American Reacts to the OLDEST Pub in the World - Sean's Bar in Ireland

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In this video I react to Sean's Bar in Athlone Ireland - the oldest pub in the world. While I know there's a huge Irish pub culture and I expected for Sean's bar to be old, I was shocked to find out this pub is over 1100 years old!
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[@judithhope8970]

A bar is just the counter at a pub. You go up to the bar to get your drink and order your food, if they sell food. You could normally get crisps and nuts there too.

[@adamcashin4021]

I'd consider a Bar as a venue that people go to drink in that is not local to the clientele, i.e. in a town or city center venue that attracts many people from the surrounding areas. Where seating is limited or non-existent, background music is loud, door staff vet entry and that is normally crowded. This definition is very similar to a nightclub, and really the only difference is that a night club would normally charge an entrance fee. Night clubs are bigger on average than a Bar, but I have been to some small Clubs and some large bars. There are also sports bars. These, like bars, attract clientele from all over, but they don't have the loud music. Instead they have sports on throughout the day and tend to be more of a day time attraction and will hence normally serve bar food (Expect everything to be fried in grease)

[@samuelmcgovern]

In Ireland, when we say 'bar', we're referring to the literal wooden (usually wooden) structure within the pub where the drinks are. Most pubs in Ireland don't serve food, although many do.

[@thewildgoose7467]

It also holds the record of being both the starting point and finishing point of the shortest pub crawl in history

[@dataterminal]

Originally a Public House was used by the community because it served beer. Beer was a common beverage in ancient times and was often consumed as a source of hydration due to its lower alcohol content compared to other alcoholic beverages such as wine or rum. Some historians believe that beer was originally brewed with hops not for flavor but for its preservative qualities. This would have made beer less likely to spoil and therefore safer to drink than water that may have been contaminated with bacteria or other harmful substances. Thus, a pub was one of the few ways people could get access to something safe to drink after it had gone dark. Remember, running water didn't exist even as a concept at this point, as water to the homes was first introduced in London in the 1600s by Sir Hugh Myddelton, and took water from River Lea. Getting drunk was a byproduct of drinking beers but wasn't the main reason to drink. Of course, while people drank beer in pubs as a source of safe drinking water, it is also likely that they enjoyed the taste and social atmosphere of these establishments.

[@lesdonovan7911]

we had a well in the garden they did not put in running water until I was about 10,

[@gallowglass2630]

That was the case in britain not in ireland whiskey was invented in ireland but the native irish would have drank buttermilk instead of water rather than beer.A spanish sea captain stranded on a beach in northwestern ireland wrote of this in his journals.The Irish pub owes its its origins to the brehon laws on hospitality where each chieftain/lord had to maintain a hostelry for weary travellers.

[@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey]

Not quite right many of the higher class roman villas had water direct to their homes; your facts are right about more general water supply, but certainly the concept predates Sir Hugh Myddelton.

[@carolineoates5964]

The New River ran past my primary school in East Hertfordshire. My Dad lived in Hornsey, London Borough of Haringey. Their back garden ran down to the New River. The New River was dug in the 17th century to supply London with clean water.

[@nilocnolnah6788]

The clue there is possibly.

[@suzielees5227]

Most pubs sell food, but not all. The pubs that don’t serve food tend to be busier in the evening than the day and not so family orientated.

[@rogu3rooster]

Exactly that

[@samuelmcgovern]

Not in Ireland. Most pubs do not sell food.

[@suzielees5227]

@@samuelmcgovern thanks Samuel. I didn’t know that. I guess it’s more an English thing.

[@gallowglass2630]

@@suzielees5227 I would say that is largely because of wetherspoons though there in dublin now.Usually in ireland you won't have a problem getting pub grub,but samuel is right most pubs don't.

[@suzielees5227]

@@gallowglass2630 I’m learning along with our American friend!

[@paulbromley6687]

There’s a pub in Nottingham called ye olde trip to Jerusalem that is under the castle it’s the oldest pub I’ve ever got drunk in. 1189 you have to keep a beer mat over your pint as the ceiling crumbles and falls into your pint, it is where the prisoners were thrown in t let the die.

[@markfield-gibson9911]

Can absolutely vouch for this place, it’s my hometown, had my first beer in here. What they didn’t show you in the video was during the 1970’s whilst renovating they discovered the original wattle and day walls of the building that help date it. This place is amazing

[@101steel4]

When I lived in London, pubs were closing at an alarming rate. Now I live in a tiny village, there's three, two of which are practically next door to each other. All very old with beams and fireplaces. Lovely.

[@jeremyevans9137]

Hi, Steve. Your reaction videos stand out to me because of your honesty and integrity. You are obviously really interested in your research. Pubs are not easy to define and certainly have changed in my lifetime. When I was little, none of the pubs in town served food, and children were not allowed inside them. Women still sat in the snug and in the bar, men played pub games such as dominoes and darts. In addition to pubs, there were tap rooms. Tap rooms were smaller and I think sold only beers, and of course, cider in my area. Over the years commercial pressures arising from people having more entertainment options, including in their own homes, forced many pubs to close and those remaining to diversify into serving food and becoming more child friendly. Remember, though, that old pub hours prevented pubs opening for Long during the day, so going to the pub usually happened after children were in bed. Anyway, thank you for your interesting and entertaining videos.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Hey Jeremy! I really appreciate the kind words and the additional insight. Thanks for watching!

