Man your pumps, Wetherspoons are coming

lk67

Thundercats Ho wrote: »

I've heard this about 2 other locations in Carlow before that turned out to be nothing.

A mate of mine swears he has seen the plans etc but he's a bit of a spoofer.

I've checked out the jdw website and it says nothing about acquiring a place in Carlow.

I'd be happy if it did tbh cos Carlow could do with a new business, as there's a ****load of empty premises lying vacant.

Had heard of two other places too but Wetherspoons confirmed a month ago the were in the town looking. The were contacted by KCLR.

I was also told by someone who works close by that they were in measuring it for refit.

But to be fair I won't be 100% convinced until the sign goes up or the start hiring.

BeerNut

lk67 wrote: »

A hard sell to the locals maybe?!

It's a hard sell to the locals in Northern Ireland and Scotland too, but they still manage it.

lk67

BeerNut wrote: »

It's a hard sell to the locals in Northern Ireland and Scotland too, but they still manage it.

Indeed, but it will still be a new (old) concept for them to get their heads around. No doubt the price will be a deciding factor for many.

(I'm a blow-in here so I'm different of course...)

The worry will be the turnover of the cask, as I'd hate someone's first taste to be their last one.

BeerNut

Based on what's happened in the Dublin branches, my main worry would be their ability and willingness to put on cask beer worth drinking on any sort of a regular basis.

coylemj

Slim1996 wrote: »

Got a reply to my job application been invited to a 4 hour assesment next wednesday. Was told I'll be doing an individual interview aswell as group work, any advice?

1. Don't admit to having any experience in the bar trade, if you do you'll be rejected.

2. When entering an order into the retail system, act like all the menus are in Mandarin Chinese.

3. If asked to do something practical like filling a coffee, take ages doing it and as soon as you plonk it on the counter, run away before the customer thinks of asking for milk and sugar.

4. While you're supposed to be clearing tables, sit your lazy arse down in a customer area and play loud videos on your mobile phone.

Chelon

BeerNut wrote: »

It's a hard sell to the locals in Northern Ireland and Scotland too, but they still manage it.

I'm in one in Scotland a fair bit, bang in the middle of lager-land. Hardly ever see anyone else drinking it but they always manage to have 4 or 5 lovely ales on cask.

Isn't it part of Tim Martin's ethos to always have it available in his pubs?

lk67

lk67 wrote: »

Heard from a good authority - if there really is such a thing - that they have secured a premises on Tullow Street in Carlow Town.

Should be interesting as this used to be the main shopping street in the town but is slowly turning into a bar and restaurant street.

It might draw more and benefit all.

Official now, in the local paper today with quotes from Wetherspoons. Open in 9 months to a year.

Ageyev

Spoons aren't too popular in Glasgow but they do they open and do business. The cool kids like their hip bars and hip music and the older generation prefer their local. Not as much of a difference in price as there would be with Wetherspoons Ireland in however.

syklops

Ageyev wrote: »

Spoons aren't too popular in Glasgow but they do they open and do business. The cool kids like their hip bars and hip music and the older generation prefer their local. Not as much of a difference in price as there would be with Wetherspoons Ireland in however.

I was in a spoons in Glasgow in December and the place was packed.

Geuze

Opening dates confirmed:

23rd June - The Great Wood, Blanchardstown

21st July - The Old Boro, Swords

1st Sept - The Linen Weaver, Cork

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/agribusiness-and-food/jd-wetherspoon-to-open-three-new-bars-in-ireland-1.2219295

Blut2

Geuze wrote: »

Opening dates confirmed:

23rd June - The Great Wood, Blanchardstown

21st July - The Old Boro, Swords

1st Sept - The Linen Weaver, Cork

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/agribusiness-and-food/jd-wetherspoon-to-open-three-new-bars-in-ireland-1.2219295

There's also now been confirmation of a second Dublin city center location.

"In Dublin, new bars are planned for the Camden Hall Hostel on Camden Street and on Abbey Street Lower."

http://www.irishmirror.ie/whats-on/food-drink-news/wetherspoons-opening-three-more-pubs-5728738

Great news!

