Archive for the 'Cork' Category

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The Mills Inn

Published on June 2, 2010 in Cork. 0 Comments

This is a famous landmark pub located just outside Ballyvourney Co Cork. You’l find it on the Killarney side across from the turn off from my old Irish college town Cul Aodha. Most people who have travelled this road will know where this pub/restaurant/shop is. I have been in here twice recently, once for a pint and on another occasion for food. It is quite a big pub that was very busy on both occasions i was there. I had a pint of Murphy’s and it went down a treat. There are many seating areas and an abundance of waiting staff to serve you. When we got food there it was a mega feed. We all ordered the special of the day which was turkey and ham and it was great and reasonable as well.

It would be a good place to watch a match while having a bite to eat and a drink. The toilets were in very good condition when i checked them and i couldn’t find fault there. Overall this is a pub that is well worth stopping off at, especially for food as it is most certainly a food pub. Check it out for yourself.

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

Final comment: The Mills Inn has a fantastic reputation as a pub serving food and their drink isn’t too bad eithier.

Callanan

Published on April 20, 2010 in Cork. 0 Comments

This is a gem of a pub. I am not sure if i should even be posting this as people who drink here want to keep it a secret! I have to do my duty though and tell you a little bit about it. This pub is located on Georges quay just across from the bridge leading onto the South Mall and Grand parade. I headed in there before going for a meal quite recently and i perched myself at the bar and had a chat with the three other guys inside. I had a pint of Murphy’s and it was spot on. It was great to walk into a pub where there was no sign of a tv or loud music. All they have and need in here is good oul banter. I joined in the conversation with the three other guys and the bar man. They were commenting on a bar not far away that was attracting a ‘rough crowd’. I decided to break my cover, which i rarely do and tell them that i was doing a review. They didn’t seem too bothered as you couldn’t be that negative about the place. The bar man himself was very unassuming and joined in the conversation every so often. One particular chap didn’t believe that i was for real and i couln’t convince him otherwise!

There is plenty memorabilia on the walls and you could fill this pub with 20 people i would say. I have heard one of my good friends speak very highly of this pub and i can see why. The toilets are quite small but their condition was fine. I found visiting this pub to be a very enjoyable experience.

Toilet rating: 6.5/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: This is definately one i will be returning to in the not too distant future. A real public house.

Mulligans

Published on April 20, 2010 in Cork. 0 Comments

The next stop off was Mulligans bar on Parnell place in Cork city centre. This pub used to be located just a few doors up in a smaller premises. Before Mulligans took over the present bar it was called jd styles. Again i headed in myself and there was a group of 20 something girls just leaving. There wasn’t a big crowd inside but saying that i was in there about half seven. This bar is very big and has plenty of seating areas. It didn’t seem to me that there had been many changes since the jd styles days. That being said about the place itself, there is a certain change in the quality of the service and stout. The man serving behind the bar didn’t leave me standing for a second and had a fantastic pint of Muphy’s pulled within a few minutes. It was one of the nicest i’ve enjoyed for a while. I took a seat and watched a match on the tv. The few other people inside appeared to be mostly couples.

The toilets were big and were certainly in good condition. I have to say that even though it wasn’t busy i felt there was a good atmosphere in this pub. I am sure that it gets much busier later in the night. A nice relaxing pint of the black stuff.

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

Final comment: I would recomment heading into Mulligans but maybe a bit later. I’l most certainly head back for a drink.

The Sextant

Published on April 20, 2010 in Cork. 0 Comments

I must say that i don’t get a lot of time for pub reviewing these days but recently i did check out some fine Cork city centre establishments. I was meeting friends for dinner and got the times mixed up so being early i decided to head to the sextant bar. I have heard a lot of people saying this was ‘the place to be seen’ in the city so was interested to see what i would find. Over the years i have gone into many pubs on my own and the crowd in some has been more welcoming than others. I headed in to the sextant bar on Albert Quay and ordered a pint of Murphy’s at the bar. Apparently there has been a lot of work done to this bar in the recent past and it’s changed the kind of clientele it attracts. The service at the bar was efficient and friendly and i managed to find a seat just across from the bar. There was a good crowd of people inside, most looking as if they had come straight from work. It was about 7pm when i was there. I have to say that i enjoyed the music being played over the sound system. There was a good atmosphere inside and everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves.

The pint of Murphy’s was a very good one and no complaints there. The bar itself is quite small and there is a smoking area available. It has quite a lot of character. I found the toilets to be very small and can only accomodate about three people at a time. There was no lock on the cubicle door. If being honest i thought this was a good bar to visit but certainly not one of the best in the city in my opinion.

Toilet rating: 5.5/10
Pint rating 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10

Final comment: The sextant is one to check out to see what people love about it.

The Criterion

Published on March 12, 2010 in Cork. 0 Comments

I visited this very homely bar a while back. The Criterion is in Passage West, Co Cork. I had a few pints here and must say that the Murphy’s on tap here is top quality. Five of us headed in on the night and two of the gang are regulars. We got a seat to the left inside the door. There was a band playing on the night and they were good. The pub itself is small with loads of character. We met with the owner and she was very friendly and even offered us a lift home which was politely declined but very much appreciated. There was a great atmosphere on the night we were there.