[@KernowWarrior]

I live about half an hour from this pub, i'v drank here many, many times. Nice pub. It has been open continually as a drinking establishment, although it did close during the national lockdown in 2020. Another fact. This was the first pub, outside of Dublin to serve Guinness. They have a small section of the original 'Wattle and daub" (Woven sticks and mud) wall on display in the bar. It was discovered during renovations, along with a lot of the documentation used to substantiate their claim. If you do plan on giving this place a visit, I suggest going on a weekday preferably afternoon if you want to be able to look around properly as it gets very busy at weekends and evenings.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Very cool! Thanks for the tip

[@KernowWarrior]

@@reactingtomyroots NP, when your over I'll meet you there for a pint ... or 2

[@tonym480]

Things have changed somewhat in recent years as regards food and children in Pubs. Back in the 1960's when I first became old enough to enter a Public House and buy alcohol many Pubs didn't serve food, or if they did only a limited menu with restricted hours. Children were only permitted within the dinning area, if it existed. The layout of the Pub is as varied as the number of Pubs, but typically there would be a Public Bar, where mostly working men went, a Lounge Bar which would be a bit smarter and had a more 'middle class' clientele, and sometimes a 'Snug' where the ladies could go. There was often 'Off Sales' as well where you could buy beer or spirits to consume at home. The character of the Pub also varied depending where it was located. Rural or 'Country' Pubs had a different feel to those found in large towns, and that could be different again to those in coastal towns where there were ships calling or a local fishing fleet. These days things seem to be more open as regards who goes where with many Pubs specialising in food and families and others going for the 'Sports Bar' approach with a large screen TV showing football and other sports. Each Pub has it's own character that reflects the area it serves.

[@lesdonovan7911]

yes when i was younger we was not allowed in a pub, I had to sit in beer garden dad would bring me out a lemonade and smith crisps a child was safe to be out on our own in those days

[@tonym480]

@@lesdonovan7911 Yes, I share that experience

[@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey]

@@tonym480 Yes and sometimes a lady staff member at a country pub would have a 'Children's bar' with crisps, lemonade or squash outside from a stable or other out-house. Usually a couple of bales with a board across and cardboard cups.

[@DavidDoyleOutdoors]

@Steve in the context of a pub, the bar is the part of a pub where you pay and collect your drinks and place orders for food. For example, you might say to your friends at a table in the pub “I’ll order drinks at the bar”

[@reactingtomyroots]

This makes a lot of sense! Thanks :)

[@billabong9215]

Snugs are one of the best places for a piss up with friends. Start off hard. 5 or 6 pints later people tend to drift off, chatting to randomers, going for a smoke, getting something to eat. People wander in, seeing a free chair and wanting to sit down. Start up a conversation and before you know it, there are 3 or 4 strangers sitting around a fire having the craic and leathering back pints.... some one you've been in rounds with all day, hands you a pint over some ones shoulder. You don't even see their face.... then realise you that you haven't been outside for a few hours,head for a piss and it's dark. The evening is gone. Head out to the main bar, place is packed and the craic is hopping. They're some great fucking nights. Hon lads!

[@briankeniry219]

Lots of pubs in UK as well as in Ireland still have snugs, sometimes with their own entrances, but they're no longer used as a seperate area. Larger snugs are sometimes known as a lounge, then the bar is the male area of the pub.

[@Shoomer1988]

Are you trying to get cancelled?

[@yvonnemorris766]

You should check out Ye Old Trip to Jeruselem in Nottingham i think you will find its history very interesting. it is built under Nottingham Castle.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Yes! I've seen that recommended in several comments now. I'll have to check it out. Thanks :)

[@Melanie_7796]

Pubs don’t have to serve food, we still call it a pub. There is usually a bar area and a separate lounge, traditionally, as well as what was the snug for women, though many have removed them now. A bar is usually in city’s and it’s open plan and doesn’t serve food. It’s aimed at younger people. Sean’s pub was originally opened by a guy who assisted people crossing the river in. Athlone and the town of Athlone was named after him as more and more people settled in the area. I live half an hours drive from there but I’ve yet to visit Sean’s 😊 5.30 for a pint is good though. We were out in Dublin last night and it was €7.50 for a pint of Guinness!

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

Steve, a 'pub' does NOT have to serve food... although many do 'now', because it helps to bring in needed money to keep the place viable! Also, many small pubs (sometimes called 'bars') are just that - 'small' - so don't have the space or a kitchen area to serve food, but might do 'bar snacks'. They also, may ONLY be a 'bar', so you walk in, order your drinks and either stand where able (space being limited) or maybe sit at the few available tables & chairs (often stools or banquette style seating).

[@ianwilkinson8664]

Pubs started selling food because the revenue from alcohol was declining. My local pub turned the games room (snooker and darts) into a restaurant to attract families and introduce another income stream. I remember there being four pubs in our village but only two are still in business.

