Hot Spots

Judging by the columns of Dublin's social diarists, you could be forgiven for thinking that there are only one or two late-night bars in the capital. In fact, there are dozens of late-pubs and nightclubs in and around the city offering music and services every bit as good as you'd expect from those clubs where the likes of you and I are destined to be permanently outside the red rope.

Lobo, at the Morrison Hotel is a case in point. It s managed by Robert O'Donoghue, a young Kerryman who laughs when I admit I hadn't been aware of the existence of a nightclub at the hotel.
"To be honest, we deliberately played down the nightclub side of the operation when we opened because we wanted to do something a little different, but we weren't sure quite what that'd be! As you can see, the space itself is excellently designed, as you'd expect from John Rocha it's a nice combination of openness and intimacy.
It's possible to be out with a dozen mates and have a ball, and come back the next night with a partner for some sushi and a night-cap. In terms of door policy, I'm normally on the door myself, so I've gotten to know the regular customers, but I don't have a policy as such. I don't believe in the VIP system we don't have such an area although we do accept table-bookings. I'm a twenty-nine year old Kerryman, and I'd never manage a club I felt I wouldn't normally be welcomed into.
The level of awareness among night-clubbers in Dublin has been great for the business. People have high expectations and are unforgiving of bad service, but correspondingly they appreciate and respect a venue where, in terms of comfort, music and service, they feel they're getting value for money."
Lobo's formula has proved popular with the likes of David Gray, Leftfield and Fun Lovin Criminals all frequenting the club during visits to Dublin. The music policy is eclectic, though you can usually be assured of a generous ration of house, as regular deejays include Eamonn Barret, Chris Golding and Aidan Kelly. Future plans include a series of performances by Japanese deejays, as well as guests from the UK.
The absence of beertaps is conspicuous. Robert explains: "It's a decision that's slightly ahead of the market for us. People now favour bottled beers and cocktails when they go on to a club from their local; they're more portable if you're moving about. It also helps that we've got one of the best selections of bottled beers in the country."
Directly across the river is Fitzsimons Hotel, home to the recently re-launched Ballroom nightclub, perhaps Temple Bar's busiest venue, open seven nights a week and catering for a high percentage of tourists, particularly at weekends.
Owner Kevin Fitzsimons admits he's sometimes bemused by the runaway success of the venue,
"I don't actually know a lot about the nightclub business, I'm a bricklayer by trade," he insists. "Where Fitzsimons and the Ballroom succeed over other venues is that we provide a hotel, a Georgian-style restaurant, a traditional Irish pub with live music and dancing plus a first-class nightclub under one roof. We've been profiled on MTV UK and we also host the occasional lig we had the guys from Picture House down recently for a single launch.
Although we do get a lot of visitors, because of our location as much as the trade from the hotel, it's important to attract a following of local people, as they're quicker to let you know what's working and what's not. We value our regulars and it's also nice to provide our tourists with some genuine Dublin company."
On the night I visit The Ballroom nightclub the tourists are unmissable. There are Americans, Continental Europeans and even a party of Russians, but it's the English hen parties that amaze me. Head doorman Mick O'Dee fills me in.
"A lot of Temple Bar venues refuse stag and hen parties, but at The Ballroom we use our discretion. Most people are just out to have a good time, and if we do come across people who maybe have had one too many, or are a bit boisterous in enjoying the Temple Bar experience we politely steer them on. The ingenuity of the groups that come down never ceases to amaze me, especially the women's groups. We've had ballgowns, uniforms, swimsuits and, earlier tonight, we had a half-dozen girls in full 1920's flapper outfits. The guys don't dress up as much, though we had a group of English guys recently who were having a bad-shirt competition. Seventies afro wigs also seem to be making a bizarre comeback."
The Ballroom is served by deejays Tony Pugh (of Redbox fame), Stephen Stone and Robyn Hayes. The trio play an eclectic mix of styles that ensure all sections of the crowd are guaranteed a little of what they fancy, with euphoric house being the current floor favourite, according to Steve.
"This would be considered quite a commercial venue compared to most I've worked in, yet clubbers have become much more open to new sounds and trends, so you can have a bit of fun with them. The days of dancing around your handbag to Saturday Night Fever are long gone, yet you can drop cheesy numbers in over regular house beats and people love it.
It's very much a party vibe, people are here to dance, have a pint and hopefully cop-off. It s not the hardest crowd to play for. We also do requests and shout-outs, which some people think are tacky, but I think it gives you a flavour of who's in, which is important when you're dealing with a mixed crowd."
The Capitol Bar on Aungier Street, now with new manager Brooker Martin at the helm, has been the venue for many press parties in the short time it's been open, including the Cat Laughs festival launch, Macy Gray's party and agent Buzz O'Neill's recent birthday bash. Its open-plan design ensures a pleasant and relaxing environment, and they serve an excellent range of cocktails. Music is provided by veteran deejay Barry Warner, who combines black urban sounds with harder hip-hop and softer soul, a mix that's as unique as it is welcome in Dublin's occasionally samey music bars. Upstairs comprises a smaller cocktail bar, which might have been lifted directly from the set of 'sixties cult TV show, The Prisoner. Visiting musicians have been known to test the bar's baby-grand piano with raucous results. The Capitol is owned by the same group that handle Lillie's Bordello, and occasionally passes or concessions are provided for Capitol customers who wish to party on into the wee hours.
As property prices and the shortage of venue spaces in the city centre make the costs of opening a pub/nightclub prohibitive for many, outlying areas are coming into their own as locations for late-night entertainment.
Rathmines is one suburb that's seen the emergence of several such operations, including Tramco, at 121 Rathmines Road, owned by the Messrs Maguire group. Popular among Rathmines' apartment-dwelling student residents, the venue's decor is modelled after 'railway-station chic', and guarantees a fun and different pubbing experience. Restaurant quality food is served from the bar; the menu could be described as modern American, with steaks and Mexican dishes proving especially popular.
The building also houses a separate nightclub, which opens through the week, where regular deejays play a mixture of current chart hits and seventies and eighties classics. Recently re-vamped after a little over a year in existence, Tramco have plans to expand the nightclub operation, including themed-nights and a special Tuesday night event, Trax, catering for Rathmines large student population. Perhaps an ideal place to do the locomotion then, but careful not to go off the rails.
Also in Rathmines is the newly opened Savannah Cafi bar, operated by the team responsible for Cafi En Seine, Zanzibar and the current 'must-be-checked-out' city-centre hotspot Fireworks. Again, design is all important. Here the theme is bright, airy and continental, with large windows to the front. Food is also continental in theme as well as cripes and wraps, there is a roast dish served daily and the venue is especially proud of it's selection of coffees, (proof that you don't have to drink alcohol to enjoy the Savannah vibe).
Music is provided by deejay Peter Gilmore, mixing R'n B, jazz, funk and soul in a combination that enhances the 'Parisiinne Walkway' feeling. A separate nightclub operates from the bar at weekends for those who like their music a little more footloose, but admission is free for bar customers.
As Lobo manager Robert O'Donohue succinctly puts it, there are more than a few 'diamonds in the rough' among Dublin's late night haunts, many of them providing an eclecticism and a knowledge of customer requirements that leave others in the shade. My guess is that these clubs are the way forward, as customers weary of the relative sameness of nightspots and canny publican's offer a winning alternative.
Vive la difference, I say...