The Maypole

best bar in the world, full stop.

Well well well, all I can say about this little bar is that you are best to avoid it during the day if you want to have a private conversation and are female.
My friend and her boyfriend had hit a rocky patch and she asked to meet me at 1pm for a few day time jars and a chat. I’d suggested the maypole as it is very close to where I was that day. This is a long established pub in the middle of town and it homes all the regulars during the day.
I wasn’t expecting a modern sheik establishment and that was lucky because I didn’t get it. The best way to describe the Maypole is that it is an old mans bar — I have no idea what it is like in the evenings but in the day time it seems to be a meeting point for old gentlemen who sit at the bar and put the world to rights.
The bar is bright enough and the Guiness and Harp mirrors make it feel bigger. There are small tables and a long leather bench. They stock a full bar but don’t expect fine wines of cocktails as this really is a beer and bitter kind of pub.
Anyway I listened to my friends problems as did two or three elderly locals, we all gave our opinions and left it at that. To be honest we both enjoyed the social interactions but a lot of it was to do with us being youngish ladies. An old man’s bar so if you do enter in the daytime, be prepared!

A real Irish pub

Superb bar — serves truly a wonderful pint of Guinness — which is harder than you would think to get, even in N. Ireland. Great barmen — you can order from the back of the bar with a look and a nod — fantastic. Strictly run — don’t bring in a fish supper or you won’t last long. Don’t come in to use the Gents either! No food (interferes with a good pint).