[@vaudevillian7]

You should look at the Old Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham, was originally the brewhouse of Nottingham castle and is an interesting place. Claims to date back to 1189

[@sarahglover3286]

Look up Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, it was recognised by the Guinness World Record books as older, it was founded in 793 AD!

[@reactingtomyroots]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@gallowglass2630]

I am a bit biased they wouldn't let me in i was 17 but still the evidence is not as strong as for seans which is also recognised by the national museum of ireland.

[@kille7543]

A bar where you have drinks. A bar is also the desk in the pub where the bartender or landlord is behind.

[@MegaSquiggler]

Pubs are Simply public houses and serve alcohol, there is no expectation of food for it to be a pub, . The distinction of bar and pub is that bars tend to be modern built in the centre of towns/cities but it can still be referred to as a pub (since pub was a generalisation of Inn/Tavern where inns provide food and accommodation as well as alcohol, taverns where drinking places that may serve food). The term bar is relatively modern and tends to be used to present a more up class/trendy establishment (even though many are not) . With cheap supermarket beer pubs are targeting food to increase profits, many of the breweries /pub chains have culled their drink only pubs in favour of the bigger food pubs. We do however have a new class of pub called the micro-pub, generally one room selling good beers as opposed to the ones that are in half the pubs. This means smaller buildings, lower rent easier to fill and because they sell premium beer over cheap beer tend not to attract the rough crowds!

[@101steel4]

There's a "British" pub where my cousin lives in Florida. From the outside it looks like something from a factory estate, and inside has loads of flags hanging up, many Irish 🤣🤣

[@lucylindsay3442]

I lived in the USA for a bit and was homesick. A friend took me to a 'British pub' that has a mannequin in the corner dressed as a beefeater and flags etc everywhere. Was a lovely idea but did little for the homesickness.

[@user-gt2ud2gw9e]

Yes, you've hit the nail right on the head. A pub is a family affair where you can get food (if you want). I sometimes go just for coffee and check my emails or watch the news on their television. I often will sit in the garden area. In winter, there's usually a log fire burning (especially outside London) - yet another reason why any tourist visiting just the big city is comparable to visiting New York and saying "I've seen the USA".

[@reactingtomyroots]

Thanks for the information. A real log burning fireplace to hang out in front of sounds like it would make for an awesome atmosphere and drinking experience!

[@ksmith3997]

“The old trip to Jerusalem” Nottingham is the oldest pub, it’s also part cave built into the cliff walls of Nottingham castle

[@no-oneinparticular7264]

Yes, I used to drink there in the late 60s/early 70s. I lived in the 'posh' part of Bulwell and loved the town nightlife. The good old days when you knew all the bouncers by name.

[@c_n_b]

I went to a pub in the south of England that claimed to be the oldest in the world. I guess there's no way to know for sure.

[@no-oneinparticular7264]

​@@c_n_bold trip to Jerusalem was built in 1189.

[@c_n_b]

Yeh this one was supposed to be over 1000 years old. Wish I could remember where it was or what it was called! I guess without a time machine we'll never know.

[@goughy000]

@c_n_b possibly Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans?

[@gmdhargreaves]

I never knew a SNUG was a place for the lady back in the day I always thought of them a posh places for higher class, I used to play pool or throw arrows so tap room for me but I found this informative, I was on the pubs pool team btw❤❤

[@reactingtomyroots]

Very cool! I used to play pool back in the day, too.

[@georgerobartes2008]

Generally refers to the recording of a pub or alehouse on that site , but not necessarily the same building . The Bingley Arms in Yorkshire comes close with 953 AD possibly 905 AD . A tavern js from the latin Taberna from Roman , basically a hut or tent type structure selling beer ( tabernacle) . An alehouse is a private dwelling not under licence or control of the Manor , off the beaten track which supplied ale , food and often a bed for the night with the alewife . A pub is a licenced alehouse ( publically licenced) under manorial control . An inn has all these features plus extensive accommodation , basically somewhere to stay ' in ' for any period of time .

[@murpho999]

This is in Ireland not the Uk. Romans where never here. So no taverns or alehouses. You will not find them in Ireland.

[@georgerobartes2008]

@@murpho999 No Romans no taverns but Ireland had alehouse as they were peculiar to the British which were there from the 12th century after the Anglo Norman invasion for nearly 800 years and the provision of ale and beer would have followed the same pattern of being brewed at manorial levels for the farm workers or public licence houses for everyone else . It seems the term left Ireland in the 18th and 19th century's and found its way to the colonies where the Irish Alehouse survives around Boston and New York and various cities in Australia and Pubs , the oldest being around 200 YO with Pubs , Bars and Lounges remaining common terms in Ireland.

[@gallowglass2630]

@@georgerobartes2008To a certain extent but the anglonormans went native quite quickly and adopted the brehon laws.Irish pubs have there origin mostly in the brehon hospitality laws.There was march law(near dublin) for a time that was based on english law in some places and there would have been alehouses,but there was also the ostan which every clan chief had to provide free of charge where whiskey ,mead and wine rather than beer.Beer wasn't a big thing in ireland till the 17th century butter milk was drank instead of water because it was safer,not beeer as was the case in britain.

