Flanagan's Irish Pub in Bethesda will be pouring its last pint on Oct. 9th. However, the owners have opened a new place in Bethesda: Flanagan's Harp and Fiddle. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/29/AR2005092900704.html?sub=AR
Damn shame Doesn't sound like the new place will have the 'character' of the orginal. I watched many a 5 (6) Nations rugby game there (hmmm ... Guinness and Irish breakfast at 9am ) - heck I think I even saw Scotland win there once (but that was probably a Guinness induced hallucination).
If the newspaper account is to be believed, they plan to turn it into a fern bar. "Handsomely decorated"? "Tasteful cabinets"? This is an Irish pub?
? It's being razed to make condos. I'm going to miss the old place. Saw some great hurling matches there not to mention some banner Celtic games. Beir bua agus beannacht!
I can honestly say that back in my drinking heyday I participated in some hurling matches there.... Yuck! I used to watch United matches there on occasion when I lived in Bethesda.
Truly sad, Kravi introduced me to Flanagan's and I think it is one of the most truly authentic Irish Pubs the DC area has. Good to see they will continue showing soccer at their new digs though. Hope the new locale doesn't change things too much. I'm defiitely gonna try and get there on the 9th for one last pint.
True that. I'm very, very glad I finally quit smoking, but I did it on my own, without any help from local government. My hometown of Lincoln, NE instituted a smoking ban a few years back. I'm trying to imagine the Zoo Bar without smoke, and it's depressing.
Went there a few months ago and got there just before Happy Hour. I kid you not that besides my two friends and myself, there were a total of 2 other people in the entire place! We finally left around 7PM and the place may have had a max of 8 patrons. I asked the bartender what was up with the lack of people and she indicated that most people don't even come to Flanagan's because of the smoking ban. She stated that they hung in DC and, if by chance, would stop in for a beer as the night was winding down. Sad since I had many great memories at Flanagan's when I was still in the DC metro area.
I was at the Harp & Fiddle last night (client sponsored happy hour ). It wasn't too conducive for standing around and chatting. More of a sit down and eat place. The bar was nice. The biggest issue is that I only saw 1 TV (maybe 25") that wasn't at the bar - but halfway between the bar and restaurant. Not too impressed. But that's the way it goes.
Hehe, well put! I spent my share of time getting stupid at Flanagan's, but the place had a permanent stink attached to it due to the beer, smoke and vomit that had become its trademark. I don't object to any of those things in a bar, mind you, but with no ventilation the stink becomes permanent, and that's when you knock it down and build something else. RIP, Flanagan's.
They could rent a smoke machine to re-create the atmosphere. Even better, someone should invent a machine that would collect cigarette smoke from other bars and it can then be pumped into those with a smoking ban. No one's smoking, it's just atmosphere!!! A pub needs to be dimly lit, have good beer, a sticky floor, music sweet music, lots of soccer on tv's, marginally good food, a dart board, lots of wood and a friendly yet unattainable waitstaff and a peat fireplace wouldn't hurt. Also interestingly configured seating and weirdly shaped rooms add that extra bit of charm. What it doesn't need to have is cigarette, pipe or cigar smoke (although I prefer the latter 2 to the former) to make it enjoyable. I am Nazi like when it comes to anti-smoking which is probably why I don't go out much, well that and a 7-month old. Having said all that, I have some fond memories of Flanagan's. Especially the ManU v Everton FA Cup Final from 8 or 9 years ago, when Cantona scored the winner.
I hate the smell of smoke nowadays, and generally won't go into a place where I can detect it. However, my olderst memories of pubs around the world have always included the lingering scent of cigarette and pipe smoke. That adds to the aura that defines an 'authentic' pub to me (along with the other things you list.) Pubs that don't have it always seemed a little antiseptic, like a movie set.