Utopia Beach Life and Dalriada

GRANTY · Post by **GRANTY** » 27 Mar 2006, 20:57

Just got a planning application in from Punch Pub Company regarding work to the outside of the pub at the foot of Bath St. Seems like they want to install heat lamps. It got really noisy there last year and the seating area, whilst nice, was a bit of an intrusion at times.

Robin! · Post by **Robin!** » 27 Mar 2006, 23:31

Will be worse with the smoking ban too I'd imagine.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 29 Mar 2006, 11:24

GRANTY wrote:Just got a planning application in from Punch Pub Company regarding work to the outside of the pub at the foot of Bath St. Seems like they want to install heat lamps. It got really noisy there last year and the seating area, whilst nice, was a bit of an intrusion at times.

So when is it re-opening?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 29 Mar 2006, 11:35

Sandra wrote:
GRANTY wrote:Just got a planning application in from Punch Pub Company regarding work to the outside of the pub at the foot of Bath St. Seems like they want to install heat lamps. It got really noisy there last year and the seating area, whilst nice, was a bit of an intrusion at times.
So when is it re-opening?

Probably June, October, next March .............

sconegrrl · Post by **sconegrrl** » 02 Apr 2006, 18:52

I was sad that Utopia closed. They did lovely lunches. The fish and chips were spectacular. Possibly the best I've ever had. It was the only pub around here that I would go to. Now my only option for drinkipoos and lunch on a Sunday is the Dalradia (that's probably mispelled I know) which is OK, but absolutely packed with annoying posh families talking really loudly while their children misbehave.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 02 Apr 2006, 19:15

Sconegrll said

their children misbehave.

They are not misbehaving, sconie, the little dears are 'expressing themselves'!!!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 02 Apr 2006, 19:19

And I'm sure their mummies were telling them very quietly and patiently that if they did it again 'mummy will get annoyed.....'

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 02 Apr 2006, 19:51

sconegrrl wrote:I was sad that Utopia closed. They did lovely lunches.

I agree the food was good pub food and reasonably priced

Paddy · Post by **Paddy** » 02 Apr 2006, 20:51

I MISS UTOPIA! The food was great and so was the atmosphere.

Dalriada has an identity crisis and needs to decide what it is. Maybe split into a bar on one side, with smaller tables and a restaurant on the other, sort the lighting, the music and the attitude! Oh and silk emulsion is a total no no, particularly in such a tasteful building.

Last Sunday they called last orders at 8pm. When I took my Mum there for a meal a couple of months ago, the landlord came into the room and turned the heater off while we were eating. It was bl00dy freezing. And there are signs with rules everywhere. Ended up at the the Plough on the high st and at least they didnae have the attitude. Beer was better too and cheaper, although I'm not used to the strange atmosphere of smoke free pubs yet.

So, when's Utopia reopening? There's nowhere else like it. I need a local again, or I'm going to lost my mind. Well, there's always Haddows, there's quite a good atmosphere there actually.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 02 Apr 2006, 21:05

Paddy mentioned

the attitude

Not the first time this has been mentioned - he is not exactly the genial 'mine host' type at times, is he?

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 02 Apr 2006, 21:57

Paddy wrote:I MISS UTOPIA! The food was great and so was the atmosphere.

Dalriada has an identity crisis and needs to decide what it is. Maybe split into a bar on one side, with smaller tables and a restaurant on the other, sort the lighting, the music and the attitude! Oh and silk emulsion is a total no no, particularly in such a tasteful building.

Last Sunday they called last orders at 8pm. When I took my Mum there for a meal a couple of months ago, the landlord came into the room and turned the heater off while we were eating. It was bl00dy freezing. And there are signs with rules everywhere. Ended up at the the Plough on the high st and at least they didnae have the attitude. Beer was better too and cheaper, although I'm not used to the strange atmosphere of smoke free pubs yet.

So, when's Utopia reopening? There's nowhere else like it. I need a local again, or I'm going to lost my mind. Well, there's always Haddows, there's quite a good atmosphere there actually.

I agree. Alway welcome in Haddows!

Dalriada could be SO much better, they are sitting on a goldmine but they don't seem to realise it. Hope utopia opens again SOON!

sconegrrl · Post by **sconegrrl** » 03 Apr 2006, 11:07

Sandra wrote:Dalriada could be SO much better, they are sitting on a goldmine but they don't seem to realise it.

