Man’s quest for a solo sup of a pint of plain
EVEN though I’d waited months before the pubs, at least the outdoor versions, reopened, I’d decided to hold off for a few more days.
But by Wednesday my resolve started to crack. The ‘Leaving Cert weather’, the smell of fresh cut grass... pictureperfect beer garden conditions. So I set out for just the one… I arrived at a well-known suburban bar 10 minutes later. I hadn’t bothered to book a slot online, but I was allowed ‘walk in’ last summer.
‘Evening, have you a table for one,’ I asked, a slight giddiness in my voice.
‘No, no we don’t today,’ I was told rather speedily, despite the fact several empty tables were visible.
Undeterred, I decided to head into Dublin city centre to Camden Street.
I spotted a bar with empty tables outside on the street; a two-seater, a four-seater and another table set up for a larger group.
A staff member approached, without a clipboard or pad. I politely asked for a table for one but was told they were all reserved for the evening.
Unbowed, I ventured to the venue next door, where a sandwich board explained there was more seating in the back.
‘Do you do walk-ins for one, please?’ I asked a staff member, who paused for a bit before confirming they too didn’t have a table. It was clear the pubs didn’t want to give a precious table to a man on his own when there was more money to be made from a group.
I ventured in the direction of Merrion Row and tried the first bar with seats outside. I stood, waiting to be seated, but no one came and after a couple of minutes I moved on.
It was the same story at the next pub.
So I got back on the Luas, legs sore and thirsty. But as the carriage approached Dundrum I remembered a pub that served food and takeway pints during lockdown.
When I got to the door of Uncle Tom’s Cabin I could see it was busy. I braced myself.
‘Any chance you’d have a table for one?’ I asked gingerly.
‘Sure’, came the response as I was guided upstairs to a raised beer garden resplendent in the evening sun. Hallelujah!
It was a long wait and trek too far for my liking, but the pint was beautiful.