Former iconic Dublin institution, Porterhouse Central of Nassau Street, is set to reopen today after a complete transformation. The new sustainability-focused late bar titled ‘Tapped’ will specialise in local and international craft beer, organic and sustainable wine, and their very own kegged cocktails on tap. The new bar will have one of the highest number of taps on site in Ireland, boasting over 50 (hence the new name) and aims to wow patrons with its standout new design. Alongside quirky additions like your favourite cocktails on tap, the new bar has also partnered with Dublin Pizza Company to conquer the food offering and will regularly host some of Dublin’s best DJ’s.
The Dublin landmark was once much-loved as ‘Judge Roy Beans’ before opening as Porterhouse Central in 2004. The Group is now excited to announce the reopening of the venue today as ‘Tapped’, after a complete rethink, redesign and rebuild since the doors closed earlier this summer.
The new bar has been opened by the team behind Porterhouse Brewery and Dingle Distillery. They have spent the last two years brainstorming and creating a unique concept that will offer the widest range of drinks available on tap in Ireland, no matter your taste preferences, from Rascals craft beer to bespoke espresso martinis.
Elliot Hughes, Managing Director of Porterhouse Brew Co and Dingle Distillery, said about the impressive beverage offering
“Starting with beer, it is only natural for us to offer our own Porterhouse Brewery products, such as Plain, Rambler and Renegade, but it’s also essential to us that the customer has far-reaching options. We will offer beers from independent breweries across Ireland and around the world including White Hag, Garage, Stigbergets, Trouble Brewing and Kinnegar. To ensure new beers are always being introduced the beer menu will change weekly.”
Moving on to their unique cocktails on tap offering, Elliot continues:
“Serving cocktails on tap eliminates an enormous amount of waste daily, but equally it saves the consumer so much time waiting for their drink. However, we do understand that initial impressions may be that cocktails on tap might not be of the same standard cocktail connoisseurs are used to. We are very confident this will not be the case here.”
“Each cocktail on tap will be carefully curated by Dingle Distillery Global Ambassador Alan Glynn and made by the team just down the road in our brewery, where a cocktail laboratory has just been created for this purpose. This allows us to offer fresh bespoke cocktails on tap and to minimise our environmental impact while doing so. Only premium spirits are being used, such as Dingle Gin, Dingle Vodka, Bacardi, Regal Rogue and our award-winning Dingle Single Malt, to ensure highest quality cocktails each time.”
“These cocktails will be just as delicious as the consumer demands, so much quicker to serve and ultimately far, far better for the environment.”
While beer and cocktails on tap are a major focus, it doesn’t stop there. Tapped will offer a premium wine selection, both on tap and by the bottle, as well as a wide range of canned craft beers, a large offering of Irish whiskey, rum, tequila, and an impressive non-alcoholic drinks selection.
The décor transformation has been carefully planned to wow guests and be different to anything that Dublin has seen before.
Elliot adds “Customers are looking for experiences when it comes to eating and drinking out and that includes their surroundings. It was important that we brought something truly unique to the Dublin bar scene, while thinking of sustainable practices every step of the way. We brought on the exceptionally original and talented Irish creative studio ‘Third Mind Design’ to come up with a truly eye-catching concept, while creating a bold and contemporary atmosphere”.
The venue features very few materials: wood, concrete and steel make up the vast majority, while Italian glass bricks are used to create bespoke countertops. Ireland’s first full concrete bar stretches 15 metres in length and boasts over 50 taps (they believe the largest number in Ireland to date). A bespoke live online menu has been created so that all patrons can view remotely. A local robotics company has been commissioned to create an innovative rotating menu which will move on loop showcasing guest beers and specials – the first of its kind in Ireland.
Steel tables as well as shipping container pods create intimate yet edgy private seating booths. Up-cycled furniture, kegged chairs and even old TV frames, which will be used to house local Irish art, are dotted across the venue. Uniquely, every piece of furniture at Tapped has been custom-made locally by Irish creatives. It’s not often a venue opens with every single element custom made.
With entrances on both Nassau Street and Grafton Street, Tapped is officially the only bar that can boast a Grafton Street entrance, arguably making it the most superlatively situated bar in Ireland. With easy access via the Luas, numerous bus routes and being directly opposite Trinity College, Tapped is easily accessible.
In addition to their vast beer, wine and cocktail offering, guests can rest assured they are guaranteed delicious food, as food partners, Dublin Pizza Company (DPC) will offer their award-winning wood-fired pizzas, L.A. style smashed burgers, wings, sandwiches, and salads 7 days a week. Tapped will be open from 12pm Monday to Friday and 11am Saturday and Sunday until late.