Geuze

So to summarise:

2014 = 2 open (Blackrock, SCD, and Dun-Laoighaire)
2015 = 3 to open (Blanch, Swords, Cork city)

plus confirmed site purchases:

Waterford
Douglas in Cork suburbs (added)
Camden St in Dublin
Carlow (confirmed this week)
Abbey street, Dublin.

That makes 9 +1 = 10.

Am I missing any?

JohnK

Theres the location in Douglas, Cork that has a planning application in for the last few months.

Just a little Samba

Geuze wrote: »

So to summarise:

2014 = 2 open (Blackrock, SCD, and Dun-Laoighaire)
2015 = 3 to open (Blanch, Swords, Cork city)

plus confirmed site purchases:

Waterford
Camden St in Dublin
Carlow (confirmed this week)
Irsh Life mall, Abbey street, Dublin.

That makes 9.

Am I missing any?

It's not the Irish life mall, it's the original Trustee Savings Bank building across the road from the theatre. Big grey building with tall pillers and wrought iron railings.
Lovely building.

oblivious

Just a little Samba wrote: »

It's not the Irish life mall, it's the original Trustee Savings Bank building across the road from the theatre. Big grey building with tall pillers and wrought iron railings.
Lovely building.

Here is a pick of the building, for the Jar.ie report

BaZmO*

Delighted with the idea of opening one in the City Centre, at least it won't be a case of planes, trains and automobiles to go visit one.

It was probably a smart move not to go with a City Centre one first as it could have brought a lot of negative attention.

BeerNut

Just a little Samba wrote: »

it's the original Trustee Savings Bank building across the road from the theatre.

Right next door to the National Lottery office, for celebrating your big win, like. I can't see The Flowing Tide surviving too long with that down the street.

rubadub

BeerNut wrote: »

I can't see The Flowing Tide surviving too long with that down the street.

It will be interesting to see. Half price chipper day is next week. I went past my local chipper one year and it had queues down the road, so went to the Chinese takeaway across the road -which was packed. People were discussing the menus who obviously did not usually eat Chinese but similar to me had ditched the chipper and had their mind set on a takeaway.

I think similar will happen to the bleeding horse and pubs on abbey street. Not that wetherspoons will always be packed, but sometimes it might, but people often will go to another pub nearby the one they are in. I would rarely head out and just stick to 1 pub.

Abbey street is quite dull looking, but is on the luas line and this might bring a lot more punters to the area.

irish_goat

That's good a spot alright, handy for heading between Busaras and the main part of the city centre. It's always been a bit lifeless down there too so hopefully it'll improve that.

RasTa

Wonder if Brewdock will suffer

Lovely Bloke

irish_goat wrote: »

That's good a spot alright, handy for heading between Busaras and the main part of the city centre. It's always been a bit lifeless down there too so hopefully it'll improve that.

RasTa wrote: »

Wonder if Brewdock will suffer

Ha! I'll be more inclined to go to BD for a couple before heading further into town now, knowing I can stop into Spoons.

Just a little Samba

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Ha! I'll be more inclined to go to BD for a couple before heading further into town now, knowing I can stop into Spoons.

Brew dock, spoons, fat monk, black sheep, beer house, mulligans.

Nice little northside crawl.

cormacjones

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Brew dock, spoons, fat monk, black sheep, beer house, mulligans.

Nice little northside crawl.

Where's the Fat Monk?

Lovely Bloke

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Porterhouse, WJK, Brew dock, spoons, fat monk, black sheep, beer house, mulligans.

Nice little northside crawl.

FYP

Just a little Samba

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

FYP

I don't cross the canal, buddy. Wjk I'd forgotten about though.

Just a little Samba

cormacjones wrote: »

Where's the Fat Monk?

Lower abbey Street near the food Hall.

cormacjones

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Lower abbey Street near the food Hall.

Thanks, must check it out. Never heard of it and can't seem to find anything online about it.

lk67

cormacjones wrote: »

Thanks, must check it out. Never heard of it and can't seem to find anything online about it.