I found the toilets to be in very good condition on checking. No complaints about them. Overall i found the staff and other patrons to be chatty and friendly and a retun visit is inevitable i imagine. There are a fair few pubs in Passage and this is most certainly one to check out for a good pint and a bit of craic.

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

Final comment: The Criterion is a fine public house. If in the area do pop in!

Ma Deleas

Published on February 5, 2010 in Cork. 0 Comments

Over Christmas i got the opportunity to visit this gem of a pub on Tower Street on the outskirts of Cork City. The city center was thronged with Christmas revellers so a trip here was most welcome. Brendan O’ Leary introduced me to Ma Deleas and i must say that i am glad that he did. He is a regular there but i got just as warm a welcome in the pub. The pints of Murphys were top class and the service at the bar was efficient and friendly. Brendan reckons that the bar man was one of the best in Cork and i couldn’t disagree. His name is Denis Kirby. The pub itself was bigger than i imagined from the outside. It is long and to be fair there are plenty of seating areas. There is a pool table available in its own area just inside the front door. I got the impression that this was a real locals bar as everyone had a hello or a nod for everyone else.

The gents toilet that i used was small but in relatively good condition. I noticed people playing rings and there was a good buzz about this place. This is a pub that you have to walk a bit out of the city centre to get to but it was certainly worth it. I even shared a taxi home with the owner and two others.

Toilet rating: 6.5/10
Pint rating: 8.5/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: I found this pub to have a friendly welcome for me even though i had never been there before. That’s very important.

The White Lady Bar

Published on November 25, 2009 in Cork. 0 Comments

After a few pints in The Tap Tavern bar we headed to this bar where we had dinner reservations. The White Lady is very much a Kinsale institution. It was quite busy when we went in but we had a table reserved. The pub itself is modern and the service at the bar is efficient. I had a pizza for dinner and i have to say it was possibly the nicest pizza i have ever had in a restaurant or pub. The pints of Murphy’s that i had there were not great but i managed to finish them!

The toilets that i used were small but well maintained. After our meal we got free passes to see Jon Kenny doing a stand up show in the nightclub in the white lady. It brought back memories of my days going clubbing here most weekends. Great times! Definately a place to head for a really nice bite to eat.

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

Final comment: I would certainly head back here again but not for just a pint but maybe another nice meal.

The Tap Tavern

Published on November 25, 2009 in Cork. 0 Comments

Last Saturday our Tuesday night Football team went paintballing in Kinsale. It was great fun and sore. After we had showers and a couple of pints in The Captains Bar at the Carlton hotel, we headed to this pub. It was on recommendation of my brother and it was a great find for us. You’l find it just across the road from ‘Fishy, Fishy’ in the town. It is a small quaint bar loaded with character. It would almost take you a whole night to examine all the memorabilia on the walls. About 10 of us headed in together and most people sat to the left across from the bar. I was introduced to the owner who appeared to be very pleasant. The turf fire was especially appealing and kept everyone cosy. I had a pint of Murphy’s and being honest could have no complaints about it.

The beer garden is fantastic. There is a very old well situated here. Both smokers and non smokers are in for a treat. The gents toilets were suprisingly big and very well maintained. On the wall i noticed some pictures of The Dutchess Of York who previously visited the pub. Unusually they don’t have Budweiser on tap here. Overall this was a very enjoyable visit and one of the best finds in a while.

Toilet rating: 7.5/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8.5/10

Final comment: This pub scores so well because it is a real public house, a real local. Thats not something you find too often these days.

The Welcome Inn

Published on October 14, 2009 in Cork. 0 Comments

This pub is on Parnell place just across from the bus station in Cork City. I headed in on a midweek night and was greeted with ‘Hello, How’s it going’ by all inside. The greeting certainly lives up to the name of the pub. The bar man took my order and i sat across from the bar and had a look at all the sporting memorabilia on the walls. There are pictures of stadiums and flags on the ceiling. The Welcome Inn is one of Cork’s early morning pubs. The pint of Murphy’s from the friendly bar man was one of the best i have had for a long while. There was a match on the television and people were watching and chatting.

The toilets are extremely small and cramped and there are leaves growing in! This was a nice pub to visit and i’d say a gig in there would be great. I can definately see myself returning and i would definately recommend people to head in to get a real Irish welcome from staff and customers.

Toilet rating: 6/10
Pint rating: 8.5/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: This pub has a locals feel to it and you certainly do not feel like your anywhere near the city while inside.

The Rob Roy

Published on October 13, 2009 in Cork. 0 Comments

Recently i wandered into this pub on a midweek night for a pint. Its on Cook street. To be fair it wasn’t busy but there was a crowd inside. They were showing a football match inside and i made a mental note to myself that this would definately be a place to come again to watch a match. I was served quickly at the bar and found a seat down towards the back of the pub. The pint of Beamish that i got was very enjoyable indeed. I had a look around and noticed a big sign from Parnell Bridge. The pub is atmospheric with low lighting and plenty candles.

The toilets there are small but were fine when checked. There is one cubicle available. This pub appeared to have a relaxed feeling about it and they most certainly welcome your trade. A nice city bar.

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

Final comment: The Rob Roy is a pub i have heard many people talking about down through the years. I am glad i got to check it out.