Investigating The Winnipeg Pub Scence
Toban staff gets blitzed, calls it ‘research’
MELISSA HIEBERT STAFF
ALL PHOTOS BY DAVID LIPNOWSKI
We at the Manitoban will spare no effort to present you with intensive, backbreaking journalism. We’re always going out of our way to make sure that students get all of the information they need. That’s why we decided to take time out of our busy schedules to do an exhaustive study on some of Winnipeg’s most popular pubs.
Yes, I know: it’s a tough job, but someone has to keep the public informed. So as I headed out on my latest assignment last Thursday night, I went through my list just to make sure I had all of the necessary supplies. Notepad: check. Tape recorder: check. Drinking hat: check. I was ready to do some hardcore drinking, uh, I mean, journalism.
The only thing that I could really make out on my notepad was “Beer = goood!!!”
Shannon’s Irish Pub
Our first stop was Shannon’s Irish Pub. We were met by a friendly doorperson who informed us that we needed to purchase a membership to get in. Though a membership costs only about five dollars and lasts a whole year, that’s five less dollars I now had to spend on beer. Damn!
The predicable sounds of a local top-40 cover band met us as we walked down the stairs into the main bar area. The bar wasn’t very full, but it was not bad for a Thursday night. We settled down in a corner and ordered our first round of “research.” Drink prices were fairly reasonable; $3.75 for a bottle of MGD.
A waitress in what only can be described as a “sexy school girl” outfit served our beers to us. This was probably the high point of the bar, as none of the other bars we would visit that night even had waitresses. Score one for Shannon’s for having hot waitresses!
So after a few more rounds of research, and another mediocre cover band later, we decided to head on our way. The final verdict? This place wasn’t very busy and the band wasn’t the greatest, but it did have the hot waitresses, and that alone can sway any vote. On a Friday night, it would definitely have potential.
Score
Atmosphere: 6.5
Price (cover + drinks): 7
Service: 6.5
Hot waitress bonus: add +1
Culture editor’s level of
intoxication: 3
Overall rating: 7
King’s Head
After our somewhat average experience with Shannon’s, we decided to try our luck over at the King’s Head Pub. As we pulled up, we could see that there were more people on the patio alone than there were in all of Shannon’s. There is usually a membership charge at the King’s Head, but tonight they waived the fee. Yay, more beer for me!
One thing I like about the King’s Head is that there are three different areas for you to choose from. There’s the patio, which is usually the most popular; an upstairs, for those wanting to play pool or listen to the band; and a downstairs for people who just want to chat and relax. We ventured to the upstairs, and ordered another round of beers. No hot girl to wait on us this time, but the bartender made up for that. He was actually Irish, and called the guy who bought us all a round a “fine young bloke.” Now that’s authentic.
Just as you thought the party couldn’t get any more exciting, not one but two UMSU presidents showed up! Kind of makes you wonder about your university when both the newspaper staff and the student union are out getting tanked on a Thursday night, but we’ll forget about that for now. I asked Mr. president (most likely slurring a bit by this point) what he thought of the bar. He replied that it had a great atmosphere and it was probably the second-best pub, next to the Toad. Well, that was it! If the president endorses it, it must be good! We downed the rest of our beers and headed off to check out the Toad.
Score
Atmosphere: 8
Price: 7
Service: 6
UMSU president attendance
bonus: +1
Crazy Irish Bartender bonus:
+1
Culture editor’s level of
intoxication: 6
Overall rating: 8.5 (or according
to my notes, the overall rating
was: YAY!)
Toad
The Toad has an atmosphere similar to that of the King’s Head, with a patio area and an upstairs and a downstairs. The Toad was a lot busier than the King’s Head though, and had a good turnout, even for a Thursday night. From what I remember of the band, they sounded almost identical to the bands we had previously listened to. For all I know, all bar bands are the same band that just instantaneously warp from bar to bar. Or maybe it’s just the liquor talking, I’m not sure.
So I stumbled up the stairs, cursing myself for being such a lightweight drinker, and settled down into the third and final booth of the night. And that’s basically where this story ends. By this time, all that research was starting to take its toll on me, and this is where my notes start to get a little hard to understand. By hard to understand, I mean for some reason I had “tatooooos!” written down a bunch of times, amidst some scribbles and a few indecipherable words. The only thing that I could really make out on my notepad was “Beer, goood!!!” About all I remember is drinking more, and hearing someone ring the “last call” bell, which is basically a polite way of saying, “We’re closed, get the hell out.” And so we left.
Score
Atmosphere: 9
Price: at this stage in the game
they could have told me the
price was $20 a beer and I
wouldn’t have noticed
Service: there was some service,
I think
UMSU endorsement bonus: +1
Culture editor’s level of
intoxication: 8
Overall rating: BEER GOOD!
And thus concludes our intensive Winnipeg pub scene expose. Our final verdict on which pub is the best place to get smashed? Any place with beer! Nope, no need to thank us for this great public service; after all, its just part of our job.