[@BrianBorumaMacCennetig367]

@@georgerobartes2008 Except the Anglo-normans or old English never ruled ireland for 800 years and most of them became Irish and got rid of English culture after a few centuries. Maybe in the pale.

[@McDeegz]

I hardly ever see anywhere with a snug now but love it when I do.

[@Rionnagan]

We had them in Australia, too, but most were renovated and removed in most pubs.

[@ruthletts9752]

We call them all pubs where I come from in the uk. The bar was a part of a pub. The other part was called the lounge. Not all pubs serve food. Depends on space and kitchens etc. Definition taken from collins dictionary 1 `pub' In Britain, a pub is a building where people meet friends and have drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food. John was in the pub last night and he bought me a drink. In formal English, this can also be called a public house. The Green Man is often seen as a name or sign on public houses. 2 `bar' In American English, a place where you can buy and drink alcoholic drinks is usually called a bar. After work they went to a bar downtown. In British English, the word bar is sometimes used, especially to refer to a place serving alcoholic drinks that is part of a larger building, or in expressions such as hotel bar and cocktail bar. I'll meet you in the hotel bar in 20 minutes.

[@McDeegz]

@@Rionnagan there will still be plenty in the UK, just not in my area 😞

[@geoffbeattie3160]

Still found in areas of northern England and Scotland snugs

[@McDeegz]

@@ruthletts9752 yeh I agree, the bar is where you are served within a pub. Todays bars I would guess consider as possibly the more fancier places. In my area typically a renovated shop and can't fit many people in, maybe just called a bar because that's all they would have, no snug, karaoke, jukebox, dartboard, pool table etc. The bigger bars would typically be somewhere to eat and have a drink but to not get drunk. Hard to describe I guess.

[@martinthompson7160]

Steve, there was a pub in my home town in England where a friend of mine took his girlfriend with him and the landlord ushered them into a back room, he asked if there was any lager and the landlord said yes I think so and went to the cellar and came back with an old bottle of Carlsberg covered in dust and was about to open it when my mate said no it's ok I'll have bitter. This was in the seventies. I think the main difference between a bar and a pub is that a bar is a place where you take your own company with you or just go to drink and not socialise and a pub is where you go to meet people and find company there. An inn was more likely to serve food and offer accomodation for the traveller.

[@jessgunn6639]

PART OF THE BACK WALL WHICH WAS MADE OF WATTLE WAS CARBON DATED AND FOUND TO BE OVER A THOUSAND YEARS OLD, IT WASORIGINALLY AN INN AS IT WAS NEXT TO A FORDING STAGE TO CROSS THE RIVER

[@101steel4]

The bar is the part of the pub you buy your drink. Many have/had a "bar" that ran the length of it.

[@rkevo9112]

I live in Cork city in Ireland and one of my favourite pubs in the city is a small traditional "old mans pub" called The Castle Inn. It is tiny and still has a snug but the rules from before dont apply lol. Open fire place and the smoking area is also the mens toilets

[@Madigan2]

Would be interesting to know how old the Castle Inn is. The ODonovans renovated the building recently. However left the pub as it had always been. Brilliant pub to go into for a pint during the day as the size make it essential to salute the person along side to you and many long friendship have started this way.

[@Vialli100.]

I went there many years ago, my friends and I used to go to Ireland every year..

[@keefbeef2002]

At the battle of Bamber Bridge the landlords said we are not taking orders in a pub that's older than your country. There are multiple pubs in the UK older than 6-8 hundred years. Check out the Trip in Nottingham

[@gallowglass2630]

Originally the building was made of wattle and daub,basically intertwined rods of hazel daubed with mud.Some of it survived and from that they were able to carbon date it

[@michaelcaffery5038]

Presuming the carbon dating was around 900AD, that does not mean it was a drinking house to start with or has been one continually.

[@gallowglass2630]

@@michaelcaffery5038 No but in all probability they did serve alcohol because according to Brehon Law every clan or tribal chieftain had to provide a hostelry free of charge for the use of travellers.The chieftain had to provide free food and drink and its highly unlikely and an alcoholic drink was not served most likely whiskey rather than beer originally.Its a stretch to call it a bar or a pub in the modern sense,but it was definitely a drinking house.Later on it changed to an alehouse and then what we would call a pub.

[@ArthurHawker-zh3fi]

Village I used to live in, Ruardean, forest of dean, Gloucestershire has a pub called The Malt Shovel Inn known to been an Inn since 1110, some pretty old places if you look about.

[@claregale9011]

Love an old pub my local is very young 1500s 😊.

[@kathleenstewart7472]

The snug was separate with its own door, also they had the smoke bar , separate also, mainly Men used them .

[@YouTubechannel-gq3fx]

Ive been and theres a place that serves food right next door and you can even access it from the back door of seans bar. I think probably the main reason why seans bar doesnt serve food is because it is simply so old and they dont have enough space today to add an extension where they can put a kitchen in in order to make and serve food. Seans bar is pretty tiny

[@0KiteEatingTree0]

It’s also very easy to by alcoholic drinks in the uk, most corner shops/convenience stores sell beer wine and liquor. And supermarkets have a whole section selling alcohol

[@oriain81]

I used to have pints there every Friday night ..good times in Seáns Bar.

