Down the Road

Photographs and stories by Jim Grey

single frame: The bar at Bruxelles

Jim Grey
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The bar at Bruxelles

The bar at Bruxelles
Canon PowerShot S95
2016

I suppose any pub in Ireland is, by definition, an Irish pub. This one’s in Dublin. I was surprised all over Ireland by how much Irish pubs were not that different from American pubs, except most pubs in Ireland have far fewer TVs.

Margaret walked up to the bar with her camera to get a close shot of the Guinness taps. She was busy trying to be all artistic when the bartender asked, “Would you like to come ’round and pour one?”

You didn’t have to ask Margaret twice! We’d done the Guinness tour the day before so she already had the technique down. I photographed her doing it with her camera (so who knows where those images are), and then that pint went out to whoever ordered it.

This moment was probably the highlight of our time in Dublin, the kind gesture of a quiet Irishman for a couple of Yanks on holiday.

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Comments

16 responses to “single frame: The bar at Bruxelles”

  1. traveller858 Avatar
    traveller858

    What a fabulous memory for you both.
    Barry

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      It really is.

      Reply
  2. J P Avatar
    J P

    How fun! And lucky for the bartender that it was done well enough to serve to someone. Go Margaret!

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      Yep, it was a professionally poured pint.

      Reply
  3. David Winskill Avatar
    David Winskill

    Cracking picture. Almost dead centre, on the bar, two pints of the Black Stuff ..”resting”.
    Tradition had it that in the days when pubs would re-open at 5.30 (after the afternoon closure) barmen would furiously start pouring Guinness in advance of the early evening rush.

    Mine’s a pint.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      What a great image in the mind, of a long row of Guinness pints all lined up on the bar!

      Reply
  4. brandib1977 Avatar
    brandib1977

    What an incredible memory for you both! Isn’t it funny how such a simple act can make a difference?

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      This is the stuff of memories.

      Reply
  5. Michael McNeill Avatar
    Michael McNeill

    Nice story, nice memories.

    Unfortunately, from what I read you’d be unlikely to get as warm a welcome at the minute. I think the whole world is hoping that someday soon we can all return to how things were.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      Or at least approach it. One of the things I miss most about the way things used to be is sitting at the bar and ordering a drink.

      Reply
  6. Khürt Williams Avatar
    Khürt Williams

    For an authentic Irish Pub experience outside of Ireland, I recommend you visit Manhattan. And I’m not surprised they invited your wife behind the counter.

    I was at a group event at an Irish Pub in New Jersey. The owner had the actual bar table shipped in from an old pub Ireland. There was a bell hung behind the bar that the bar staff would occasionally ring. The barkeep must have noticed my fascination with the sound. Shortly, I was invited behind the bar to ring the bell. I rang it with delight.

    I later found out that ringing the bell was acknowledgement when someone gives a big tip.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      Nice! What a fun memory.

      Reply
  7. Roger Meade Avatar
    Roger Meade

    I was studying that photo much enlarged because there is so much in it! On the protrusion of the wall between the two barmen is a giant bottle of Tullamore Dew upside down to be drained by a spigot. Just great. And the menu items shown on the overhead signs make my mouth water. I would love to visit that place some day. Thanks Jim.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      It’s a block off Dublin’s main shopping district, a big pedestrian area. Super easy to find if you’re ever in Dublin!

      Reply
  8. M.B. Henry Avatar
    M.B. Henry

    That was nice of him! Love those Irish pubs I had a pretty good time in all the ones I visited!

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      We took most of our meals in pubs! It was a lovely way to travel.

      Reply

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