Setting Up An Irish Pub in NYC | Johnny Kennedy

Go to sons.ie/ (or sons.co.uk/) if you're in the UK) and use the code PINTS40 to get 40% off your first order.
Thanks to Johnny for coming on

[@tomgudgeon2694]

Best one of these pubcasts yet. Loved hearing about opening the bar and the differences in cultures. Would love to see more of the Guru talking to bar/pub owners in their own bars. Excellent stuff

[@Novaera89]

Johnny seems like an absolute gent with no ego, you'd never believe he owned two pubs in the middle of NYC. Any chance he'd go up to Buffalo and do something similar there? 🤪👏

[@lyonstea8352]

Really enjoyed this seeing the different pub culture over in New York seems a lot different than back home

[@alfiejackson5475]

Superb. Learnt a lot from this chat. As someone who's moved over from London to the US a couple of years back, everything Johnny said made so much sense in terms of the differences in bar/pub culture.

[@IRLmrgreen]

This is one of the best Guru chats. Just a good conversation. It flows. This is the niche right there.

[@mikes4006]

From the time you poured it, and it began to settle, and when he said, “I would finish it off now @ 5:15 in the video, it was a total of 2:20 seconds, just over the 1:59.5 you referenced. Great video buddy!

[@HS-wo8ti]

You should have gone to McSorleys whilst you were there. It was opened by an Irishman in the 19th century and it sells its "own" beer, one of thems a dark beer. It looks like it has a lot of antiques, looks like a very characterful bar.

[@fiinpowell]

This was brilliant. Come to Baltimore, Guru!

[@GazLifts]

One of the most enjoyable videos yet, loved it!🤝

[@darahdoyle3176]

Jaysus the Christmas drink! I remember it well. You got one off each barman (and it was nearly 100% men back then (90s). If you had a beef with a barman and he gave you a Christmas drink you knew it was time to bury the hatchet too. It was a peace offering. Also on the card taking in America, my first experience of it was in San Francisco, me and the missus rocked into an Irish bar, which we weren't even looking for but it was right beside the hotel. Went up to the bar and the barman was serving a Yank who was with a group of other loud mouthed types, and he had to fork over his card. It was my turn to order then and the barman it turned out was from Tipp and he recognised my Dublin accent, i ordered my pints and offered him my card and he laughed and said 'No you're sound, thats only for them!'

[@AtomCoder]

Loved this, great interview 👍

[@127spud]

Why don't the bar owners pay their staff a minimum wage instead of the public having to help bar staff pay their rent? I'm already paying enough for a drink as it is. Makes zero sense.

[@TomEnleft]

Working in the right place, you’re making far more take home (ie off the books) than had you been relying on a minimum wage paycheck alone. That increase in overhead for an establishment likely making “just enough” as is could be a death knell for many. And frankly it incentivizes service…it’s nice knowing you can slip a bartender a $20 at the beginning of the night and know they’ll take care of you.

[@127spud]

@@TomEnleft I agree it's good for the service staff, great for the owner & shite for the customer. Alot of the time the staff in America/Canada come across as very fake as they just want that big tip whereas in Ireland it's much more genuine & real, they're not looking for a tip but if they're good & nice like most are they'll get one. Shouldn't have to tip anything to know you'll be looked after. You're paying money for drink/food it should be standard practice. Glad this system hasn't come to Ireland people wouldn't fall for it.

[@geno5000]

You're going to pay the same amount one way or the other. Either the price goes up, there's an auto gratuity, or you tip, restaurants aren't going to just start paying 35/hr without changing prices

[@mrichards55]

Welcome to America my son.

[@127spud]

@@geno5000 Who mentioned $35/hr? $12-20 per hr is plenty just like it is here in Ireland. How much your staff is on shouldn't drastically affect your prices that your staff need to be on 35/hr 😂 If you can't see that it's just owners taking more money from customers than I feel sorry for you 😅

[@Gitzer]

That was a great watch! Johnny is sound as a pound!