Is it not The Jolly Monk?

He might be fat too mind...

Just a little Samba

lk67 wrote: »

Is it not The Jolly Monk?

He might be fat too mind...

That's the one

donaghs

Geuze wrote: »

So to summarise:

2014 = 2 open (Blackrock, SCD, and Dun-Laoighaire)
2015 = 3 to open (Blanch, Swords, Cork city)

plus confirmed site purchases:

Waterford
Douglas in Cork suburbs (added)
Camden St in Dublin
Carlow (confirmed this week)
Abbey street, Dublin.

Still no news on the Dublin Camden St one? The building is still untouched, no sign of any refurb taking place any time soon.

BeerNut

donaghs wrote: »

Still no news on the Dublin Camden St one?

Won't be for a while, I'd say. I can see the planning process being a lengthy one here.

L1011

BeerNut wrote: »

Won't be for a while, I'd say. I can see the planning process being a lengthy one here.

As it was a hotel in the mists of time (before it became a hostel), I suspect it shouldn't be too hard - obviously any drink licences etc are gone and would need a new one brought in but change of use back to a hotel should either be simple or not required.

ceekay74

I wonder if Wetherspoons would be interested in The Cuckoos Nest in Tallaght? It's certainly big enough.

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2015/05/20/old-friends-are-best/

Probably just wishful thinking on my part.

Mesrine65

ceekay74 wrote: »

I wonder if Wetherspoons would be interested in The Cuckoos Nest in Tallaght? It's certainly big enough.

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2015/05/20/old-friends-are-best/

:eek:

delahuntv

ceekay74 wrote: »

I wonder if Wetherspoons would be interested in The Cuckoos Nest in Tallaght? It's certainly big enough.

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2015/05/20/old-friends-are-best/

Probably just wishful thinking on my part.

Oh god NOOOOO - this was one of the best pubs in Dublin (I'm 40 miles wawy, so haven;t been in it for years)

A REAL family run pub that cared about customers and the community - so sad to see it close and it must be very difficult times for the Lynch family that ran it.


Hopefully someone will buy it and keep it going as a decent local family pub and not some bland boring place like wetherspoons operate it.

Lovely Bloke

delahuntv wrote: »

Hopefully someone will buy it and keep it going as a decent local family pub

Which is obviously not a good idea, given the current owners need to cease trading

delahuntv wrote: »

and not some bland boring place like wetherspoons operate it.

Which is a great model given Spoons are one of the few Publicans actually expanding in this country.

What, exactly, is boring about the Tree Tun Tavern?

They don't sell the usual boring array of Diageo & Heineken slop.
They don't have boring Sky Sport News blasting out the same stories five times an hour.

They do sell an innovative, non-boring, range of Irish and International beers.
They do have specials to entice customers to enter the premises.

how boring indeed.

Lucena

I've never understood the need to have Sky Sport News on in pubs. The pub is somewhere I go to get away from things, not to have the same non-story about some dude in Australia getting attacked by a shark shoved into my face every ten minutes. Sport I could understand, by Sky bloody news?

* Shakes fist in direction of The Old Oak in Brussels *

Ah yes, the "traditional" "Irish" pub, showing traditional Irish Sky News. :rolleyes:

ceekay74

delahuntv wrote: »

Oh god NOOOOO - this was one of the best pubs in Dublin (I'm 40 miles wawy, so haven;t been in it for years)

A REAL family run pub that cared about customers and the community - so sad to see it close and it must be very difficult times for the Lynch family that ran it.


Hopefully someone will buy it and keep it going as a decent local family pub and not some bland boring place like wetherspoons operate it.

It's my local, and it's been getting emptier and shabbier over the last few years. But no problem to them continuing to charge inflated prices to their customers.

If 'The Spoonys'© or whoever move in and slash prices, it'll take off again.

listermint

ceekay74 wrote: »

It's my local, and it's been getting emptier and shabbier over the last few years. But no problem to them continuing to charge inflated prices to their customers.

