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The N.
Ireland Guide to Pubs of Interest. |
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Spinning Mill Ballymena SEE THE WETHERSPOON'S PAGE |
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The Crosskeys, 40 Grange Road, Toomebridge, BT41 3QB (028) 7965 0694 / 9511. One of the least known treasures of the province. A classic for Americans with its whitewashed stone walls, thatched roof, turf fire, traditional Irish music and an ever open welcome. This pub has featured on many a postcard and calendar and is well worth the effort to find it. Recently fire damaged, the roof has been restored with new thatch, as you can see here. |
| Eamonn, the original owner, has sold to Vincent & Colm Hurl. The pub is now open all day. Whether it is to sit out the back (or front) on a hot summer day, snuggle up to a roaring turf fire in winter for a quite chat, or to come later at night for impromptu music sessions, this is a fine old country pub that you miss at your peril. This is one of the "Famous Pubs Trail". | |
| Maloney's,
401 Ballyclare Road, Newtownabbey, (028) 9083 2438. This (once family run pub) dates from 1840 when it was opened by William Whitley, a spirit grocer from Ballycraigy. It has a stone and wood floor and an open fire in the bar. A large lounge leads into a railway themed restaurant. The front garden catches the sun and is a favourite of passing cyclists. Friendly locals and barstaff give a very relaxed atmosphere. |
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| The old local station house has gone but trains from the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland pass this way in the summer. Dickie Whittley has now sold the premises and the new owners want to keep the old bar as it is. They have opened up the side room though and kept that old fashioned look. | |
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Carmichaels
(Staffie's), Ballyeaston Village. An unspoiled and classic gem of a village pub with no draught ale. Run by the ageless Stafford Carmichael himself who remembers the first time bottle conditioned Worthington White Shield to come in to the province - over fifty years ago! A roaring fire and muted country talk lead to a relaxed bout of imbibing. Outside toilets must be seen! This is a pub from a bygone age and it one of the few bottle only pubs left today (Check out the bottle of "Belfast" behind the counter. A must for all. |
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& Shamrock, 584 Antrim Road, Glengormley, BT36 8RF (028) 9083 2889 An old fashioned, family run business, this pub has a plain panelled, low ceilinged bar adjoining an intimate sitting room. Notice the Herriot Brewery mirror in the bar. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere helps the time pass at the bar. Gerry O'Boyle was a dedicated CAMRA supporter of many years. Sadly, Gerry has passed away but Rosemary is still there with a smi, aided sometimes by her sisters. |
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Beanie's Bar Killead. Under the flight path into Aldergrove airport is a little country pub in the bypassed village of Killead. It is the stuff legends are made of! Once a bottle only it (sadly) now has draught. Beloved of bikers, and hosting biker memorabilia, the very small bar is low ceilinged and wood panelled. The back lounge is fortunately somewhat larger. Beanie Heaney (the mother) always had a good Sunday clientele during the dark days when Sunday opening was practically non existent. |
| Many a young lad cut his teeth here (usually on the rim of a Guinness bottle cap) imbibing his first beer before hitting the local country dance hall. | |
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The Imperial Bar, |
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The House of McDonnell, 71 Castle Street, Ballycastle. (028) 2076 2975. Dating back to 1744 and still in the hands of the McDonnell family heirs. A listed building with an ornate interior showing the spirit grocer ancestry (ending in 1921). Busy at night, calm by day, it certainly is relaxing. A place to sit and contemplate the history & memorabilia of the pub. What better place could there be than to spend time relaxing from the "Oul' Lammas Fair" in August? |
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Dobbin's Inn Hotel, |
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The Meeting House, 120 Brustin Brae Road, Larne. (028) 2858 3252 Well over a hundred years old, hidden in the countryside north of Larne and worth hunting out. There is a small parking space for cars at the front and a beer garden to the rear. It has a plaque for "Irish Pub of Distinction 2001". The public bar is comprised of a low ceiling wood panelled bar split into two small snugs front and rear. Interesting range of beer bottles on the back shelf. |
| Both snugs have concrete floors, high backless stools and wood panelled walls. Note the small coloured glass "snob" style window panes in the front bar. A long narrow corridor leads past a front lounge that has pine half panels and pine tables & chairs. The back lounge, recently refurbished, has comfortable seating and high small windows with half height wood panels and a stone effect fireplace. The restaurant upstairs serves good food while bar snacks are available downstairs every day until 7 pm. Music most nights. Both locals and staff are friendly. | |
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The Stables |
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The Tap Room
(AKA Kelly's Cellars) 21 Church Street, Ballymoney. (028) 2766 2157 A thatched, multi room pub and restaurant. The Tap Room is small, wood and tile floored with lots of wood panelling and ceiling. Pictures of the Titanic adorn the bar, with an excellent cut away drawing of the ship. It leads into back rooms with pew seating and brewing bric-a-brac. The Cellars restaurant, across the yard, has a tiled floor and lots of miniature bottles above the small bar and more bric-a-brac. Mainly pew seating. Good basic food. |
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The Dungeon Bar |
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O'Kanes 22 Main Street, Randalstown. (028) 9447 3101 Town centre pub with tiled floor, lots of old bottles, mirrors and a real fire. A big selection of whiskeys and liquors vie with the usual bric-a-brac. Decorative (but non functional - as in sawn in half!) wooden casks. Pool room and lounge to the rear. Check out the glass cabinet on the outside wall at the rear entrance. |
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The Londonderry Arms, |
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Clenaghan's Bar &
Restaurant 48 Soldierstown, Aghalee. (028) 9265 2952 (T) (028) 9265 2251 (F) Not far from the motorway and along a country road is this quaint old pub. A roaring fire in the small bar lights the low ceilinged, thick walled room. Further back is the dining area, split into two rooms. The food is excellent and well worth the drive. Large car park at rear and entrance through side door. It is advisable to book. |
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The Bushmills Inn, |
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| Dating back from the 1830's as a coaching house called The Antrim Arms, it still has peat fires & gas lighting in its many small lounges. Take a stroll up the double staircase past the permanent exhibition of paintings and down the long gallery. HINT! See if you can discover the little known secret in the library room. | |
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The Halfway House, |
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There is a pool table
and dart board to one side of the bar and to the other is a separate small, low
ceilinged side lounge. At the entrance is a selection of local guides . The bar
has an off license. There is a poster listing this as one of the
"Glens of Antrim" pubs (along with the House of McDonnell, The Central
Bar/McMullen's, Lurig, Skerry Inn, Manners, McAuley's, Glencoy, Waterfall Bar,
Glensway Tavern and the Greenhills). The owner and his wife are friendly and
don't mind a chat. PLEASE NOTE: The red post box outside is for mail deliveries to the pub and is often mistaken for a public post box! |
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Mary McBride's, 2 Main Street, Cushendun. (028) 2176 1511 One of the smallest pubs in Ireland (The Glass Jar, Belfast, was the smallest but it was razed to the ground in 2001) and part of the National Trust. It has gone through a renovation that still leaves it with most of its charm. A great staging post to break the journey around the Glens of Antrim. Sadly the small public bar has now been opened into the main area and cannot be classified as "THE smallest bar". |
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Wetherspoon's "Tuesday
Bell" |
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OTHER PLACES TO CONSIDER Carrickfergus Cricket Club * (028) 9335 1499 Carrick-a-rede, Ballintoy Smugglers Inn,
Bushmills |
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