MOST READ (2024): Why do I not feel comfortable going for a pint in the Cashel Palace?

Has the Cashel Palace Hotel got a PR problem when it comes to locals in the town feeling comfortable enough to go in for a pint or a bit of grub?

Simple question: have you been in there yet? I haven’t and many of my friends, all working professionals, living locally and aged in their 30s, haven’t been in yet. One mate, who has ventured in, remarked: “Went with the lads for a look and I wouldn’t be going back. Felt judged as soon as we got in. We were outside and every time we made noise or laughed some old ones kept looking over with a face on them.”

Another added: “There’s people I work with and they can’t understand why I haven’t been in it and it’s on my doorstep.” It doesn’t have a walk-in feel to it when it comes to food.

But a pint, surely that’s doable any given day of the week, I’m just not brave enough. I know years ago it had a very strong local trade and regular drinkers in the bar from the town.

And maybe there are still a few locals that frequent the bar or restaurant on a regular basis, I know the afternoon tea trade is attracting people from around who are curious to get in and get a look around.

But there’s no denying that for some there’s a perception certainly that in order to rock up to the iconic and beautifully restored venue that you’d need chinos, a dinner jacket and the highest quality men’s leather brogues on you before you could march down the avenue.

Myself, my brother and my sister were stopping in Cashel for grub on the way back from a match one Saturday recently and the Cashel Palace Hotel was suggested as a possible option for food and a drink almost as a joke.

The mere thought of “us” going in there, dressed the way we were, was laughable.

So, we ended up in Feehans, a fine establishment serving great grub and a great pint.

The question to ask is: does the Cashel Palace Hotel and its management care about this perception that some have of it locally?

Probably not, because they’re attracting clientele and employing people from the area.

What more could we want from them? And there’s nothing stopping any of us from daring to go in...but I still wouldn’t feel comfortable.

I’ll just imagine paying that bit extra for a pint of Guinness means that it tastes that bit nicer and like many other locals, for now, I’ll just keep wondering. But for those brave enough, The Guinness Bar is open Monday to Sunday from 12pm until 11pm and is open “to residents and non-residents”.

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