I know, it's a bit shambolic. I always feel like I've wandered uninvited into someone's (admittedly rather grand) house. The younger waiting staff are normally really nice, but there's rarely enough of them. And yeah, it's always ruddy freezing! Sorry, this is literally an obsession of mine, but the acoustics are a nightmare too, the sound of chairs screatching and all those bellowing posh parents goes right through me!

I agree that they need to decide what they are and maybe have a family/restaurant area and a bar area. It's utterly huge and in a great location, plus the food is usually alright.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 03 Apr 2006, 12:28

sconegrrl wrote: Sorry, this is literally an obsession of mine, but the acoustics are a nightmare too, the sound of chairs screatching and all those bellowing posh parents goes right through me.

I'm glad you've noticed that too! I thought I just had an over the top aversion to loud noise! We stopped going because of the smoke and the fact that we had to sit in that horrible, totally uninviting and non-atmospheric little hole through the back to get away from it. Maybe that bit's improved?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 03 Apr 2006, 12:38

I know that Terry, who owns the Dalraida, reads the forum and will be interested in the comments. Maybe Granty could rename the thread or start another one on the Dalraida? There are quite a few positive POL posts on the establishnment.I'm sure someone sang its praises only last week.

(Mods could you sort)

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 03 Apr 2006, 13:34

(I've changed the title of the thread Porty)

Sconegrrl wrote:Sorry, this is literally an obsession of mine, but the acoustics are a nightmare too, the sound of chairs screatching and all those bellowing posh parents goes right through me.

I'm not sure that The Dalriada can really be held responsible for the accents of its clientele and the fact that it is busy suggests that they must be doing something right. I haven't been in since the start of the smoking ban but I'm sure that will have solved some of the complaints from those who found it too smoky.

Paddy wrote:Dalriada has an identity crisis and needs to decide what it is. Maybe split into a bar on one side, with smaller tables and a restaurant on the other, sort the lighting, the music and the attitude! Oh and silk emulsion is a total no no, particularly in such a tasteful building.

Must admit I'm pleased that there's nice wooden floors and no sticky carpet and I like the bright yellow painted walls. The music suits me fine too. Does this mean I've a) got no taste or b) must be terribly posh?

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 03 Apr 2006, 14:16

I was at an end of term night out there last Thursday and we had a nice meal. We didn't go into the bar, just stayed in the dining room and the service was good. The music filtered through to us and it was nice in the background but may have been a bit loud in the bar itself. All in all a very pleasant night.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 03 Apr 2006, 16:21

Marya wrote: I'm not sure that The Dalriada can really be held responsible for the accents of its clientele

Yes, but surely if the nerve shattering, ear piercing shrillness of those ya ya types is putting off too many other potential customers then the owners should consider some kind of ban?

Maybe a sign along the lines of "Nae marble mooths allowed"?

Seems reasonable to me.

Seriously though, Ali and I had a lovely lunch there a couple of weeks ago.
Food was great, service excellent and house red lovely.

sconegrrl · Post by **sconegrrl** » 03 Apr 2006, 16:31

I think they can and that people with loud annoying voices should be made to have their conversations outside, lest they cause an epidemic of passive hearing loss.

(I'm trying to redress the balance of grumpy old men, which has been moaned about, by being a grumpy young woman!)

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 03 Apr 2006, 16:54

I quite enjoy drinking in the Dalriada but I have given up eating the food there as I have had too many bad experiences. I do go with my young children though!

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 03 Apr 2006, 17:15

Ecm said

house red lovely.

That's the main thing!

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 03 Apr 2006, 19:33

Poppy wrote:Ecm said
house red lovely.
That's the main thing!

I took care to mention the food and service first you notice.

Ha ha ha ha ha

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 03 Apr 2006, 20:21

ecm wrote:
Poppy wrote:Ecm said
house red lovely.
That's the main thing!
I took care to mention the food and service first you notice.

Ha ha ha ha ha

Oh, I thought you were listing in reverse order like they do when they announce Miss World.!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 03 Apr 2006, 20:34

Marya wrote: Does this mean I've a) got no taste or b) must be terribly posh?

Was this a rhetorical question or do you really want us to tell you?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 03 Apr 2006, 20:50

Poppy wrote:
ecm wrote:
Poppy wrote:Ecm said That's the main thing!
I took care to mention the food and service first you notice.

Ha ha ha ha ha
Oh, I thought you were listing in reverse order like they do when they announce Miss World.!

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

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