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I like the fact they (B&C) keep the tv volume down but you can still watch a match and/or chat and/or eat in comfort. I´m sure on match days they could turn it up to annoying levels to attract certain crew, like other places, but they don´t (at least when I´ve been there) so I applaud that.

Silenius, Thanks for the detailed response.

To start with, the original post was written the day after I'd been in, when I had a bit of a hangover. Looking back, I think the main reason I was upset at the time was the missed expectations - I'd just found the best pub I'd ever been in, and my mates agreed, and congratulated me on bringing them there. It was wonderful. A great night! Three hours later, we were discussing going home early because we couldn't hear each other. It was beyond being annoyed. I felt really let down.

In the cold light of day, it's obvious I overreacted. When someone wants to start any kind of business in the centre of Dublin, he has to take a massive risk with his hard earned cash. Moreso on a place with a pub licence. Can't be much change out of 50k/month.

Everyone knows people who drink to be drunk, and want to be drunk before they hit the nightclubs with expensive drink. You just need one of them in a crowd that are going out for the night, and suddenly going to a pub without music isn't an option anymore.

Just like everyone else, I need to pick my nights carefully; knowing that most nights you don't need a loud DJ helps. Someone else pointed out via PM that downstairs the music is never loud. And, I'm sure once the place makes a name for itself and you get to make the place closer and closer to what you want, and less what the immediate market demands, it'll get even better.

Anyway. As I said, for all my griping, it's still the best pub in the country.

John

As far as music goes, as long as I can hear the person across the table from me, without having to lean forward and shout “Whaaat?”, music is a welcome part of a night out, for beer, with friends. So once the volume isn't over the top, a DJ can enhance the night.

Silenus;

I can understand the food thing now. If the kitchen is small, you can only cater for X number of tables, that is a simple matter of fact. I can also see why platters might be an exception. Less prep time; just throw the stuff in the fryer and platter it when it's done, taking care of a table in one fell swoop. The problem is that I'm not a big fan of deep fried food and I don't actually think it goes particularly well with beer.

Have you considered doing cold food that could just be arranged on a plate, straight from the fridge? Bread, cheese, cold meat, pickles, olives, humus, etc. This sort of food goes very well with beer, doesn't need to be cooked and doesn't give off food smells that others might object to.

I for one would welcome a bit of soakage with my pints, so if I could order a few slices of bread with a bit of humus, or a dish of mixed olives, I could have a bit of something to pick at, that doesn't require me to persuade some other people to join me in a pile of deep fried food.

It also might cut down on the seductive power of the kebab house, on the way home; which I know some of us find difficult to resist.

Just a thought on how to make my favourite watering hole a little better.

"sbillings":256ajo6t wrote:
Just a thought on how to make my favourite watering hole a little better.[/quote:256ajo6t]

Myself and the chef have been talking about some cold platters, hummus and other easy to do foods. All of us here would love to be able to provide some soakage, and we learnt a a lot during Oktoberfest re the sale of food upstairs.
But, with christmas looming, and all the office/ company parties, the fried stuff is all that is on offer before '08.

If any body has suggestions for easy to do food, that might suit the hall and more importantly, the customer, i would like to hear.

Like i said, the management and kitchen are willing to do food, but christmas has to be put behind us first.

Cheers G.

A few years ago a bunch of mates and I went to Bruges on a "beer tasting" weekend. The best little pub was 't Brugs Beertjee, not only beause of the fantastic beer selection and great personal service, but also because of the plate of nibbles we got (which they gave us free actually). It was really simple stuff. Pickled onions, chunks of flavoursome cheese, spicey pepper salami, bits of bread and really hot mustard. Most evenings when having a beer at home I'll make the same selection for myelf! Beer and cheese just go so well together, and with some meats, pickles and mustards, makes it almost like a ploughmans lunch! (pork pies and pickled eggs anyone <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: --> <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->) That kinda stuff goes nice with beer, ito my taste anyway, and is so easy to prepare it wouldn't impact the kitchen too much. Maybe just have a fridge of it upstairs? <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

Why not start a new thread for beer and snacky-type food combinations?

&amp;quot;Adeptus&amp;quot;:rrycmiu9 wrote: Why not start a new thread for beer and snacky-type food combinations?[/quote:rrycmiu9]
i remember being in laos a few years ago (sorry that sounds fairly wanky) and having these delicious seaweed rolls - think it was nori with sesame seeds inside - deepfried with a really fiery chili dip, was great with beerlao.
i mentioned ages ago the nice food in sheridans on the dock in galway, very simple stuff like sean said, hummous, olives etc they also had charcuterie plates and cheese boards. fallon & byrnes do great ones in the wine bar downstairs, worth a look to see how easy it can be once you've the quality ingredients.