What's the roughest pub in Dublin city?

Birneybau · 15-01-2021 1:15am

Bozo Skeleton wrote: »

The Blue Lion just down the road from it on the other hand...
That was a pretty mad shop. The (true) story of the Nigerian guys going in there looking for protection money is one of those stories of Dublin pub's legends.
I remember there was a laminated poster, for the tourists mainly, I suppose. It was pictures of Dublin's oldest pubs. Similar to the Victorian doors of Dublin poster. The usual places, Brazen Head, Conways, etc. One of them was the Blue Lion. I used to wonder if American tourists would say, "honey, let's check out this quaint old bar on the poster, the Blue Lion."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ryye-v-8j0

IrishLad90 · 15-01-2021 1:17am

Not a pub by nature, but its clientelle can be full of a pub goers
BABYLON on Camden street

15-01-2021 1:24am

Does anyone know if Beltons(Lowrys) Summerhill is still open?

if so, is Anthony Lowry still running it?

BonnieSituation · 15-01-2021 1:43am

It was open until lockdown last year. My mate literally moved in across the road the day of Ireland v England in the 6N last year and we had been banking on turning it into his local.

Gloomtastic! · 15-01-2021 12:32pm

Bozo Skeleton wrote: »

The (true) story of the Nigerian guys going in there looking for protection money is one of those stories of Dublin pub's legends.

Pray tell please........

yabadabado · 16-01-2021 12:09am

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Pray tell please........

I think it's mentioned previously on this thread.

Dyr · 16-01-2021 1:30am

Funny everyone remembers the Nigerian story about the Blue Lion when there was a fella was taken out by a hitman in it around the same time....then there was a failed hit in it a few years after that

thenightman · 16-01-2021 5:29am

I did a VEC course in Collinstown in Rowlagh in the mid 2000's. Few of the lads were local so they convinced us to head up to Finches for a pint or three before breaking up before the Christmas. Was about 3pm on a midweek afternoon and the look of suspicion us non locals got walking into the windowless bunker of a pub before the lads 'vouched for us' was hilarious. But once that was clear place was good craic, except for the pished auld boy I interrupted trying to snort (already with a nosebleed) coke from the top of the handryer in the jacks!

Fatnacho · 16-01-2021 12:10pm

Did a bit of a tour of the pubs around Thomas/Francis/Meath St. on a Saturday before the lockdown. Strange area with a massive difference in clientele for such a small locality . Hipster bars like Lucky’s, Drop Dead Twice& Anti-Social right beside dumps like Bakers(patrons trying to headbutt the DJ and pulling their own pints behind the bar) and the Lark Inn. Was wary of the Liberty Belle walking in but it’s a smashing place. Glad, however, to visit places like Bakers and Donaghmede Inn before they closed for good. Pubs like that are becoming rarer and rarer.

L1011 · 16-01-2021 2:14pm

Bakers will reopen with new operators I'm sure; but its very likely it'll be another bar similar to Luckys etc.

BonnieSituation · 16-01-2021 4:26pm

Fatnacho wrote: »

Did a bit of a tour of the pubs around Thomas/Francis/Meath St. on a Saturday before the lockdown. Strange area with a massive difference in clientele for such a small locality . Hipster bars like Lucky’s, Drop Dead Twice& Anti-Social right beside dumps like Bakers(patrons trying to headbutt the DJ and pulling their own pints behind the bar) and the Lark Inn. Was wary of the Liberty Belle walking in but it’s a smashing place. Glad, however, to visit places like Bakers and Donaghmede Inn before they closed for good. Pubs like that are becoming rarer and rarer.

The Liberty Belle is a great boozer.

My oul lad was fond of stopping in there back in the day.

Bozo Skeleton · 17-01-2021 10:03pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

The Liberty Belle is a great boozer.

My oul lad was fond of stopping in there back in the day.

The Liberty Belle is a grand aul boozer. I know a fair few of the regulars, and there's a few right gee bags that drink there, it puts me off going there

That's a personal thing though. It's a good aul pub.
EDIT. Haven't been in it in a couple of years. There's quite a few that drink there that have been barred from other pubs in the area. Decent pub, but I'm not in the humour for meeting some folk there

dazberry · 18-01-2021 1:52pm

Some of the former Bakers drinkers went up to Kennys, as where people from half way across the city at various stages of the lockdowns trying to get in a few gargles. A lot of great characters but it was messy and it wasn't uncommon to see trouble kicking off.

thewolfisloose · 31-01-2021 4:49am

Not sure if it's been previously mentioned but.. The Furry Bog in Whitechurch.

