Themed Bars in Other Countries

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Do you have greater or less affection for themed bars in other countries you've visited cf themed bars at home? Give examples of ones you've been to and what you've thought of them.

― MarkH (MarkH), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I was inspired to post this by a bar I went to in Tallinn called Scotland Yard. It was in what appeared to be an old warehouse quite close to the docks. There was you might expect a police theme with the staff all wearing faux police uniforms complete with (I hope) imitation sidearms, badges and handcuffs. There were lots of guns on the walls and various descriptions thereof (all in English). Some of the items on the menu made reference to Sherlock Holmes, but apart from that and the bar's name everything seemed to refer to American police rather than British police (the uniforms and the fact that they had guns, for example).

It struck me that I would avoid any kind of themed bar like the plague whilst at home, but was more than happy to go to this one whilst on holiday. The place looked good, too, note the illuminated patterned installation in the ceiling and the huge fish tank occupying one wall in the pictre linked to below:

ihttp://tinypic.com/2rr07

― MarkH (MarkH), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)

The weirdest bar I've ever been in was a British-themed bar in Amsterdam. It was a bit of a mindf*ck, to be honest. Because it didn't even seem like the sort of place built to attract English tourists with "home food" or whatever. It was just strange.

ha-ha, x-post!

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:35 (twenty-one years ago)

we found an "english" bar in bilbao too, didn't even have the premiership on though...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I have never been to the 'Maple Leaf' bar here in London. And I never will. It's just a regular pub filled with the type of Canadian dullards I wanted to escape from in the first place.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:41 (twenty-one years ago)

There was an 'Irish' pub in Dubrovnik which was absolutely terrifying (so far so good) but didn't have Guinness (pshaw). My memory may be failing me but I think it was combined with some sort of American-style steakhouse as well. Odd.

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Seeing a Mexican bar in Venezuela was a bit bemusing (still very enjoyable, though).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:42 (twenty-one years ago)

the spoorts bar in Malmo sweden is a brilliant place, and a complete temple to the premiership.

Charing Cross (for that was it's name) was a very odd approximation of an english theme - I've never seen pintxos in the warming cabinet of an English pub, pies yes, but never lovely bite sized peices of tortilla

― Porkpie (porkpie), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been to the Maple Leaf a couple of times. I find it strangely comforting because so much Ontario style schtick is indistinguishable from Upstate NY schtick.

I have actually even been to a couple of American theme bars, but only in search of proper milkshakes. Honest.

Plus, well, the Maple Leaf will actually put the Sloan album on if you ask them nicely.

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I hear they have 'wing night' on mondays which almost got me into the Maple Leaf, but I've walked by and the people just look... bleh. And as soon as I hear The Tragically Hip I run away from wherever that foul sound is eminating from.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

there is what purports to be a Finnish bar in Brussels called the North Star....the only finnish thing about it as far as I could see was that they had Mika Hakkinen's helmet in a glass case on the wall.

― MarkH (MarkH), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha, yes, I've heard about the wingnights, our (Canadian) drummer used to go every week. And they do play an awful lot of The Hip. Sigh. But like I said, if you ask nicely (i.e. not "Put some Sloan on! Sloan piss on The Hip. FROM CONSIDERABLE HEIGHT!!!") then they will change it. To Spirit of the West, bwah hah hah.

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:47 (twenty-one years ago)

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