[@thc9695]

this pub is in my home town and in my 19 years on this planet i never knew it was the oldest in the world i knew it was old but not that old 😅900 ad is crazy

[@TonyODonnell]

Sean's is a nice tourist attraction, but they don't show you the inside because the bar is tiny, possibly 30 feet by 20feet and because the bar is in the middle it only holds about 20 people, there is a new extension out the back where most people go and relax with their drink and Murphy's is served in Sean's and is a far better drink than Guinness.

[@johnp8131]

Depends how you categorise oldest Steve? With Sean's bar in Ireland, it's probably correct but if you look in the comments there are lots of "opinions" depending on how it's categorised? Oldest "continual" pub in the UK is probably "The Fighting Cocks" in St Albans. The oldest pub but not continual, from AD 560, is possibly "The Old Ferry Boat, near St Ives in Cambridgeshire, however there's not much of the original building left. Or could it be the "Six Bells" also in St Albans? Parts of the cellar are from a Roman Tavern (Pre AD 410). Probably not, as it was shut for a few hundred years before being redeveloped! What we can say is, you can argue for and against all of them!

[@Maxibloke]

Guinness Book of Records disagrees 😊

[@MisterChrisInTheUK]

Spot on John, it's a far from exact science

[@johnp8131]

@@Maxibloke Which copy, which year? Yours may do but have you read the criteria? Obviously not! Plus this is the Guinness book of records and I have a couple of older copies that both differ from each other. For the UK, one says the Fighting Cocks and the other from the seventies says it's The Old Trip............. Which is correct, you tell me?

[@kevanparker908]

Nottingham has two pubs from the year 1200, The Trip to Jerusalem and the Ye old Salutation..

[@phillallen01]

Not all pubs sell food some just do snacks and a bar is the wooden structure were you get you drinks served its literally a massive piece of wood that the beer taps and drinks are served

[@JohnQuilyQuinlan]

Man every time I look at you I think of Kenny powers, don’t know why but it’s uncanny, hello from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@mariahoulihan9483]

Hope they keep checking the use by dates on the crisps, nuts and pork scratchings. lol.

[@deeboneham2738]

The oldest in the UK is the Old Ferry Bost Inn in Holywell, Cambridgeshire which the inn says has been open since 550AD

[@CaptainArseways-pt4ud]

Yeah "sure" it has.

[@Bazk01]

Not every pub sells food. Usually the busier and more hard core it is, the less chance there is. I've been in pubs where you ask about food and they look at you weird and ask if you mean crisps? I wouldn't recommend hanging about past the one pint. Those kind of places tend to have their regulars and don't particularly like or want "new" people.

[@ruthletts9752]

1 `pub' a pub is a building where people meet friends and have drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food. this can also be called a public house. 2 `bar' In American English, a place where you can buy and drink alcoholic drinks is usually called a bar. The word bar is sometimes used, especially to refer to a place serving alcoholic drinks that is part of a larger building, or in expressions such as hotel bar and cocktail bar. Eg meet you in the hotel bar in 20 minutes.

[@murpho999]

This pub is not in Britain so your post is irrelevant.

[@briankelleher2156]

The snug was a small cubicle separate from the main bar where women were served through a hatch from the bar which was the domain of men. Snugs survive in pubs all over the country but nowadays are for everyone. Pubs in Ireland do not necessarily serve food. Places like hotels would have a bar as opposed to being a pub.

[@smiley9872]

I live near Sean's Bar, loads of pubs in Ireland had snugs! There is another pub in Dublin, The Brazen Head" claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland, but there is more evidence of Sean's Bar being the true one!

[@gazlator]

We know in mainland England there are certainly a bunch of pubs & inns that go back to the 1100s and 1200s - and we can prove it from either surviving records or architectural evidence. The further and further back you go of course, the harder that evidence becomes to prove; I'd love to know the provenance of this place to show its roots back to the 10th century. It's certainly possible; but just wattle & daub on the walls by itself doesn't seem so very date-able as evidence alone.

[@princessliz6201]

Check out Trip to Jerusalem, its a pub in Nottingham its really old, not as old as this, but it's built into rock.

[@samgeller1967]

Obviously the building is not the same,it just drink was served in the same footprint of the building, probably had rudimentary walls and roof with old stone floor and very basic inside,used by farmers working the land.

[@0KiteEatingTree0]

We also have bars in the UK that just serve alcohol, no food apart from snacks. Cocktail bars are also becoming more popular.and gin is certainly trending in the UK

[@MrBurtonshaw]

Couple of interesting pubs in Wales you might like... In Swansea we have the Cross Keys, the front portion is two C17th old shops (stores- US) the back is an old Priest's hospital from the C12th. Then, in Newport, about 46 miles up the coast there is The Murenger... It's from thr C16th and upstairs has a plaster cieling dipicting Henry VIII marry Catherine of Aragon.... it was put there at the time of said marriage . There are lots more ;)

[@reactingtomyroots]

haha, yeah I love plants. I could see how some might find it boring, though.

