Christmas in Dublin
® Tintin (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 22:07 GMT

I've just found out - for reasons I won't go into - that I will be spending Christmas in Dublin. Does anyone know if there's anything to do? Doesn't have to be 'gay' but doesn't matter if it is - my general concern is whether everything is going to be shut on Christmas Day like here, or whether there's likely to be restaurants and bars one can go to, as one would find in other civilised (i.e. Eurozone) countries?

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Tintin (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:15 GMT

Hrmph! Looks like everything's gonna be shut on Xmas Day. Damnation. Oh well.

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Novice (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:37 GMT

They'd have to at least open the pubs or it wouldn't be Dublin.

Re: Christmas in Dublin
NotFrank - thankfully (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:39 GMT

Try;

http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/default.asp?topic=guide&Area=800&Cregion=110

or

http://www.visitdublin.com/homepage.htm

-------------------------------------------

hope it helps

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Tintin (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:42 GMT

Thanks NotFrank (Graham, I suppose?) - have tried the second one already, will check the first.
Too bad, Novice - apparently pubs are all shut - by law - on Xmas Day in Ireland as well as in the UK. But then we know the Irish have a commendably lax attitude to obeying the laws of the land, so here's hoping...
To be honest, my chief worry is getting FOOD...

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Guy (in the United Kingdom) 22 Dec 2002 at 15:36 GMT

I do know a couple of good bars in Dublin. Although it was a year, maybe more, ago thay i went there! And, as I was pissed at the time and being led by a couple of mates I have no idea what the name of the bars are!!

However, one might've been called Bar Gubu, or similar, and was on a main street on the corner and very busy. Another was down a different street, and you had to go downstairs to get into it. Don;t know the name of that one at all!

And another had a great big piano in it, and they serve cocktails. big pink ones that you can stand by the piano drinking!


But all that doesn't really help much eh?1

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Tintin (in the United Kingdom) 22 Dec 2002 at 17:35 GMT

I'll give you a call if I need directions, Guy... And big pink *whats*?

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Satyricon (in the United Kingdom) 22 Dec 2002 at 20:18 GMT

I can only confirm your fears, Tintin. Dublin is a desert on Christmas Day.

>> Too bad, Novice - apparently pubs are all shut - by law - on Xmas Day in Ireland as well as in the UK.

Well, the pubs aren't shut by law on Christmas Day in either England or Wales. In fact, it's quite traditional to wear your new jumpers down the pub for a stiffener or two on Christmas morn, and for the landlord to provide a free tray of drinks. It's also customary to turn up late for dinner pished as a newt after said session.

A lot of pubs are shut on Christmas night, though this is down to the personal choice of the landlord rather than any legal restriction.

Re: Christmas in Dublin
Ronan (in the United Kingdom) 24 Dec 2002 at 21:02 GMT

I'm afraid all the pubs will be shut on Christmas Day. Your best bet for food and drink on Xmas day is a hotel bar. A number of hotels will do Christmas lunch but they may be a bit conservative/pricy. The good news is that on St.Stephens Day (Boxing Day) everything will be open. The pub with the piano in it is the Front Lounge. The bar in The Clarence is another great bar ( saw David Coulthard in there today - the jaw is fantastic). Gubu and The George will be open also on Wednesday. Let us know how you got on.

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Graham (in the United Kingdom) 24 Dec 2002 at 21:25 GMT

David Coulthard is a fag-beast? Or is it a str8 place you were referring to?

Re: Christmas in Dublin
Ronan (in the United Kingdom) 24 Dec 2002 at 21:37 GMT

Sorry to alarm you but it was a str8 bar.

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Graham (in the United Kingdom) 24 Dec 2002 at 21:42 GMT

Phew, I was worried for a minute. I think he's plug-ugly, and anyway, F1 drivers have to be among the stupidest people on the planet.

Just below Darts and Snooker players.

Re: Christmas in Dublin
® Guy (in the United Kingdom) 25 Dec 2002 at 19:38 GMT

GUBU! That was the name of it! Yes Gubu bar is nice, and, from what I remember the Front Lounge was good too! Or at least the pink cocktails were!!!

Wasn't too impressed with The George, nothing wrong with it, i hasten to add, it's just that it's not my kind of place. I much prefer a good pub to a club.