2023 AD; the year whenst I visited more Irish pubs then ever on my ultimately impossible but nonethess entertaining quest to visit every Irish pub on earth, now in its 7th year. At the outset of the year, I had not an incling of what would transpire over the coming 12 months, and not one of the several locales i eventually traversed were even the foggiest of notions in Jan. But what a year-  a new record of 20 Irish pubs in 6 exotic new locales!! 🇵🇱🇮🇹🇧🇬🇧🇪🇸🇧🇫🇷

But enough of my yakking! Now to the 7th annual PEEPA’S THE PUBLICAN ENEMY END of YEAR AWARDS

Category 1. Best Pint

No. 10 KWAK

A range of  non-Guinness outsiders  in the mix, notably the phenomenal work of the Belgii , inventers of beer , in the land where I tried in vain to be served a beer in the wrong glass. Kwak , a 8% behemoth served in far and away the best receptacle( a test tube attached to a stick) was a glass act . Go to the fantastic TrollKelder in Ghent for all your Kwak- needs

No. 9 ”Napo”.Corsican beer :

Named  after Corsica’s #1 Napo Baby, Napo wins acclaim for having himself on the bottle . Each pint is said to contain at least 5mg of the great man’s blood , sweat and hubris. One of those beers I will never have again but nice in 36 degrees. Yes, tonight Josephine etc…….

No. 8 ‘CELTIC SPRITZ ‘:

Cross Cultural Hybrid Beverage Celtic Spritz appeared in the midst of an unprecidented heatwave in Bologna’s The Celtic Druid, consisting of a unique blend of a half pint of Bulmers Cider with a slug o’ Apperol sloshed in, instantly democratising the Snooty Spritz for the masses. A cross- cultural collaboration for the ages.

No 7 : In terms of porter, honorable mentions to Duffys of Krakow and JJ Murphys of Sofia.Both good pints . Both good pubs. Nothing to see here

Despite the shitlondonguinness rep, the top 6 were all in Lahndannnn taaaannnn

N0.6 Homeboy Bar, Islington :

Actually more of a cocktail bar but for some reason and to their immense credit, Homeboy serve up an amazing pint. But with a cocktail-bar style service; a glass a water and a napkin n’ ting. But it’s great. And they give you a Barry’s Tea bag with your receipt. Clever clever clever.

no. 5 , Skehans:

Look at that ! Pure cream. Look out for more on Skehans in the “Pub of the Year” category, where it’s literally a dark horse ( not literally) .

Joint No.4 : Mc & Sons /Coach & Horses:

Two pubs I frequented in 2023, Mc & Sons is a faithful recreation of an aul Irish pub, complete with a snug, an addictive ring toss game off of the 1920’s and amazing service of very good pints. And tradional authentic Irish Thai food as well .

The Coach and Horses is the type of Soho pub that I’m sure I’ve walked past hundreds of times over the years I’ve been in London. Someone told me the pint was decent, so i walked 50 mins to Soho to try it. Was it worth it? Mos def . Lovely flowers as well.

No. 3 : The Devonshire , Soho

It’s just opened. It’s in all the magazines and being tweeted by the right people. It was has a restaurant with a 4 month waiting list. And yet, apparently it served more Guinness in a weekend than most competitors do in a month. I went in on a Friday at 14:00 and it was full; business types, locals, tourists and lonely Guinness bros with beanies taking pics of the pint . And me on my own. With a Beanie. Taking a picture of my pint. But in a cool way. It’s very good so it is.

No. 2 : The Auld Shilleleagh , Stoke Newington

It’s a haven. A safe space. A shrine. An oasis . Paul Mescal drinks there. The OG.

But at No. 1 , the newcomer straiiiiiighhhht in is :

NO.1 FEENEYS!

Feeneys is the little bar that could. Crouching in the shadow of the massive HR nightmare Brewdog and anonymous chain pubs, Feeneys is little more than a wee jazzed up room . The owners are from Leitrim, the least sexy county in all of Ireland. And yet, the pint is absolute beauty, the pub is like a local and it’s 15 minutes from where I work. Buladh bos do FEENEY’S!!!!