[@barriehull7076]

In my town/village we used to have 7 pubs, in one place two were next to each other and the other was opposite, now flats/apartments, on the other side of the main road, now we have two including one which is a Shepherd's Neame pub. Along with the Three Tuns Brewery in Shropshire, England, Shepherd Neame claims to the oldest brewery in Great Britain. Three Tuns was licensed in 1642, 56 years earlier than Shepherd Neame. However, there is evidence that brewing has taken place on the Shepherd Neame site since at least 1573, over a century before the establishment of the current brewery. In the 60s when I was 7 or 8, I went with my parents to visit Irish relative's in Waterford and as part of a summer holiday we travelled around the Ring of Kerry, all I can remember is that it seemed in one village every other front room had a bar open to the locals and visitor's both sides of the street, it was a long long time ago so my memory may be off.

[@chrisbyrne7399]

That's the original bar man as well.....the magic of Irish whiskey 😉

[@raystewart3648]

The isle I live on has 9 pubs only 3 serve food. Nine pubs for a population of only 14500 people..............great for pub crawling games.

[@lesdonovan7911]

Morning Steve, not seen video yet I have to go out in a minute, but a snug is a small room next to bar , when I first started drinking back in the early 60th the old boys would use it mainly for drinking cider and taking snuff a type of tobacco you sniff up your nose, the stories they told me about the wars and growing up at the beginning of the 20th century was unbelievable we are so lucky to live in our time now,

[@nicksykes4575]

They may well have been serving alcohol from that site, but no way in hell does that building date from 900ad. There're several pubs in Britain that trace their roots back to 5,6 or 700ad. One of the oldest, still original pubs is "Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem" built into the cliff below Nottingham Castle in 1189, soldiers on their way to the crusades used to stop there.

[@dkinclonberne]

Sean's bar has written record of all owners and the generations of family that owned and ran the pub back to 900 AD and it is also in the Guinness book of records as the oldest pub on record. So it's quite a bit older than the pub your talking about.

[@nicksykes4575]

@@dkinclonberne I was referring too the originality of the building itself, how many times has Seans bar been demolished and rebuilt in a more modern style? I was pointing out that Ye Olde Trip was still original.

[@76ludlow]

I'm Irish, but i have never been in Sean's Bar. To be honest the building doesn't look at all like it is 1,100 years old. I suspect it has gone through much alteration and renovation down the centuries and what exists today, although it is on the same site, may be quite different from the original bar, whatever it was called through the centuries. Who can say that there was a pub operating on that site continually over every one of the last 1,100 years. What may be 1,100 years old is the liquor license that allows the owner to sell alcoholic drink on the premises.

[@bustabloodvessel5327]

There was a great documentary called "The Irish Pub" which used to be here on KZbin but I can't seem to find it anymore. All I can find is an extract from it called "The American In The Toilet". If you can find the full documentary it's well worth a watch. 👍

[@reactingtomyroots]

Awesome! I'll have a look and see if I can find it.

[@bustabloodvessel5327]

@@reactingtomyrootsNo problem. It was just a kind of snapshot into ordinary pubs in towns and villages around Ireland. The types of places where you can buy wellies, a hammer and a lump of bacon while having a few pints. Sadly those kinds of pubs are dying out now and the characters found in them seem fewer and fewer. Really enjoy your videos mate so keep up the good work.

[@danieloconnell6361]

Drank in Sean’s many times and fell out of it many times 😂😂😂

[@arthuritis4503]

My mother's home town..lovely pub 🍻🍻

[@jonathanspence8642]

As said, Pub=Public House. Originally beer made and served by the "Ale-Wife". Literally a house open to the public. It's worth looking up Alewife on Wikipedia to get some idea of the history. Bar is a more recent term, based upon places of business. Oh BTW called to the bar is a legal term, related to being summoned to one of four Inns that the legal profession had to move to.

[@gallowglass2630]

British pubs ,irish pubs have a different history

[@johnnycarey1254]

It's a section of the pub but as you walked in the door a small room was cut off from the bar for ladies only it was still in fashion in the 50/60 peace Dublin Ireland 😜😜😜

[@johnmcgeeney3290]

Best and easiest way to differentiate between Bars and Pubs, the Americans use the term Bars in Ireland we use the term Pubs. Another way to look at it is the name Sesns Pub wouldn't appeal to tourists the same way as Seans Bar. As for food to me a pub is for drinking in.

[@user-hy8jm3ng5o]

