The Blarney Stone Irish Pub, Shanghai

Favourite Shanghai watering hole of anyone with the slightest drop of Celtic blood, and those not so blessed, the Blarney Stone has become the Irish Bar in Shanghai. Authentically Irish, the low ceilings, stone floor and wood panelling make it seem cozier and more friendly than the others. Wander through the door and you could be right back home. Maybe it’s the smaller, more intimate design and very easy-going clientele.

Guinness, Kilkenny and Strongbow Cider are on tap for ¥65, while a pint of Carlsberg costs ¥40. Standard Irish pub grub (fish and chips, stews and grilled meat) average price ¥90 for a main course. The Blarney Stone spreads over two floors,and there’s a very nice pool table on the second floor.

But the greatest feature of the pub is undoubtedly the live band, Paul Curran's Bungle Rye who sing Irish and Scottish folk songs every night except Tuesday. And of course there is always sport on TV to watch while you have a pint..

If you're looking for a true Irish pub experience in Shanghai, the Blarney Stone is the place to go. The low ceilings, rustic knick-knacks,dark stained wood and ever-necessary Guinness make it the ideal Irish pub to relax after a day of hard work, and not only for its authentic environment. The patrons who flow into the pub in the evening are regulars, knowing exactly what they want to drink and where they want to sit.

The rich atmosphere didn't happen overnight, it's taken years of dedication by its owner-managers, one of whom is Dave Kelly, a Dublin native, who came to Shanghai a decade ago to work.

The success of Blarney Stone, says Kelly, is primarily due to the consistency of the staff and the special care taken by its dedicated owner-managers. Some employees have worked for the pub for eight of the ten years under its current ownership.

The consistency has shown. The Blarney Stone hasn't tried to re-invent the Irish pub. It's a homey, familiar place the world over. But that's not to say it isn't without its standout qualities.

"Our main card we play is music", says Kelly.

Almost every night the pub's band, Bungle Rye, fronted by owner-manager Paul Curran, plays Irish and Scottish folk songs.

Armed with a few instruments and members, Bungle Rye puts on an intimate show for any patron who happens to be grabbing a pint at the time. It's enough for anyone to stay and drink another beer to enjoy a show not seen in many places around China.

This seamless mix can't help feel anything but natural. Some in the crowd continue about their business as the band plays, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and others appear to relish the authenticity of the tunes.

Beer, of course, is why people return week after week, and there's at least one style bound to make anyone happy. Guinness, which appears to be its most popular beer, has two taps which can be seen on the counter. Ale drinkers can look in the way of the Irish cream ale Kilkenny. The ever-present lager that is Carlsberg can provide the drinking support when the rich taste of Guinness and Kilkenny has begun to take its toll. On particularly busy nights, the staff tries to keep stout drinkers happy by hooking up Murphy's as a backup.

Homemade steak and kidney pies and fish and chips are just some of the foods found on the menu that would pair excellently with the Blarney Stone's most popular stout.

Kind words: John Gamboa - Hops Magazine, Photos: Robert Walsh

Recently, a musician at an Irish Pub in Shanghai whispered to me, between songs, "if you want to go to a proper Irish Pub, go the the Blarney Stone". So I did.

Sitting there at the Blarney Stone at 5A Dong Ping Road in the French Concession neighborhood just about every evening is Paul Curran, originally from Dublin, singing traditional Irish songs and songs by John Prine, Van Morrison, Dylan, Sting, Johnny Cash, Richard Thompson, Townes Van Zandt and others. I have three of Paul's CD's, his two earlier ones, "Give Us A Song!" and "Shanghaied", but it is his latest, "The Cow Ate The Piper" with his band, Bungle Rye, that best captures the atmosphere of The Blarney Stone and the musicianship of Paul's mates, particularly Allan Cowell, and Paul's own voice.

If you are fortunate enough to visit Shanghai, make time for the Blarney Stone, which is a simple wooden house with a nice porch out front. The pub food is tasty, the Guinness is always good, and the music is king... not too loud; always acoustic and tasty. Check out the seisiun each Sunday. Sometimes it is six guitar players sitting in a circle, perhaps a tin whistle or accordion. One Sunday during a visit in 2008, a lady from America sat down in the circle and broke our hearts with her rendition of Prine's classic "Angel From Montgomery" with Paul and his mates.

Paul is a gentle soul who loves to sing. So does Allan and he does it well, too. The Blarney Stone is my home away from home when I am in Shanghai for good conversation and songs that are sung because those songs are loved. That is how Paul treats them.

The Blarney Stone Irish Pub, Shanghai - details, how to get there

The Blarney Stone Irish Pub

5 Dongping Lu

French Concession

Near Yueyang Lu, Metro Line 1 Hengshan Lu Station

东平路5号A座

近岳阳路, 地铁1号线衡山路站

Telephone:+86 (021) 6415-7496

www.bunglerye.com

blarneystone@online.sh.cn

Fax:+86 (021) 6473-7296

Open Mon-Wed 4pm-1:30am, Thu-Sun 11am-1:30am

Typical Price: Y100-Y199 per couple

Accepts International Credit Cards