Dublin Down Irish Pub
A bit o' Ireland comes to downtown Vancouver
Dan Trent and Ron Sulit
(Photo by Eric Donaldson)
Downtown Vancouver is changing daily, almost as you watch.
There's an influx of new residents with exciting outlooks and attitudes, a very cool new gathering-place (made of recycled materials) just completed at 8th and Main Street called Turtle Place (a must-see at night!); and the opening and growth of a cozy and fun place to meet, relax and party known as Dublin Down Irish Pub, located at 813 Main St.
Dublin Down is the brain-child of owner Brandon Smith, a deceptively young-looking fellow with years of experience tending to patrons in the food and beverage industry.
Smith grew up in Idaho; while he was earning his degree at University of Idaho, he worked (as so many do) in local pubs and restaurants. He began to learn the daily routines others used to successfully (and sometimes not so successfully) run their businesses.
After college, Smith moved to Las Vegas for a few years and became an award-winning bartender. (Tom Cruise's character in the movie Cocktail could learn from Smith.)
Life brought Smith up to the Pacific Northwest a few years ago, where he successfully managed The Top Shelf martini bar until the day that the owner of Top Shelf mentioned that he was about to put another business he owned (The Sidebar Pub) up for sale. Smith saw this as a too-good-to-be-true opportunity and Dublin Down Irish Pub was born.
Dublin Down is a long, narrow, pleasantly-lit pub with comfortable seating and tables, a full bar menu and employees who make you feel welcome right away.
It may be the only pub in town with $1 beer at happy hour and the only one where the Boston Red Sox are the house team (every game is shown on an 11-foot wide screen), along with a full complement of Irish sports (the Sentanta network). It also offers the area's only championship shuffleboard, with regular contests ongoing.
Dublin Down boasts a full-on Irish menu, meaning one can find shepherd's pie along with bangers 'n' mash, (and much more) and 44 (yes, that's forty-four!) different whiskeys available for your enjoyment.
There is live music every Tuesday and an acoustic open mike every Thursday, with weekends given-over to a few special events through the year; the next one is the "Big Shindig" on July 18, when a whole block of Main is shut except for a huge party thrown by Dublin Down and featuring 100 or so custom cars, live bands, food, drink.
The pub also sponsors a Rugby team, four Soccer teams, a softball team, a basketball team and even a Roller-Derby team!
The Columbian has voted Dublin Down Irish Pub the "Best in Live Music," and the "Best Happy Hour;" you owe it to yourself to check it out.
A late-night happy hour is featured every night from 11:30 to 12:30; Sunday and Monday nights are service nights; and they are open 365 days!
I betcha I'll see ya there!