Hi Steve, another great reaction, we Uk folk do like to confuse. Origionally they were called Ale Houses my guess would be because people used to brew their own beer and sell it in their own home. When things got regulated they became known as the Public House. As mentioned below, you had the Public bar for the men for drinking and gaming, the tap room for male socialising and drinking and the snug for the ladies, all 3 were seperate rooms. The snug could be accessed in both ways, there was no hard and fast rule, some had seperate external doors, and some were accessed through the main door and then a seperate room door. We don't really use the term 'Bar' other than refering to the counter at which you are served, we generally talk about the 'Pub', or even refer to the name or a nickname for the Pub. You do however see places called Bars, they tend to be on towns and are usually a single room establishment, origionally for drinking, whilest visiting the Town. There are other types of drinking establishments here in the UK for example the Social Club, or Working Mans Club, because they are a club, you must pay an annual membership. These are run by a committee elected from the membership, and their job is to organise fun and entertainment and fundraise, in the early days of my youth they also organised trips for the Members and their familys paid for by the funds raised. Although the Landlord (Licencee) was in overall charge and managed the running of the establishment it'self much like a Pub landlord. A slight difference to the Social Club, were Clubs provided by Employers, in my case it was the Coal industry. Everywhere there was a coal mine (Colliery), there were certain social or community facilities provided. In all of the cases I know, not only did the mine owners build the Colliery, but they also built housing, sometimes whole villages for their employees. Along with the housing they provided Sports grounds for Cricket, Football and Rugby. Many provided Tennis Courts and Lawn bowling greens. Along with all of that, there would be a Welfare hall, this is a village hall with a bar, a Stage for events and a dance floor. Getting to the Social club, they also provided one of these, our industry called them Miners Institutes, as an employee you were made a member automatically. These premises again were run by a committee from the membership but the Licencee is employed to manage the establishment, they were not miners, and they were not called Landlord, usually they were called Stewards. Sadly with the demise of the coal industry, almost all of these buildings and facilities are gone now-a-days. The coal industry although massive was not the only employer to do this, Steel works, Postal Workers, Railway companies, private companies of all kinds if they grew big enough. Best Regards Terry .... UK

[@greenknitter]

We UK folk? This is an Irish bar reaction. In Ireland.

[@gallowglass2630]

The video is about a pub in smack in the middle of the republic of ireland.Nothing in that comment pertains to ireland collieries ,working mans clubs they don't exist in ireland to any extent.Gaelic Athletic Clubs basically gaelic football and hurling clubs have sometimes social clubs.During british rule the licencing laws made irish pubs similar,but the concept evolved independently from the brehon laws of hospitality whereas british pubs come from roman taverns.Pubs being linked to breweries is not a thing in ireland,as the irish grocery pub is not athing in the UK or music sessions.

[@gallowglass2630]

@@greenknitter If the video was about hurling and gaelic football you would still have brits commenting on it thinking they know the rules because they watched one episode of ballykissangel.

[@greenknitter]

@@gallowglass2630 Yes, isn't it always the way a chara...na sas: never not at it. Always having to either make it about them, talk over us or take credit for something we've achieved and call it British. It never ends.

[@gallowglass2630]

@@greenknitter Yes however in fairness we don't let them getaway it

[@Irish780]

Love following your journey and amazement hehe irishman 😊

[@conallmclaughlin4545]

Come up to donegal, sit in a pub by the beach. The fire blazing, the Guinness delicious it's hard to beat. Loads of pubs up this way have snugs. My local used to be made up like train carriages it was really good..

[@reactingtomyroots]

That sounds awesome!

[@Bridget410]

'Sean's Bar has been researched thoroughly by the Guinness Book of Records and proudly holds the record for "The Oldest Pub in Ireland" with an official dating of 900AD. Research is ongoing into the title of "The Oldest Pub in the World"; so far, nothing older has been found.' 'Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham, built in 1189, is England's oldest surviving inn, just ask our resident ghosts. We were aptly christened when King Richard the Lionheart and his men congregated here before embarking on the Crusades in Jerusalem.'

[@vaudevillian7]

There’s two pubs in my small English town that were built 600 years ago…

[@philliploving8289]

We have two kinds pubs, wet pub, drinks only no food. Wet dry sale both drink and food

[@dagreatstoney.5869]

Drank plenty there in the eighties, the sawdust was definitely their 👍

[@carolineskipper6976]

Basically it's a case of 'my grandfather's axe' - it's had several new handles and new blades, but it's still my grandfathers axe. (Do you have that saying in the US?) Clearly there are records of a 'pub' being on the site continuously since 900 AD, but it's been rebuilt and refitted many times since then. The concept of the 'snug' for women is the same throughout the UK- these days of course, it's just a quieter more comfortable room in the pub than the main bar, there's no discrimination. Often you come in throught the main door and then turn either right or left depending on which room you want. They're usually serviced by the same bar, which is situated between the two. It wasn't until 1982 that it became illegal to refuse to serve women in pubs - and yes I have typed that date correctly! However, women began frequenting pubs more and more through the 20th century, and by the 1980's very very few establishments would have had those rules anyway. Not all pubs serve food. When I was young (1970's and1980's)most pubs didn't. Children were also not allowed in at all unless they were eating a meal - you had to be 14+ to go in and be bought a soft drink. These days almost all pubs do at least some food-but you need to check first, and children are allowed much more, even if no-one is eating. Many pubs specifically have a small play area in the pub garden for kids. Times have changed a lot! Before 1988, pubs in the UK were generally only allowed to open between about 11am and 3pm, and then had to shut by law until they reopened for the evening at say 6.30-11pm. There were exceptions in particular locations, but this was the expected norm. Now they are usually open continuously between about 11 am and 11pm, with many having late licenses on some days of th week- like midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

[@reactingtomyroots]

haha interesting! No, I don't believe we have that saying here in the US. I appreciate your detailed response! :)

[@carolineoates5964]

Most pubs didn't serve food. Beer, wine, spirits, nuts and crisps only. Gradually they became more like restaurants and allowed children in if dining with family.

