THE STAGS HEAD HAS BEEN AWARDED BEST PUB IN IRELAND BY NATIONAL HOSPITALITY 2016 AND BEST TRADITIONAL PUB IN IRELAND BY SKY BAR AWARDS 2016
Banter, pints, grub, live traditional Irish music, comedy shows, more pints, comfy seats and old fashioned Victorian snugs, and a stuffed stags head hanging off the wall, welcome to The Stags Head. Sure what more could ya want ehh?!!! Only TWO awards for being the BEST PUB IN IRELAND!!
Aw sure that is just getting greedy lads… give the other bars a chance!!
The tourists love it for the authenticity, the locals love it for the famous pints of Guinness and the banter. The Stags Head is right in the middle of Dame Court in DublinTown’s popular Dame District. Accessible from many different directions, find your way there via South Great Georges Street or Exchequer Street, or Dame Street or walk along Dame Lane just off Trinity Street.
This is probably Dublin’s best preserved Victorian pub – and everything here is of authentic Victorian origin. Take time to look around and savour the sumptuously carved Victorian mahogany fittings, the mosaic marble tiled floors and granite tabletops. The mahogany bar, capped with red Connemara marble, follows the classic Victorian architectural pattern, being long and punctuated by exquisite partitions that divide into little snugs.
The pub has literally been around for forever! It was even the first pub in DublinTown to have electric lights!
A tavern has existed on this site since the 1780’s would you believe! The premises first attained great fame in the 1830’s as ‘John Bull’s Albion Hotel and Tavern’. This was one of the most sought after premises of the age in close proximity to ‘Dublin’s Theatreland’ and the fashionable stores of Dame Street and College Green. A popular music hall business was developed on the site, a trend continued by proprietors Alica and Henry Murphy during the 1840’s. William Wormington succeeded them here in the 1860’s and James Kennedy took the reins in the 1880’s.
Back in the day, what is now known as the Creative Quarter area in Dublin was the home of the rag trade for the city centre. The Stag’s Head was the brainchild of Westmoreland merchant George Tyson who came to Ireland in the 1870’s and established a thriving Menswear and Haberdashery business on Grafton Street, from where he was appointed ‘outfitter and shirtmaker to the Lord Lieutenant. He acquired the pub in the early 1890’s and commissioned leading architect J.M. McGloughlin of Pearse Street to build Dublin’s most advanced and distinctive Victorian pub. Random fact: The Stags Head was the first pub in Dublin Town to enjoy electric light.
The Stags Head as we now know it opened its doors to the Dublin public in May 1894 amid majestic fanfare and distinguished patronage including the Lord Lieutenant and the most respected members of contemporary Victorian society. Tyson’s name is still to be seen on the large clock on the outside of the building. Another outstanding vestige of this era is the little parlour lounge discreetly situated behind the main bar; in former times this area served as a fashionable Victorian smoking room. Now we just have pints and have the craic.
Kick start your week with the Mondays Comedy Crunch sessions or living up your weekend when Fridays and Saturdays are home to the best trad sessions in DublinTown. On the last Wednesday of every month you must experience THE BROWN BREAD MIX TAPE with stories, music and poetry.
Party bookings are welcome in either the main bar or the function room for private parties. Wedding stop off parties for pre and post drinks and food are a common visit to The Stags Head pub. We love a good urban wedding here in DublinTown!
So raise a pint to the team behind The Stags Head – Well done lads!!!
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While The Stags Head fly’s the flag for the best pub in Ireland but its neighbours in the Dame District are not far behind! Actually the Dame District is a Dubliners favourite for live music acts, comedy, some of the best Dublin gastro pub grub. The Bankers Bar, JT Pims, The Mercantile, 4 Dame Lane, The Dame Tavern, Odessa and the Exchequer Bar are right next door. Or cross the road and you have LGBT haven The George on the Rainbow Mile. There is a real community feel to the area especially when there is a bit of outdoor live music like the Rock n Roll Festival in August. The area is so popular it has even been accredited Ireland first awarded Purple Flag for recognition of an excellent and safe night time economy between 5pm and 5am.
The Stags Head is part of the Louis Fitzgerald Group which is famed for its hospitality and excellent portfolio of hotels, pubs and restaurants that also include DublinTown favourites Kehoes, The Grand Central Bar and The Gin Palace.
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