Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IRELAND’S FIRST JD WETHERSPOON pub has officially opened its doors and locals in Blackrock, Co Dublin have already been trying it out.
The Three Tun Tavern had its first customers this morning, about seven months after it was announced that the 800 outlet British pub chain was entering the Irish market.
The former Tonic Bar is the first of Wetherspoon’s Irish branches, employing 60 people, with the discount pub chain also planning to open a premises in Cork city.
Josh Powell who lives nearby was one of the first to try out the Three Tun Tavern this morning, getting a full-Irish breakfast and a pint of lager for €9.
Powell is from England but moved to Ireland three years ago and says that the pub is much nicer than many of those he’s used to in the UK, adding that he has no complaints from his first visit.
“This one is a lot different,” he said. “It’s a lot nicer and obviously it’s newer so it’s really clean. The decor is much nicer and it’s not as plain and white as some in England. The staff were lovely as well so they’ve definitely done a good job on it.”
“It was busy, there were a lot of people in suits actually checking their emails, so they must have wi-fi,” he added.
Wetherspoon’s move to Ireland received a mixed reaction when it was announced, with some pointing out that local Irish pubs are an important tradition and source of employment and should be protected from larger chains.
A number of Facebook campaigns were launched against Wetherspoon’s decision and there was also questions asked recently when the company confirmed they will not be serving Guinness in their Irish bars.
“I understand that there is a difference over here,” says Powell. “I’m quite used to the chain pubs because there’s many chains in the UK and Wetherspoon’s wouldn’t have the best reputation among them.”
“The price of a pint is so expensive here, anyone who serves a pint for under €5 is going to get business here,” he says.
There has been much speculation about where Wetherspoon’s next acquisition in Ireland will be.
The company confirmed last week that they will not be buying well-known Dublin pubs Café en Seine, The George, The Dragon and Howl At The Moon as had been suggested by some media reports.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Good to see
Missing my favourite one though, Garden of Vegan in Ranelagh.
The vegan cafe at yoga hub Camden Place does a great vegan breakfast too.
Food looks nice but the farts must be rank
@kevinhunt101: no more than rancid beefy ones!
@kevinhunt101: meaty farts are way worse
Have to say, the pulled pork bap has me stumped from a vegan context.
@Reuben Gray: haha, yes they prob should have come up with a catchy name for whatever substitute they used-I think it might be jackfruit. Not vegan myself but tried a similar thing in The Happy Pear and it was pretty convincing
@Reuben Gray: The Vegan Butcher is trying to make meaty meals like the name suggests n could please the most carnivorous of meat eaters. As a veggie some of the dishes seemed too meaty at first but so tasty it worked. Its well worth a visit.
Went to sova when he first started a few years ago in the Paris wine bar God the food was amazing.
Shame the rest of ireland has a long way to go to provide meat free alternatives
Nice article, haven’t heard of a few of these
Butter cream dream make ridiculously good cakes, vegan or not they’re just delicious! Moodleys market stall is also definitely worth a try, they’re in bushy park on Saturdays and I think they’re in Park West during the week but couldn’t be sure. Definitely go for the monster burger or breakfast burger, so good!
Vegetarian well Pescatarian here, would love to try the Vegan stuff when out and about but it’s still few and far between.
Looks disgusting
have your say