rev:text
| - Previously I would have said this was my absolute favourite pub in Toronto, no doubt. I have happily travelled from the other side of town just for a pint here.
But... I paid a visit this weekend and am sad to report things have gone downhill. Primarily because they don't have the wood burning fire anymore. This was the biggest attraction for me, by a country mile. It was so lovely to sit by the fire with a pint, watch the flames flicker, and listen to the Irish trad music. I mean, can you think of anything nicer on a frosty Toronto evening?
Apparently they have now given up on the fire because it's too expensive. Huge mistake in my opinion--it was what made this place special. With the fire, the space is warm, comfy, homely-- perfect for settling in for a few hours. Without it, the space can be dark, cold and dingy. With the fire, I would happily pay over the odds for a pint, but without it, you really start to notice the excessive cost of a beer here. With the fire, I wouldn't mind so much that for over a year now, their website has given the wrong day for the weekly ceili sessions (they are on Saturday, not Sunday--although actually the website says both, on two different pages), meaning I have now turned up twice expecting see trad music and been met by an empty, cold, dark pub. WIthout the fire, I just have no reason to stay and I am actually pretty peeved that once again I had to make this wasted trip all the way across to the Danforth, just because they care so little about the details that they can't be bothered to give correct information to save customers a wasted trip--even after a year!!!
It kind of breaks my heart to say it but I probably won't be back, at least not until the fire is up and running again.
|