If 'The Spoonys'© or whoever move in and slash prices, it'll take off again.

tbh it was getting busier in the last 6 months I have not seen it as full in years. I was in it twice in the last 2 months to meet a friend and the place was packed.

I think they had just got back on track

ceekay74

listermint wrote: »

tbh it was getting busier in the last 6 months I have not seen it as full in years.

True. I've been there twice in the last month to watch mid-week football and was surprised to see it was quite busy compared to the last few years.

listermint wrote: »

I think they had just got back on track

It was starting to look that way. Hopefully it gets bought and reopens soon (with more affordable prices).

ThisRegard

delahuntv wrote: »

Oh god NOOOOO - this was one of the best pubs in Dublin (I'm 40 miles wawy, so haven;t been in it for years)

Seriously ? You must not have visited many because it was an awful kip, it had nothing going for it whatsoever unless it was your local. Wall to wall TVs blaring Sky Sports as said above, the place was a horror.

If it was so good it should have managed to stay operating.

delahuntv

ThisRegard wrote: »

If it was so good it should have managed to stay operating.

Many very good businesses have closed due to outside issues.

I always find it amazing how "expert" some people become when they have zero knowledge of the issues.

At the end of the day, the people who ran the pub were very well regarded n the community and supported the community for many years.

Ageyev

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Which is obviously not a good idea, given the current owners need to cease trading


Which is a great model given Spoons are one of the few Publicans actually expanding in this country.

What, exactly, is boring about the Tree Tun Tavern?

They don't sell the usual boring array of Diageo & Heineken slop.
They don't have boring Sky Sport News blasting out the same stories five times an hour.

They do sell an innovative, non-boring, range of Irish and International beers.
They do have specials to entice customers to enter the premises.

how boring indeed.

Spoons in Blackrock don't have wall to wall Sky in TV screens but they don't have anything. There's very little fun to be had sitting at a restaurant table in a brightly lit place, no music etc. I didn't even see a sign for as much as a table quiz!

Krusty_Clown

Ageyev wrote: »

Spoons in Blackrock don't have wall to wall Sky in TV screens but they don't have anything. There's very little fun to be had sitting at a restaurant table in a brightly lit place, no music etc. I didn't even see a sign for as much as a table quiz!

I guess folks define fun in different ways, but....

Ageyev

Spoons is great for the selection and price - I got two measures of a Scottish whisky for the price of a Guinness elsewhere! But the whole layout of the place just ain't much fun. I spent most of the time outside in the smoking area but it rained and got cold so had to go in.

limnam

ceekay74 wrote: »

I wonder if Wetherspoons would be interested in The Cuckoos Nest in Tallaght? It's certainly big enough.

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2015/05/20/old-friends-are-best/

Probably just wishful thinking on my part.

Not sure Tallaght and surrounding areas have enough of the target market spoons chase to sustain one.

BeerNut

limnam wrote: »

Not sure Tallaght and surrounding areas have enough of the target market spoons chase to sustain one.

I don't think Wetherspoon has a target market as such: they're aiming for everyone.

ThisRegard

delahuntv wrote: »

Many very good businesses have closed due to outside issues.

I always find it amazing how "expert" some people become when they have zero knowledge of the issues.

At the end of the day, the people who ran the pub were very well regarded n the community and supported the community for many years.

I know it was a bad pub, that's enough for me.

ThisRegard

limnam wrote: »

Not sure Tallaght and surrounding areas have enough of the target market spoons chase to sustain one.

And what target market is that?

limnam

BeerNut wrote: »

I don't think Wetherspoon has a target market as such: they're aiming for everyone.

A pub that caters for everyone. I've yet to enter such a beast.

A publicans wet dream.

This doesn't really work in practice because what brings in one alienates the other normally. How diverse is the customer base in blackrock?

You have to aim your pub at something. This is Tallaght suburbia in a place caught between tyom north kilimanah, greenhills and walkstown.

Second thoughts, yes cheap booze cheap food. Tallaght is perfect.