‘PubSpy’ does a tour of Wexford town

September 1992

They came, they saw, they embarrassed. Yes, the crack pint commandos from The Sunday World’s ‘Pub Spy’ certainly caused a few blushes among Wexford’s publicans on Sunday morning.

‘ The Watering Holes of Wexford’ was the apt title on the special report after five Wexford town hostelries were subjected to scrutiny by the discerning commandos.

The five pubs were Seanie O’Shea’s, The Ridge House, Michael Kelly’s, Tim’s Tavern, and The Wren’s Nest.

The Wren’s came out with the best result, gaining a five-pint pub rating. However, some of the others were not so highly praised.

Seanie O’Shea’s, for example, was given a measly two-pint rating and a critical write-up that cited ‘dreadfully slow’ service. The regulars in O’Shea’s will surely have something to say about that. The Ridge House was given a pint rating of just one, and was called ‘uninspiring’.

Michael Kelly’s was criticised for having ‘nicotine-stained ceilings and walls’. It didn’t seem to dawn on the Pub Spy team that the ceilings and walls are actually painted a brown colour! It is understood that some of the regulars have been complaining about this inaccuracy, and remarked that Kelly’s is in fact ‘ the most painted pub in Wexford’.

Tim’s Tavern received a three-pint rating and was deemed slightly upmarket by Pub Spy. ‘ There’s a poet’s corner feel to the place,’ he said. The locals are now racking their brains to come up with suitable Limericks that will fit their ‘poetic’ image.

At least The Wren’s Nest had nothing to worry about.

Ever since their glowing appraisal appeared, the staff have been patting each other on the back and showing a copy of the article to any interested punter.

The message is out now for all pubs to be on their guard. You never when Pub Spy will strike again!