Long Before my National Insurance card came off the press I was thrust into employment at Jenny…read moreWatts. My Mum convinced me that working at one of Bangor's busiest bars would help round my character. To this day I am not sure if it did, but one thing is for sure the labour I undertook will help me give you the inside track on Bangor's oldest licensed premises. Jenny Watts is the Grandfather of pubs, it is quirky, full of character and can be quite entertaining if you ignore the tobacco stains. But much like an elderly relative it has one or two very interesting stories to tell. Legend has it Jenny herself was a famous 18th Century smuggler, regulars in the bar will tell of long winding caves that run from under the pubs deep cellar all the way to Bangor Bay. Having worked in Jenny Watts I can unfortunately confirm that this story is just a myth. But it is stories like this that help to mould an establishment. Tourists and Locals intermingle in Jenny Watts creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. If you are looking for a traditional Irish pub atmosphere then look no further. In the winter locals huddle round the open fire sipping Guinness and swirling sixteen year old whiskey. In the summer the enclosed Beer Garden is full to the brim with holiday makers drinking cider and sparkling rose. All this accompanied by live music all year round makes Jenny's perfect for any occasion. Jenny Watts also offers a full Bistro menu making it a very difficult place to leave. One tip from me, if you are going to Jenny Watts make sure you ask the friendly staff or locals if they have experienced any spooky happenings, I am sure they will not disappoint.

It took me to be a little bit older and to have a summer of drinking quite often to really get into…read morethis place and now I really, really like it. Its an old style pub with a lovely homely feeling and really is a cracking place to go and have a few pints or some red wine. It has a lovely wee beer garden/smoking area out the back that is brilliant craic on a summers evening and really adds to the ambience and atmosphere of Bangor's oldest pub. The decor is oldy worldy and the pictures on the wall must've started a million conversations. There is a club upstairs on a Saturday night but its for the older divorceé crowd so I've never been. There is usually some nice acoustic pub singers downstairs so thats enough for me.

I go here almost all the time I love this place, it's so nice and clean and also tidy not to…read moremention there's live music and sports on so you can place a bet; also the service there is amazing their fast nice and good with serving food, everyone is so kind here, I will say one thing, sometimes the prices go a high a little bit but doesn't all bars prices go high? Anyways I just what to say come here it's amazing and wonderful place not to mention there's also sometimes karaoke upstairs! Take this review granted and come here with your family or friends.

If you fancy a quiet drink with a few friends for a catch up this is the place for you there is no…read moreloud music to contend with just one TV in the front bar and one in the back which is usually tuned to a sports channel or music channel for background noise. There is also pub grub served throughout the day and the chilli is absolutely outstanding. A quiet spot in Bangor that is an absolute must

Been here a good few tines over the last couple of months and iras become a favourite. As the…read moreweather has been picking up and especially since the clocks changed the brighter evenings have meant the beer garden at the front is superb to sit by the sea. There are screen about the outside of this area to protect from the wind and electric space heaters that help to take the chill off further. The prices are all in the typical area (a bit too much these days) for a bar/food place, but nothing shocking or out of the ordinary. The staff are always friendly and decently paced if not overly chatty and engaging, to be fair it has always been quite busy when we have been in. There is a good range of beers on tap, normal prices all round, again typical of a contemporary bar in this regard. The food though while again typically priced has been a pleasant surprise on eat visit. While the prices mean the the food would need to be of a decent standard each trip has managed to prove to be over and above expectation, so it is always a pleasure to know we're going here, for a pint or a plate.

This was the perfect place for a family reunion! We enjoyed a delicious meal while visiting from…read morethe US. 14 in all! It was a good time. Friendly service and lively ambiance.

Really helpful staff, fairly small interior but really large beer garden at the back. We enjoyed a…read morelarge table close to heaters in the beer garden on a clear night. It felt very safe and a sense of community overall. This is my type of bar!

Formerly Coyles, the Hop House had a lot to live up to. Coyles had a laid back atmosphere that was…read morealmost unrivalled in Bangor and I'm happy to report that this laid back languid style has been replicated in the Hop House. Decorated in a modern yet vintage way it adds something very different to Bangor nightlife. The new beer garden has elevated it from a casual stop off bar to somewhere you could spend your whole night. I had an excellent evening last Friday with friends. There's plenty of seating and loads of heat lamps which are good for all year round smokers. There's a great choice of drinks in The Hop House an even greater atmosphere. Regulars are welcoming and the staff are knowledgable and friendly, what more could you ask for in a town centre pub?

One thing I had not mentioned in my previous review is that the 'Smugglers Cove' is now open for…read morebusy sporting days. On Sunday afternoon they had the 'cove' open to allow more sports fans to watch the live football. The Cove comes equipped with a fully stocked bar and traditional, cosy (old man bar type) seating. Mind your head if you're over 5ft 9 though as the ceilings aren't very high!

I'm surprised I haven't reviewed The Groomsport Inn before as I have been a regular here since I…read morewas 18! The pub itself has great facilities, including a decked smoking area looking over the harbour and Irish Sea and large screens that have the ability to show the football and rugby simultaneously. Myself and a group of friends visited the G'port Inn on Saturday for a bite to eat and I was surprised about how quiet it was. We were able to get a prime corner booth, as ever we were served promptly by the excellent waiting staff. Strangely we all decided to have the same meal, chicken goujons with peppered sauce although I opted for a side of Chunky chips. The food was cooked to absolute perfection. The thick chunks of chicken were battered beautifully! I can't fault The Groomsport in one bit - the food is to die for!