[@jano3289]

I lived in Dublin for a year and i have to say you are a bit harsh on your own people😜, is there anything I miss here in Sweden it's how social Irish people are. If an 18yo girl walks into a bar and the only person sitting there is a 70 yo man they will talk. If it's only the bartender then they will have a chat. This never ever happens at home and probably not in any other country I have been to. If it does it's never on that genuine level where people talk to each other just for the pure enjoyment of a conversation and more about being polite.

[@liammurphy2755]

When your hair grows back ill sign up to your advertiser

[@eaomonn1215]

Good one

[@markrobinson3060]

Some great points there always decent tip on the first round when in there awhile you’ll get it and more back with the service any where in the world

[@baking_withben9086]

im drinking a guinness with good shtick while watching mate

[@seamus9750]

Great craic 💚

[@paddyblue07]

Horse’in that tea back like it’s a pint

[@Micker375]

A good Rathcoole man is Jonny!

[@jimmy229]

Good vid good chat just getting going on your podcast journey from afar only improvement I think u could make is leave the guest talk away if their talking not cut in so much but johnny was very good tks

[@georgee4097]

If you were to come back stateside would you consider doing boston?

[@UMEK12]

Great video. The landlord has great knowledge and perspective. Respect 💪

[@JosephAlanMeador]

Loved this chat

[@philyb52]

Christmas drink comes every year Cherry tree walkinstown

[@sunnny819]

your best video

[@AD-rx8wc]

What pub is this?

[@MrKK-tw1nh]

Enough about you two, how’s Debbie hi.

[@MCMCMC12ify]

Excellent fucking video but now I feel like a dipshit for going and sitting down at the bar when I was visiting Ireland

[@alcamo5156]

Great video. NY and US pub culture in general is awkward. Much prefer in Ireland and UK. I don’t want to give a stuff about the bar staff’s salary when getting a pint.

[@Johan-rg3vo]

This tipping business in NY is a joke, I have never nor will ever tip a barman in a pub in Ireland, I am paying enough for a pint. Saying that was in o donoghues recently and tipped loungeboy 1 euro...no probs tipping loungeboy/girl

[@paddymuppy]

You love your lounge boys .

[@MlRAAK]

The idea of mandatory tipping is a joke period. However in America it's somehow legal to pay your workers like $4/hr because the tips make up for it. They literally live on tips. It's a shameful system but it's keeping people alive, at least until (if) the laws change.

[@Johan-rg3vo]

@@MlRAAK out of curiosity what would happen if I did not tip in USA???

[@decotronq9054]

Calm down Elon 😅😅

[@MlRAAK]

@@Johan-rg3vo Not much, the server would silently think to themselves that you're a prick, or if you had a foreign accent, assume you were clueless about their tipping culture but either way move on with their workday. In any case, it's not about the potential repercussions, it's about whether you choose to support hard working men and women whose bosses are screwing them.

[@FrankiesUploads]

So, I start watching your videos sat on my sofa at home, all cosied up. Then *POOOF!* As if by magic, I end up sat in my local with a Guinness in hand! 😂👌🏻

[@stabcitySB]

Get's me every time!

[@calger1790]

love this interview, Johnny was class. being in America 20 years fucking hell, must have some cracking stories.

[@BriCanavan]

Bar in Naas was Fletchers, great spot for a Guinness

[@gregadams8060]

Went to the long hall yesterday for some Guinness at your Rec. A fantastic spot and $8 for a HQ pint is great

[@copper12345crokes]

Great to see New York showing here, hopefully will hit high viewing figures for you

[@mick3001]

Another great video, really interesting to hear the differences in bar culture in Ireland and New York. Some great tips there too for anyone heading over.

[@mkieltyperc]

Great episode, really interesting guy!

[@ryantoole2327]

Great listen - actually learned a lot from the gentleman.

