An Bodhran

I have walked past this small pub on Oliver Plunkett street in Cork city. I always wanted to enjoy a pint in here and recently headed in around 7pm on a Friday evening. I was due to meet friends in another pub so I just had a swift one. It was quite busy for that time of the evening and most people had a hello or a nod in my direction as I went to order my drink. It is one of those pubs where you can walk in on your own for a pint and feel completely comfortable. The bar staff were a young guy and girl and I was served my Beamish efficiently with a smile.

There is plenty memorabilia on the walls to keep you reading and there was some of the clientele watching sport on the tv. I sat at the front of the bar sitting on a stool and people watching out the window. I really enjoyed the pint and found this to be a very relaxing pub for a pint. I didn’t use the toilet facilities so cannot comment on those but overall this is a grand little pub very centrally located

Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: I would most certainly like to head back here again and will probably do so to catch some of the live music i have heard while walking by in the past.

The Boardwalk

We recently went for a meal in this bar and restaurant located on Lapps Quay in Cork City centre. It was a good feed and after eating in the trendy restaurant area we moved across to the bar. We found some comfortable seats in this ultra chic bar. A pint of Murphys and a glass of White wine was ordered and was promptly delivered by the very pleasant bar man. It is a spacious bar and very modern. It would certainly be a great place to watch a match. I spotted a VIP area at the back of the bar.

The toilets were very well maintained and I certainly do not have any complaints about them. The meal we had was a very good value early bird deal and the drink wad very relaxing. We both enjoyed our visit and to be fair there was a good crowd of people in there for a mid week night. I definately think people should head in for a meal, a drink or both.

Toilet rating: 8/10
Pint rating: 7.5/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: The service and the general welcome in this city centre bar was top class. We’l be back.

Issacs bar and bistro

We were at this bar in Midleton Co Cork today. We headed in for a bite to eat and a few drinks. It is quite a small pub and the girl behind the bar was very friendly when we walked in. She offered us a table near the fire but although the Cosy spot looked inviting we chose to sit near the front of the bar. Our three year old needed more space to move around. There are two televisions in the bar which would be a good spot to watch a match. The pints that I had were good, they were heineken and went down well. The food that we had was also good and very reasonable.

The toilets are out the back of the bar. The gents were well maintained. There is a very nice smoking area our here as well. I have to say that this pub was an enjoyable visit. You will find it on Church lane off the main street.

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

Final comment: Issacs bar and bistro is just another of Midletons many public houses. Check it out.

TP Cotter

Was down in Macroom recently and had a bit of spare time before I went for a meal in Granvilles restaurant. I headed into TP Cotters as I found the exterior quite appealing. It is a very well kept comfortable public house. The open fire was very appealing and I sat near it. The bar man was very polite and efficient and appeared to have a good rapport with the people sitting at the bar. I got a pint of Murphys and unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it. I was disappointed as I found this pub great to sit and have a pint in.

The toilets were absolutely immaculate. I honestly couldn’t fault them. They were some of the cleanest I have come across in a while. There wasn’t a huge crowd in the pub but it was relatively early on a Tuesday evening. Despite being disappointed with the pint I got I really enjoyed my short visit to this pub. Out by the toilets I noticed a very nice smoking area. It’s well worth a visit.

Toilet rating: 9/10
Pint rating: 6/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: Even though I didn’t enjoy the pint I would definately go back again for another visit and can certainly recommend TP Cotters.

Sirius

Another bar that we visited on our trip around Passage West was Sirius. There is an off licence just off the corridor as you head into this bar. As you walk in there is a pool table in front of you. We had a game while we were in there. I was not enamoured by this pub on heading in. We ordered the drinks at the bar and the bar man wasn’t overly friendly. He told me that the pint was 3.90 but i never saw change from the 4 euro i gave. The pint of Murphys was poor and i probably should have adjusted my choice of drink as i didn’t see any one else drinking stout. I didn’t finish the pint. There was about ten people in the pub when we were there on Friday night.

The toilets were fine when i checked them. There was just something about this pub that i didn’t like. I would be happy to hear from anyone who disagrees with this judgement.

Toilet rating: 6.5/10
Pint rating: 2/10
Overall rating: 4/10

Final comment: Sirius is one of the pubs in Passage.

The Tavern

The next stop on our tour of Passage West’s pubs was The Tavern. This pub is on the road out towards Rochestown. It was busy when we headed in and we went up stairs where there is a pool table but that area was closed. We perched ourselves at the bar and got the drinks in. Looking around i noticed the clientele were mostly in the 50 plus bracket but i was reliably informed that the younger crowd would normally head upstairs. There was a function for the GAA club being held the same night hence upstairs being closed. The pint of Murphys was a good one but the bar man didn’t engage in much conversation with us while at the bar. Saying that he had an excellent rapport with the regulars.

