This was our second port of call earlier tonight. I thought i had been in here before but when i walked in, i realised i hadn’t. There was karaoke on in the bar tonight. ‘Elvira karaoke” to be precise. I can never pass up an opportunity to sing a song so after selecting a seat i had a look through the book. The bar itself goes around in a semi circle. You walk the whole way around. I had a look around and it was busy at the front of the pub but there was lots of seating available at the back. I had a pint of Murphy’s and it was a fairly good pint. There was a very mixed crowd of people inside. To be fair everyone who sang was very capable. Both myself and Sandy decided to sing and i went first. They have you on all the television screens as you sing. You are even on the big screen! I thought the place would be bigger to be honest. The seating is comfortable. There is a nice sized stage where the singers can perform on.

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The toilets are situated up the back of the pub and are small but were in good condition when i used them. There is music in O’ Flahery’s most nights and i’d say a lot of karaoke enthusiasts head in. It is not a place to go for a quiet drink but if you feel you’re the next Elvis then get the public vote here!

Toilet rating: 6.5/10
Pint rating: 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10

Final comment: O’ Flaherty’s is a well known pub within Cork city. It has a convenient location and is worth popping into.