A few years ago I was working for a Dublin taxi fleet on the base. I naively sent out a people carrier late one weeknight. It was one of the pubs on the southside serving travellers at the time. I only found out what the craic was after the driver had arrived and refused the job. There had been an organized brawl out the front of the pub and they wanted the driver to bring the losing party to Temple st, wait with them for treatment and then return back to the pub afterwards.

I'd love to rock in one day and ask for the cocktail menu.

IRE60 · 31-01-2021 12:31pm

ShyMets wrote: »

It gone a few years but the Museum Rest just of Queen St was pretty nasty

Ah will u stop - you must have had a sheltered upbringing if you thought the rest was rough - you could go half a mile from there for 'rough'!

IRE60 · 31-01-2021 12:37pm

Many years back my Da brought me for a pint in The Jolly Beggarman (he was having a laugh) it was on Nichoas St - fckc me it was rough!!!

Alvin Holler · 31-01-2021 8:31pm

thewolfisloose wrote: »

Not sure if it's been previously mentioned but.. The Furry Bog in Whitechurch.

A few years ago I was working for a Dublin taxi fleet on the base. I naively sent out a people carrier late one weeknight. It was one of the pubs on the southside serving travellers at the time. I only found out what the craic was after the driver had arrived and refused the job. There had been an organized brawl out the front of the pub and they wanted the driver to bring the losing party to Temple st, wait with them for treatment and then return back to the pub afterwards.

I'd love to rock in one day and ask for the cocktail menu.

Temple st? What age was he!

beertons · 31-01-2021 8:39pm

Alvin Holler wrote: »

Temple st? What age was he!

That's kinda funny. Send the loser to the children's hospital.

2ndcoming · 31-01-2021 8:41pm

That's an old joke in fairness

bocaman · 31-01-2021 8:46pm

Bozo Skeleton wrote: »

The Liberty Belle is a grand aul boozer. I know a fair few of the regulars, and there's a few right gee bags that drink there, it puts me off going there
That's a personal thing though. It's a good aul pub.
EDIT. Haven't been in it in a couple of years. There's quite a few that drink there that have been barred from other pubs in the area. Decent pub, but I'm not in the humour for meeting some folk there

Yes The Liberty Belle is a great pub. Used to go in there of a Thursday night.

mick121 · 31-01-2021 9:42pm

Lloyds on aimiens st wasn't the safest boozer late 80s.I used to frequent it and witnessed many a fight.The bar was mostly Sheriff st families and an post workers.In fairness they would go outside and sort their issues then back in for more pints,the lounge however was full of mad women, tables,chairs etc flying,not as civilised as the menfolk.

yabadabado · 01-02-2021 12:52am

mick121 wrote: »

Lloyds on aimiens st wasn't the safest boozer late 80s.I used to frequent it and witnessed many a fight.The bar was mostly Sheriff st families and an post workers.In fairness they would go outside and sort their issues then back in for more pints,the lounge however was full of mad women, tables,chairs etc flying,not as civilised as the menfolk.

It seems ok now , although I was only ever in it during the day.

IrishLad90 · 01-02-2021 5:06am

One More Toy wrote: »

Morbid curiosity has me wanting to go to a dive of a place

A reply to the original post for the thread.
Any place would do at this stage, there is only so many more sobriety notches that i can carve into this headboard

vafankillar · 23-07-2022 12:19pm

mad how few of these places there are left now, the pandemic & lockdowns have speed up the disappearing rate hugely

Scoundrel · 25-07-2022 12:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119376334#Comment_119376334

Yeah it's all gentrified sh!te now and Craft beer and the likes.

olestoepoke · 25-07-2022 1:03pm

The Black Sheep in Coolock lost it's licence, after several name changes (was still called the Blacker) is currently a GYM lol.

Jaysus that place was rough in the 80s and 90s. You know it's bad when there's lads sniffing powder on the counter of the bar and one of them is the manager.

cuttingtimber22 · 25-07-2022 1:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119376334#Comment_119376334

Apparently they are being turned into hotels.

Qrt · 25-07-2022 5:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/111519366#Comment_111519366

The Jobstown House and its revamp is actually pretty amazing, I was gobsmacked at how the place has turned out. The food is class too.