A bit of an old man's pub, but definitely a bar for the Guiness lover amongst you. It certainly…read morewon't be winning any awards for decor but what it lacks on aesthetics it more than makes up for atmosphere and friendly attitude. A great place to watch sport, particularly rugby and this place really comes alive around the Six Nations in February. This place doesn't do food and won't be for everyone but it is really good for a few on a pub crawl or for the rubgy if you fancy a bit of a big night out. My friend Gary loves this place and always wants to go and once you go you will see why.

Fealty's is a Bangor stalwart, standing gracefully in the middle of High Street it acts as the…read moregrandfather of Bangor nightlife, previously old and grey and elder statesman like it has recently had a young vibrant makeover. When I was younger and just of legal drinking age I used to think Fealty's was a boring bar where not much goes on, but now I am older and wiser and I know that the chat that happens in Fealty's probably makes more sense than that which goes on in Bangor's council chambers. The bar itself has a unbeatable whiskey and gin selection and pour a mean pint of Guinness. This is probably the main reason it's distinguished punters keep on coming back. Definitely an older crowd but if you're a fan of the traditional give it a go! Ulster and Ireland matches can be watched here whilst suppin' on arguably Bangor's best pint.

Went on the recommendation of our b and b host Hargreaves. Fantastic place with a warm fire and…read moregood food.

I was a birthday here last night and it was the first time I'd ever been upstairs. It's perfect for…read morea party as its there to rent out for private functions. It was very spacious I could imagine you could have a good size party here. There is a small dance-floor you can go up and throw your crazy shapes after one to many. If you wanted you could hire a DJ and have plenty of room for his equipment. But my party chose to use a phone and play it through there sound system which was equally as good. The bar is quite small so if it was a full house I could imagine it would take abit of time to get served but nothing major. The staff are very friendly aswell. Downstairs is just a public bar, i would say a crowd ranging from mid twenties up. So maybe not great for a younger crowd. The bar is very small so it can get packed very quick and with not many seats you could end up standing most of the night. Great choice of drinks and cocktails. Would maybe be a great bar to start on and move elsewhere.

One of Bangor's finest, frequented by Hollywood A-listers and North Down A-listers alike. The Salty…read moreDog has an unmatched ambience, certainly unmatched in Bangor, and the cuisine is as good as you get any where in NI. They pride themselves on local fresh produce and this translates to their menu which is full of seafood (it's on the coast). The staff in the Salty Dog are exceptional, they have excellent knowledge of the menu and the wine lists. Don't make the mistake of asking for a white wine because they have loads and it will only expose your lack of wine knowledge as it did on my case. It seems that other reviewers have had mixed experiences of The Salty Dog but every time I've been in I have throughly enjoyed myself and my grub. I am heading back again soon - so it's 4 stars for now and they might get the coveted fifth if the latest experience matches the previous ones.

For some reason I forget this restaurant exists, however, we received vouchers for our anniversary…read moreso headed down on a Friday night to sample the delights. The restaurant itself is very well decorated, very glamorous and luxurious. Not what you would expect from the bar area. A new menu had commenced that day , so the waitress seemed a little unsure on some of the dishes but I think it slightly harsh to critique on that. The new menu had a great selection - I opted for the salt and pepper burger. Great portion sizes, really well presented and most importantly tasted great. 5* so far! My only let down was the dessert. I prefer a more indulgent selection, but that's personal choice. I settled on the lemon posset with mango and passionfruit sorbet. The sorbet was good but the posset was a lot more runny that I would have liked and my husband agreed. It had popping candy on top, which I thought might be nice but it felt like they just threw it on trying to be different. Didn't really work for me. Overall though I would give this place a 4*, being the first night perhaps the posset has since been perfected. I wouldn't say no for a rejudge.

Second only to Sunday dinner at Mum's house when in Bangor is Donegan's! As a matter of fact, the…read morebarkeeps and servers are just as lovely as Mum, too. The roast turkey and roast beef are both great choices for a hit meal and come with a bounty of flavorful sides. A big menu offers other choices, of course, but I've had the Sunday roast twice and would go back for it again. The interior of Donegan's is cozy with a great bar and cool memorabilia on the walls. Out back, the beer garden is a great place to listen to music with friends on a sunny day.

Delicious food and stellar friendly staff, relaxed pub atmosphere. Good Guinness. Four thumbs up!read more

A real mainstay of the Bangor bar/restaurant scene, although all that was in doubt a few months…read moreback when it temporarily closed. I'm glad to report its open again and serving some of the best pints on Guinness in NI! There's a few reasons why the Esplanade is one of my favourite bars. Firstly its in close proximity to where I live, secondly it's one of the most welcoming bars around. Finally it's food and drinks offerings are always great. The views aren't too bad either. Be warned the back bar gets rowdy for sporting events!

I have had to review my review for this place. In the last few months since there has been a…read morerefurbishment, and a lot of changes to the staff and the food they have served. It has gone from great to terrible and then back up to pretty decent (thank goodness!!). The anticipated and exciting refurb turned out to be a fairly big flop. It will remind most of a hotel lobby downstairs, and the 'quirky granny look' upstairs - ya know, with velvet, gold and leopard print everywhere. Ugh. Until tonight (26th Feb 16), I have felt fairly letdown with the place, but we tried yet again and were pleasantly surprised. Food was great, service was great and we had a really nice night here. I am excited to see the place has changed their attitude and getting back to what works well. My old review, just before refurbishment - In my opinion The Esplanade is now one of the nicest places in Bangor to eat. Food is tremendous with large portions and an amazing view to go with it over Ballyholme bay. Even if you aren't having food, it is a great place to hang out with friends and catch up. Highly recommended!