[@mikeybeeee07]

Great conversation. As an American, it was fascinating to hear Johnny's story. My uncle owned a few bars in restaurants throughout the Atlanta area, specifically Buckhead. Hope to see you get out there more, Guru!

[@seamusodonnell5800]

Great info for visitors to America

[@MarkLukeFarrell]

Great video. Would definitely pop in to Johnny’s spot for a pint if I was around. I think the pub in Naas he meant is Fletchers. Incredible pint of Guinness and a really cool pub you should definitely venture down to Naas soon Guru some great G.

[@darahdoyle3176]

Great feckin interview BTW, fair play!

[@thebigb3ard]

Interesting interview. The whole tip/gratuity thing is mental. As a Scottish skinflint we think that good service is what we pay for. If the service is good, we might come back.

[@craigmallon8535]

Barry's tea in a pint glass without milk? Am I missing something?

[@jaywalkercrew4446]

Yeah, he's meant to be Chinese, or a Turkish.

[@stephenkayll5241]

I could sit and drink/talk to him all day, its an education. oh and how was the Guinness?

[@Jack_B_guin_87]

Love New York but the tipping business does my head in. Tipping is for people who go out of their way in a service, shouldn’t be expected

[@senna1995]

Don't they only make their money on tips alone? Seems like your blaming the servers for an owner issue who sucks out the profits and leaves them high and dry on a tip basis as opposed to giving them a base line salary.

[@Jack_B_guin_87]

@@senna1995 no! You can’t work for free, of course they get a salary

[@senna1995]

@@Jack_B_guin_87 you are right, but the reason they rely on tips is because the baseline salary isn't enough to make ends meet.

[@michealdeburca4027]

If I was paying close to $10 for a pint I'd be looking for a tip back. Rip off

[@geraldkelly3538]

New York wages are high, it all evens out lads

[@jimmaloney3738]

Got to say I've almost always had great service in bars in NYC & Boston. There's none of this "who's next", they always know the order to serve people in & are always cleaning the bar top. The only bar where I've been in twice and got shite service was The Green Dragon in Boston. Same barman both times. Just kept talking to his mates while you're waiting to be served.

[@georgevaldez7458]

Hwy what's up Guru. I'm from US. I been watching ur videos very enjoyable. When u going to come back to US and where I would like to have a pint with u

[@nathy2336]

Can you try and get the 2 johnnies and Tommy tiernan

[@alexshipley8975]

Great video!! Highlight for me is the way you stick your little pinky finger out when you take a swig.

[@donalbarry8790]

Christmas drink is alive and well where I am from thank god,

[@marcusregan4815]

Good chat

[@lulur1149]

Excellent material. Fair play Johnny for doing this.

[@franciscovalencia8290]

Great interview to The Long Hall I'll be going when i visit New York. Score 9.3 ☘

[@FluckieKid]

That Bar in Naas is Fletcher's and the Kieth Richards story is true!

[@briankavo]

Good man Johnny, made it in NY and remained humble, respect!

[@BradGenno]

Great interview. Johnny looks like the Irish Jagr! 68

[@identitywithheld1027]

A tablet, a vitamin, a spray and a shampoo.

[@MrFif2000]

Rathcoole inn, what a watering hole.

[@rlmccann]

Cafe Insane - hilarious.

[@Mr.LH.]

Great conversation.

[@senna1995]

Enjoyed this!

[@gazza3623]

How original

[@kev9385]

$2 per drink

[@offaloffadangoo]

LOVE

[@jayharper1894]

I had issues when I didn’t pay a tip for bad food and service at a cafe in NY, the systems a joke. Really enjoying these videos from the big apple, hopefully more to come

[@jayk5368]

Bloody clueless "guru" 😂

[@decotronq9054]

🤡🤡🤡

[@crossy7225]

Either the guru is 7ft tall or your man is touching 5ft

[@decotronq9054]

😅😅😅 The tk story

[@TheAvarusAnimus]

One of the best I've seen Guru...more of this please! More of Irish entrepreneurs' around the world...deadly!