The Old Oak
Oliver Plunkett Street , Cork, Ireland
Overall: 5.0
Food: 5.0
Drink: 5.0
Atmosphere: 4.0
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The Old Oak Features In 1 Tours; Cork Jazz Festival 2006 Pub Trail,
(See All Details On Tours Featuring The Old Oak)
You don’t get to be one of the most popular pubs in any city without doing something right. Which means you can be pretty certain that The Old Oak is popular for a reason other than its prime location, especially since what started as a small city-centre pub has continued growing until it is now what can only be described as a superpub.
The Old Oak began life a little over 15 years ago as a small pub holding maybe 50 people. It gradually expanded into neighbouring premises and is now a large meandering pub with four different bars and a selection of nooks and crannies. From the front door you enter the original refurbished bar and make your way through an archway into a large room with a second bar. To your left a passage leads to a third bar, while the right has a stage and beyond that another room with a fourth bar. The primary building materials are wood and brick. These are used in different ratios but still provide an overall feeling of being in the one bar.
The mention of a “superpub” is usually not a good sign, conjuring up pictures of massive drink emporiums without atmosphere or warmth. The Old Oak, despite its size manages to avoid the worst of this because the individual areas are not too large themselves.
I last paid a visit to The Old Oak on a Saturday evening. At 8pm the bar had a smattering of customers and there were plenty of seats available. Waiting for a pint of Murphy’s to settle I took a look around. The customers ranged from people in their early 20s up to at least one man in his 70s. As it filled up the profile changed and at the end of the night the average age was early thirties with an almost equal number of males and females.
The pint arrived and was smooth and creamy. I have generally found the quality of the stout to be very good in The Old Oak, though I have had some bad lagers in the past. The price is standard for Cork city with my Murphy’s costing €3.80 and a Heineken €3.90.
One of the real attractions of the Old Oak is its long dedication to live music. As you will see from the posters around the bar there are bands many nights a week, usually with no cover charge. These play on the stage in the main bar and the pictures are relayed to the TVs around the bar though the sound isn’t. There wasn’t a band playing tonight but there was a DJ by the stage.
There are toilets both in the main bar and up stairs. There was no signature list to say if they were checked regularly or not but they were clean throughout the night.
The Old Oak is successful for a reason. They put effort into getting good bands, the pint is good, and the atmosphere lively. If you're in Cork pay it a visit. Even if you don't love it you'll have fun…and probably find yourself going back at least once.
March 2006
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Perhaps the largest pub I've been to....I nearly got lost in there :)
Friendly staff, nice atmosphere and a drink selection typical for a pub in the southern region- Beamish and Murphy's on tap! Hurray! - Andersen, Denmark Ireland Pub Guide, Feb 1, 2010 |
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Having visited the Old Oak many times over the years, I feel it's now a bar that's well past it's "Best Before" date. As mentioned by other reviews, the staff are definitely not the friendly bunch they once were and seem to have been allowed adopt the attitude normally found in the money-grabbing superpubs. Also, despite the overly strict approach of the door staff, recently I've noticed that most weekend nights, the crowd can be (trying to be pc here) not quite as respectable as they once were. Granted, if you do get a good gig and the crowd's alright then it'll make for an enjoyable night but unfortunately I find myself walking back out of here more and more lately.
Also, as a smoker, I really think that a bar this size could have put the effort into creating a better smoking area like most of the other bars nearby, rather than standing outside on the street. And yes, as mentioned, they have a policy of not serving Red Bull or shots of any kind. I think this is because they may be part of a group of bars trying to promote resposible drinking though. Anyway, by all means pop in to see what it's like on a particular night but don't be surprised if you're greeted by abrupt bar staff and come across a few Vinnie Jones wannabes on their Friday/Saturday night out. Midweek might be the best time for dropping in here. - Mark , Cork, Ireland Anonymous, Jan 12, 2010 |
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no red bull, jagermeister or kopparberg - NOT IMPRESSED - Yonners, Ireland
Anonymous, Sep 28, 2009 |
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there is a severe lack of class and manners on show here from the bar staff in the old oak. we went in ona Sunday afternoon when the place was reletively quite, all the tables were dirty,the floor looked like it hadnt been brushed in quite a few days. The bar man seems to think serving coke in a pint glass and giving it to a woman is acceptable. Very rude and sloppy to say the least. Could be a nice place if the staff were trained properly and had a bit of manners. The Old Oak leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Avoid if you dont want your day ruined by nasty barmen. - Amy, ireland
Anonymous, Aug 2, 2009 |
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The lunchtime food is more reasonably priced than any other venue in that area of Cork city. Tuna and cheese potato with a small salad and slaw and a can of coke was less than 5 euro, fresh and filling. The atmosphere during the day is subdued and nicely relaxed. In the evening I've always found there to be a lot of local people meeting for a drink and a chat, with the demographic changing through the night like the review mentions. I'll always go back. - Juniper, USA
Anonymous, Jul 23, 2009 |
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door staff with bad attitude and rejecting people cause they are deemed as beinf too chatty really makes this a venue of excitment " i think not" - john , ireland
Anonymous, Jun 5, 2009 |
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Wow, we had the time of our lives - Sarah, N IrELAND
Anonymous, Oct 21, 2008 |
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Good spot, but way too bright, especially when the music is playing. needs to use the dimmer for a better atmosphere and dancing without feeling everybody in the place is watching you. (I am a rubbish dancer, but love it) - Gary Lynch, Ireland
Anonymous, Sep 15, 2008 |
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if u take cocaine and are middle age it's probably for you - dr bob jones, cork
Anonymous, Oct 3, 2007 |
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While we were in Cork we went to the Oak every night. Hot bar tenders, great atmosphere, good selection on drinks, great owner, next time we are back in Ireland we are going to make a stop in for sure.
Ps you are now on facebook - Jo and Mandy, Canada Anonymous, Jun 10, 2007 |
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