IRELAND’S FIRST JD WETHERSPOON pub has officially opened its doors and locals in Blackrock, Co Dublin have already been trying it out.
The Three Tun Tavern had its first customers this morning, about seven months after it was announced that the 800 outlet British pub chain was entering the Irish market.
The former Tonic Bar is the first of Wetherspoon’s Irish branches, employing 60 people, with the discount pub chain also planning to open a premises in Cork city.
Josh Powell who lives nearby was one of the first to try out the Three Tun Tavern this morning, getting a full-Irish breakfast and a pint of lager for €9.
Powell is from England but moved to Ireland three years ago and says that the pub is much nicer than many of those he’s used to in the UK, adding that he has no complaints from his first visit.
“This one is a lot different,” he said. “It’s a lot nicer and obviously it’s newer so it’s really clean. The decor is much nicer and it’s not as plain and white as some in England. The staff were lovely as well so they’ve definitely done a good job on it.”
“It was busy, there were a lot of people in suits actually checking their emails, so they must have wi-fi,” he added.
Wetherspoon’s move to Ireland received a mixed reaction when it was announced, with some pointing out that local Irish pubs are an important tradition and source of employment and should be protected from larger chains.
A number of Facebook campaigns were launched against Wetherspoon’s decision and there was also questions asked recently when the company confirmed they will not be serving Guinness in their Irish bars.
“I understand that there is a difference over here,” says Powell. “I’m quite used to the chain pubs because there’s many chains in the UK and Wetherspoon’s wouldn’t have the best reputation among them.”
“The price of a pint is so expensive here, anyone who serves a pint for under €5 is going to get business here,” he says.
There has been much speculation about where Wetherspoon’s next acquisition in Ireland will be.
The company confirmed last week that they will not be buying well-known Dublin pubs Café en Seine, The George, The Dragon and Howl At The Moon as had been suggested by some media reports.
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