Grace Neills

I have become quite a regular here. Three times in the space of a week, twice for a meal. Both meals have been beautiful and topped off with the excellent service no wonder it has again become a hotspot in the town. Friday night is steak night where you can enjoy a 8oz ribeye with mushrooms and onion rings with a side each for just £22. I noticed too that Sunday’s are kids eat free. Probably best to book in advance as I’m sure this is very popular with families. Friday and Saturday nights you can enjoy a musician/​band in the bar after your meal and the atmosphere is good. Definitely worth a visit to the oldest pub in Ireland!

Grace Neills was closed for quite some time, due to suspicious circumstances from what I’m led to believe, but it has now reopened under new owners, and I for one am very glad it has! I treated my mum to a meal tonight, and Grace Neills didn’t disapoint!
Surprisingly busy for a Thursday night, we were very lucky to get the last remaining table, there was a great atmosphere and the restaurant area seemed much brighter than before, a welcomed addition.
We opted for the 2 course meal offer, which at £11.95 each, was a steal! Would definitely recommend, and we will be back shortly.

Oh my creepy pants! This bar scared me a little bit. Typical Geri style I went in entirely the wrong entrance and found myself in a very modern, flashy upbeat restaurant — ‘there is no way this is the oldest bar in Ireland!’ I thought to myself and then said to the nearest barman who corrected my ignorance and directed me down some steps.
This is when the atmosphere changed and I came over all cold and goose-​pimpled as the previous land lady’s portrait, Old Grace herself, glared down at me from it’s central position on the wall.
There are many little snugs in the bar, something you don’t see to often anymore and the roof is an awesome sight — it is made of the original treated wood from the 1600’s.
The young barman was really nice and said he wasn’t scared at all the rumors of the ghost of Grace. I felt her presence in among the old clay jars and pots from the area, the old beams and doors and the slightly more modern curtain that hangs by the front door.
Apparently the pub has had many a famous visitor including Frank Liszt, Brian Keenan, Tina Turner and John Keats to name a few.
I loved it; I loved the atmosphere, the friendly barman who chatted with me while I had a nice pint of stout, I loved the modern area out the back with the old snugs out the front, most of all I loved the idea of a lock in one night and sharing a few pints with old Gracie herself!
Go, now — get fed, watered and spooked!

Oldest Pub in Ireland officially, great place to eat and drink, relaxed and lively atmosphere, nice staff in a great town

«Aww, yes, me and your Dad used to go there all the time, it’s lovely… sigh» (Lynne’s greatly reminscient Mum).
Well, you know what they say — ‘Mums always know best’. Who am I to argue? She really got it spot on this time (every other time is debatable, but hats off to you on this occasion Mum). With the grand title of «Ireland’s Oldest Pub», dating back to 1611, this place must be doing something right.
Donaghadee is a a kinda fuddy-​duddy sort of town. It doesn’t really know what to be doing with itself, but this wee pub is its saving Grace. See what I did there?! Boom, boom…
Tucked away on the town’s High Street, you would never even know it was there. Which I didn’t. It doesn’t even look like much from the outside, bless it, and the carpark leaves a lot to be desired, but once you step inside you are instantly transported to the most quaint and enchanting little pub.
They offer a huge array of locally sourced fish, meat and vegetables, giving the customer plenty of choice. Even the ice-​cream is made in Millisle, a mere 10 minute drive down the road… thoroughly recommended! The food is traditional pub grub of course, but done oh so well!
Ah Mum, I always knew you were a wise one…

Apparently this is the oldest still functioning pub in Ireland — I don’t know if that is true but there you go.
I do know that the food is awesome. They have a good sized menu with plenty of options for most folk but if you love your seafood then they also have an extra page for the menu that lists the freshest items just caught that day.
I had prawn Marie Rose to start which was great — not the usual marie rose sauce that I am used to but a nice variation all the same. For main I had the lamb which was fantastic and the sauce in particular was excellent but the accompanying vegetables etc were fairly basic.
I can’t really fault this place and I would rather give it 4 ½ stars but rounding it up to 5 just would be unfair to some of the other places that I have given a 5 to.
The food here is excellent, tastes great, and is well prepared, but it just isn’t ‘risky’ — most of the dishes available are fairly safe staples and there isn’t a huge amount of originality but what they do have they have done very well indeed.