Go ahead and call us biased. We don’t mind. But, ever since it opened in October 2005, we have been smitten with a Disney Springs standout that has delivered wonderful entertainment, fab food and delicious drinks year after year. We’ve blogged about it several times in that double-decade, and, yes, we’re talking about Raglan Road.
This genuine traditional stylist from the Emerald Isle has been a purveyor of polished pub perfection for almost 20 years (be ready for a BIG celebration on their birthday on October 21, by the way!), and it was hard to imagine it adding any further to its long-lasting lustre, but, as of last month, they actually raised the bar. Paddy’s Bar, that is.
We had certainly been wondering why the construction hoardings went up around the front of the venue late last year, and it didn’t initially seem like they were doing anything major to the place, with its long track record of prime pubbery. Maybe it was just a bit of spring cleaning to spruce up the exterior in time for the 20th anniversary?
An addition worth waiting for
But then the boards came down and jaws hit the floor at what was presented in the new-look frontage of the bar/restaurant. Gone was the old front window advertising the Raglan Road gift shop, highlighted by a very special bench that featured a bronze statue of Patrick Kavanagh, famous Irish poet and raconteur.
And, in their place came a glittering beacon of bar brilliance, an outdoor exemplar of Victorian splendour writ large; a permanent walk-up addition to the pub’s winning style. It isn’t huge – the line-up of permanent bar seats numbers just eight – but it is beautifully outfitted and has the look of a 19th century jewel.
It has been officially named Paddy’s Bar in honour of Kavanagh, and it serves to underline the epic Irish vibe that is the heart and soul of Raglan Road, which is itself named for one of the poet’s master works, On Raglan Road (first published in 1946), written about his girlfriend and highlighting Dublin’s famous well-to-do district.
With a classic design straight out of the renowned Temple Bar district and a drink menu designed to quench any thirst, Paddy’s Bar officially opened in Disney Springs on March 14, an authentic Irish outdoor bar that is a full-time addition to the Raglan Road line-up of five indoor and outdoor bars. In simple terms, it invites guests to grab a bar stool or step up for a to-go order from a menu of more than four dozen drink offerings, including draft beers, canned and bottled beers and ciders, Irish whiskeys, wines, bubbles, zero-alcohol Guinness and Heineken, cocktails and “mocktails.”
An instant classic
“Paddy’s Bar is already a big hit!” said Raglan Road general manager Rachael Conroy, who led the unveiling of the grand new Victorian-style outdoor bar. “Our longtime portable roll-out bar was so popular that it was time for us to commit to building a true Irish walk-up where folks could quench their thirst and enjoy the festive Disney Springs vibe.”
It’s not just any bar, says Conroy, who grew up in the midlands of Ireland. Its overall design and décor is like something out of a sepia-coloured vintage antiques catalogue, brought to vivid life by some eye-pleasing shades of jade green and burnt red, with gold detailing. It was designed by Dublin architects O’Donnell O’Neill with bespoke bar lighting by Mullins of Monaghan in Ireland, with mosaic floor tiles beneath bar stools, gold-gilt lettering on the zinc bar roof and elaborate turquoise-glazed tiles created by the UK’s 150-year-old Craven Dunnill Group, who specialise in heritage ceramics. Paddy’s Bar is probably “the only Victorian-era Irish pub built for the outdoors,” Conroy added.
Charming hand-painted signs announce that the bar is “The Life and Soul of Ireland,” featuring “Artisan Spirits” where “Delightful Irish Dancers” perform on week nights and weekends. There’s a nod to Raglan Road’s upcoming 20th anniversary in the sign proclaiming “Established 2005.” The number 21 among the bar’s signage refers to the famous Dublin pub Davy Byrnes located at 21 Duke Street, which was frequented by Patrick Kavanagh.
An oversized antique-style mirror backdrop is etched in gold with “Paddy’s Bar,” “Raglan Road,” “Purveyors of the Finest Whiskey,” and reflects the bar’s Disney Springs surroundings. Rich dark wood trim and gleaming marble countertops complete the look that’s so authentically Victorian it feels like a time-travel experience to grab a stool and order up a pint. However, Paddy’s Bar is open daily on a first-come, first-served basis from 10am to 11.30pm.
PS: For anyone worried about the replacement of the Kavanagh bench and statue, don’t worry. It has simply been re-positioned to the other side of the Raglan Road entrance, backing up against the outdoor seating and facing Paddy’s Bar.
About Raglan Road
Raglan Road is owned and operated by Irish partners John Cooke and Paul Nolan, whose Great Irish Pubs Florida, Inc., previously created Nine Fine Irishmen at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Raglan Road features traditional Irish dishes and new creations with a Celtic twist. The restaurant’s warm interior of aged walnut and mahogany woods from old Irish bars and churches was built in Ireland and shipped wholesale to Orlando.
There is live entertainment nightly and during weekend brunch, showcasing Irish house bands and the Raglan Road Irish Dancers. The pub’s all-day menu is served from 11am to 11.30pm Mon-Fri. and 10am-11.30pm Sat and Sun. The must-try Weekend Rollicking Raglan Brunch runs from 10am-3pm each Saturday and Sunday. For more details, menu and events, look up www.raglanroad.com.
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