There are toilets up stairs and down stairs. The gents toilets up stairs are small but were well maintained. The toilets down stairs were well looked after too. There was a good atmosphere in this pub and its well worth a visit.

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

Final comment: The Tavern is a lively bar with what appeared to be good local trade

PF Barrys

I hit Passage West on Friday on Friday night to check out some of their establishments. To be honest even though i live relatively near to this town its not somewhere that immediately springs to mind when planning a night out. I started off in the Criterion for a pint which was great before heading down the street to PF Barrys. It is also known as Farmers locally. The pub itself is extremely small and is more like a decent sized sitting room. The bar man was friendly and it was an excellent pint of Murphys and i saw that they had Beamish for 3 euro which is good value. There is plenty memorabilia on the walls and a tv screen also on the wall.

The toilets are out through the corridor and through the yard. Even though they are basic toilets they were well maintained. I have to say that i enjoyed my visit to this pub and would certainly pay a return visit.

Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Mud rating: 7.5/10

Final comment: I enjoyed my visit to this pub. If in Passage its certainly worth checking out.

Electric

On a recent work night out i ventured to this relatively new pub on the South Mall in Cork. The South Mall would generally be regarded as the financial district of Cork City. This is the only bar located on this street. It enjoys a fantastic location overlooking the river Lee. On a summers evening you would find it hard to pick a nicer place for a pint while sitting outside in the heart of the city centre. I was impressed when i headed in. It is a modern bar with efficient and professional bar staff. There are some very nice seating areas and its quite a big establishment. I liked the decor in this pub which was formerly a bank. It is more expensive for a pint here than other nearby pubs but as myself and Ollie discussed it is a new pub with very glamorous surroundings. I had three pints of Murphys there and they were all top rate. I saw people going upstairs so i don’t know if there is a restaurant there.

The toilets reminded me of those in Sober lane just across the bridge. The sinks are located outside the door of the gents and ladies toilets. A communal hand washing area. The gents toilets are small but to be fair were immaculate and i couldn’t fault them. The city certainly needs a classy pub such as this and i think it’l do well in that niche market.

Toilet rating: 8.5/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8.5/10

Final comment: Electric is probably the most exciting bar to open in Cork city for a long while in my opinion. I would certainly recommend going there. I personally wouldn’t stay here for the whole night but for a couple of pints its a great find.

The Grafton

A relatively new bar in Cork City centre. You will find this pub on Oliver Plunkett street. It is a big pub and on the two occasions i was there i encountered two very differing scenes. On the first occasion i was there just before christmas the place was thronged with people. There was barely even standing room and a very loud band. We decided not to stay on this occasion but i called back recently on a Wednesday night. There was very few people here on this visit except some people in to watch a champions league game. It seems to be a decent pub to watch a match in. The bar man was extremely friendly and engaged in pleasant chit chat and pulled a great pint of Murphys too.

The pub has some comfortable seating areas although the area just inside the smoking area appears to not have been furnished to the same standard as the rest of the pub. The smoking area itself looked to be a very nice area to enjoy a drink. My overall view of this pub was good until i checked the toilets. They appeared fine until i saw the seat on the cubicle. It was in need of bad need of attention and i suppose i should have said it to the bar man but i didn’t. I have to say that i enjoyed my pint here and would head back again.

Toilet rating: 6/10
Pint rating: 7.5/10
Overall rating: 7/10

Final comment: The toilet conditions in this pub let it down but saying that maybe the staff were just unaware. It is definately worth checking out for a pint.

Oscars bar

We headed down to Clonakilty recently for a family night away. I had heard very good things about the quality hotel in Clon. To be very honest about it all were true. We stayed for one night and couldn’t fault the whole set up there. We have a little girl and were looking for a child friendly hotel and we weren’t disappointed on that front. Facilities for kids are first class and you can sit back and relax while they are entertained.

Oscars bar was very busy on the saturday night that we were there. It is a big pub with plenty seating areas available. They serve pub grub and there was a lot of people eating there. The bar staff were very efficient and i wasn’t waiting long to be served. The pints of Murphys were very good, i couldn’t fault them. We didn’t stay in the bar area for the night but instead chose to sit out in the lobby where the reception is located. In fact all parents of the smaller kids were sitting here. It was great that they could run around and have fun and have the space and tolerance of staff and other guests to do it. The toilets were well maintained when i saw them and they are just before you enter the restaurant area. We are heading back to this hotel at the end of the month and i’m really looking forward to it.

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

Final comment: This hotel is certainly one to consider if you have kids of any age. I enjoyed my overall experience here and Oscars bar is worth a visit.