Irish Gunner · 25-07-2022 6:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/115923680#Comment_115923680

Over the years seen a few strange things

Went in there ordered pint asked if I had exact change as pub just been robbed and they took the till

Also due to my height got asked 4-5 times if I was a copper as we don't like coppers here

Saw someone with Shetland pony inside & owner having pint

Also massive fight outside and someone took out a machete and another a samurai sword

Have not been there in over 5 years not sure what it is like now

Nodster · 28-07-2022 6:57pm

I wouldn't say my local is really tough, but looking around even the armchairs have tattoos

29-07-2022 12:07am

The Pimlico Tavern always looked very sketch any time I passed.

Furitive characters smoking in the door way and really gack euro trance blaring.

L1011 · 29-07-2022 12:16am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119401852#Comment_119401852

Closed during lockdown, no sign of reopening.

One More Toy · 29-07-2022 12:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119401852#Comment_119401852

Does the clientele Fade Into You? :)

Viscount Aggro · 29-07-2022 9:25am

Noctors on Sherriff Street, pub always has shutters pulled down on windows

Its for locals only, no IFSC people are welcome.

They do a carvery.

Hotblack Desiato · 29-07-2022 10:36am

A local ~~shop~~ pub, for local people.

I don't think the IFSC crowd would be all that put out though!

retalivity · 29-07-2022 10:40am

There was seepage of the Sherriff St/Noctors crowd into the Lagoona and Drunken Fish in the IFSC. Drunken fish is a bit of a mad spot, it has(had?) relatively cheap booze, fri evening the place is full of Koreans doing karaoke, students, and some rough oul fellas.

Gavin "shels" · 02-08-2022 12:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119401852#Comment_119401852

The off license next to it was unusual too! Just a generally mad spot.

retalivity · 03-08-2022 9:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119401873#Comment_119401873

The whole building, including the pub, license, off license, former bookies and 12 apartments on sale for 4.75m.

https://www.daft.ie/for-sale/apartment-61-62-pimlico-pimlico-dublin-8/4001576

ballyargus · 14-08-2022 12:04pm

Having been in many of these and after reading the entire thread, my vote goes to the old Claddagh Ring on Little Britain St / Green St (the place that is now the fancy 1661)

It had a big mix in the clientele, early morning manglers and right scaldy scummy f*ckers looking for a fight or a way to rip you off.

BonnieSituation · 14-08-2022 12:13pm

I was in it when it was the Capel Inn. What a hovel and terrifying kip it was.

Danye · 14-08-2022 6:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119471306#Comment_119471306

In it one Monday morning myself and it had all sorts! But I thought it was great! Added to the excitement!

BonnieSituation · 14-08-2022 7:39pm

I love me a kip at the best of times. But the Capel Inn and indeed the Kings Inn back in the day, are the only pubs I ever left after a pint because of the vibe.

Mac-Chops · 15-08-2022 1:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119402340#Comment_119402340

My late Da always told a good yarn about there from when he was driving the Guinness lorries.

It would have always been one of their last stops on a run as, when they were off-loading the kegs from one side, a few of the locals were on the other side doing the same with whatever they could get their hands on.

Scoundrel · 15-08-2022 1:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119473070#Comment_119473070

Yep it's 100% the roughest shop I ever drank in.

L1011 · 15-08-2022 2:57pm

Funny that the Capel became such a fancy bar; and the Kings Inn is quite decent now too.

BonnieSituation · 15-08-2022 4:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119476446#Comment_119476446

Indeed. 1661 is such a lovely shop now TBF. That said, I've not darkened its door in 3 years. Must change that.

The King's Inn got noticeably better when I returned to DIT in 2014 it must be said. The period of closure obviously helped. Back in 2009 it was scary.

L1011 · 15-08-2022 4:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119476799#Comment_119476799

Its had another closure and uplift in quality since.

NedsNotDead · 16-08-2022 9:57am

I had the misfortune of being in the Capel once and thankfully never again. I had one pint and it barely touched sides. The best description of the vibe in the place was menacing with some seriously unsavory looking characters

yourdeadwright · 27-09-2022 3:39pm

The plough on abbey street used to be full of some characters ,

Can anyone remember back when the Legal eagle was an early house, another place you'd find some interesting characters ,

What was the boozer down at the junction of O'Connell street & Parnell street used to be a rough kip but great crack ,Only dress code was no caps , can't remember the name,

miamee · 27-09-2022 3:47pm

Parnell Mooney?

What's the roughest pub in Dublin city?

Comments