Joey's Bar — Restaurant in Northern Ireland

We arrived to the bar approximately 10pm, to be told they were not serving, closing early, in preparation of festival saturday.friday night to be told the bar was closing.  We went to the manor hotel instead and had a great night with live music, and very friendly staff.

On Saturday, we queued to get into the bar. The doorman was monitoring access, and said we could go to the bar, order a drink and if there was a seat in the sitting area we could sit, if not we had to walk back outside with our drinks, as they needed to keep a flow going.  That seemed very fair.  We were fortunate there was sitting space to our very left on entering the bar.

In observation there were 4 bartenders.  Approximately 8 people standing at the bar.  Booths were occupied and there was a room to the right also full of seated customers.  The toilets were closed and the portables were for use outside.  This was a good idea to avoid congestion in the bar.

We sat there for a couple of hours, out of getting a drink when we wanted.  The atmosphere was brilliant. There was no congestion at the bar, and the bar staff - were not under pressure.  Glen Irwin came in and said hello.  He was courteous and respectful to all.

A while later a girl came to our table and told us that we needed to leave.  She said it wasn't fair for us to be holding up the seats. I was astonished and said the doorman said we could sit if we found seats.  She said "well you can't".  I then said, we were told we could, you say we can't, so to clarify, you changed the rules and we didn't actually do anything wrong.  She pulled back her attitude a little, and said "oh no you didnt do anything wrong, but you'll have to go outside".  We stayed finishing our drinks, waiting for the other customers that were there "before" us to leave, and 10/15 mins later she told us to leave. We did.

The reason for the poor rating is as follows

No notice online OR even outside the bar to tell people the bar was closing early. We travelled hundreds of miles to get the bar experience the night before.

The organisation of the bar flow was flawed from the start.  Either SEATING...or NO SEATING.  If you want your flow...then keep a flow.

4 bar staff and not a sweat on any of them.  The doorman was doing his job and only allowing a couple or more in at a time. The bar staff allowed some customers to stay standing at the bar, and this at times caused a little congestion, not much. They could have been busier, could have made more money with a steady one way system flow. In the door, get your drink, out another door.

We did as we were asked, we followed the rules and that girl spoke so rudely to us in front of customers.  If she had any customer focus she would have apologised that the planned criteria had changed or, a misunderstanding had obviously happened there would be no issue.  Her initial accusatory tone spiked the atmosphere - not just with us.  we were later told she was the manager of the bar.

We stayed around to watch the bike display, then we went up the town, got something to eat, and we went back to the manor hotel where we had another wonderful night, with live music, and our punctual cab driver picked us up on time.

I am aware we are only small pickings for Joeys bar, but it's the likes of us that keep his legacy alive and bring custom from all over.  To travel so far to be treated so rudely. Joey never treated anyone like that. Joey and Robert put Ballymoney on the map - but us loyal fans and followers - keep...

As a keen motorcyclist and having followed Joey Dunlop since I saw him at the TT races back at the end of the 70's, there is no way I could go to Northern Ireland on my holidays and not visit Joeys Bar!! (It has the best tasting Guinness we found in Northern Ireland... honest!??!)

If you are a keen motorcycle race fan or just admire bikes this little place, next door to the railway station, is a must for you to go and see! Lots of pictures, facts and figures and one of Joeys bikes for you to drool over!

We met a customer outside who mentioned to us that the bar is run by Joeys wife and daughter... if it was the ladies inside when we went in they were really nice and friendly.

A few hundred yards away there is a memorial garden for both Joey and his brother, Robert, with a list of the races they both won. Joeys list is amazing!

Suggest you visit the memorial first as you may not be capable once you head for that...

Joey's bar is a very special place for me, It brings back a lot of memories of when Joey himself served pints. I feel its the love people had for (King of the road) the love for roadracing and the legacy he left. The staff are extraordinarily Kind and helpful, the atmosphere is ecstatic when events are on, not only is it a joy to visit? You don't have to be into roadracing to enjoy a...