[@22grena]

Strange that an Irish pub would misspell the name Seán. Because sean without the accent means old in Irish.

[@jessgunn6639]

PUB BAR ITS PRETTY INTERCHANGEABLE IN MOST CASES

[@indiantinamorals5791]

According to most of us Irish, a bar and a pub is the same thing, or one could say are you going to the "local" or are you going for a "pint", or a "drink" which means , are you going to the pub/bar, it's all the same!

[@rickybuhl3176]

Yeah, it's a place ya wanna look behind the walls for stuff lol. Be interesting to know what the oldest pub is, that has kept the same name.

[@dzzope]

True the Bar is the counter but also a pub traditionally (if large enough) has a Bar and Lounge as seperate rooms. Tiny pubs like Sean's or smaller would only have the Bar and typicaly didn't serve food. Though many do now. There are still some where women would get side-ways looks or simply not be served. They tend to be the old man pubs and generally a bit dingier than modern Pubs, no TV, dim, same faces at the bar.. Think Moe's from the Simpson's only smaller space.

[@itsWoodsy88]

pub = bar , bar =pub its just what ever your prefer to use

[@bradleyb666]

Im my home town in braintree the uk we have pubs that blackbeard the pirate use to drink in.

[@JTRavers69]

I fell out of this pub on a number of occasions! 😂

[@reactingtomyroots]

hahah!

[@lesdonovan7911]

Steve A pub is a pub, if it sells food or not, the bar in the uk are really the counter where the landlord stands behind, and serves drinks you are right they do have pubs in Boston nice Irish pub in Cape Cod, The snug I have been into has a separate door that enter from outside, and no door into the bar.

[@murpho999]

This video and pub has absolutely nothing to do with the UK.

[@lesdonovan7911]

@@murpho999 So the bar in Ireland is where the landlord stands, nick picking.

[@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey]

Pubs do not have to serve food. Most did not in the UK and Ireland, unless they were an Inn or a Club or part of a Hotel, until it became popular relatively recently. Many traditional Pubs tilted their customer target to keep their businesses open and decided to favour families, singles and professionals seeking food and a drink at lunch time. But evenings were for drinking and peanuts/crisps only and no children. Now eating at pubs in the UK at least is common. So is having a non family/food quite time. Many older pubs in the UK still have snugs but now anyone may use them as a slightly quieter area.

[@billabong9215]

It's a pub. We have bars in hotels and some restaurants.

[@0KiteEatingTree0]

Pubs are rapidly closing in the UK , in the first 3 months of 2023 150 pubs closed their doors. Pubs that serve food are sometimes known as gastropubs Some pubs run events such as quiz nights, or theme nights where specific food is served.,others focus on sports, and show sports and big games on screens in the pubs, what you might call a sports bar. My nearest town has several pubs, including one that specifically supports veterans

[@EASYTIGER10]

In reality there' a no hard and fast difference between a pub and a bar, its a continuum. Pubs are more likely to serve food, but not all do and there's bars that serve basic food. Essentially a pub is a pub because it "feels" like a pub - traditional, maybe old, areas for families, all ages, but with a higher proportion of older people. etc

[@lucylindsay3442]

The pubs are marked on ordnance survey maps as 'PH'. Historically, more so than now, they were the hub of a community and even had autopsies carried out in back rooms during murder investigations due to their location and having more space than local houses.

[@gallowglass2630]

Which ordinance survey

[@lucylindsay3442]

@gallowglass2630 with a quick Google looks like it is on both the explorer and landranger maps. I've tried to put a screenshot up but can't, sorry.

[@gallowglass2630]

@@lucylindsay3442 Are those maps from the british ordinance Survey or the Irish ordinance survey doubt that they are atleast i have never heard of them.Never seen PH on irish ordinance survey maps.

[@lucylindsay3442]

@gallowglass2630 well I have learnt something. Definitely on the British Ordance Survey maps but don't appear to be on the Irish version.

[@britbazza3568]

This seams like most Irish tales mostly steeped in myth and mystery or as is now called fairytales

[@Maxibloke]

Fairytales are still better than British lies imo

[@seanwaldron7647]

Not all pubs serve food in ireland in bars but you will get food inthe pub lounge

[@alecgough5179]

Steve, back in the 50's the local pub where I lived in B'ham (U.K.), there was a men only bar. I'm not sure wether women were banned from this bar or wether it was generally accepted that women didn't use it. The pub was called The Princess Alexandra or better known to locals as the Alex.

[@bengalmillie]

My grandparents had pubs in Manchester during the 1950's and 60's. Men would use the 'Tap Room' and women the 'Snug'. The men often went into the pubs for a pint after work still wearing the dirty clothes they had worked in that day. They played Dominoes, Cards, Pool, Darts etc... It was a great atmosphere, unlike the pubs of today.

[@olwynpayne4201]

I live about 20 mins from Sean’s Bar ..

[@mrsiborg]

I love pubs with snugs.

[@ellenrose2855]

A lot of old pubs don't have the space for a public kitchen

[@stevehunt7938]

There is a pub near me that was listed in the doomsday book from 1086