The Lagan — Restaurant in Northern Ireland

TL;DR: mouldy food and outrageously snarky staff members.

Despite having a bar, they will refuse to serve you if you approach the bar: you have to stand in a queue, unlike any bar I've ever been in. I'm grateful a fellow-customer came up and told me this, as none of the staff deigned to alert me despite having caught my eye.

When I politely mentioned to a member of bar staff (after joining the queue and waiting) that they should consider putting a sign up about the queue, so people like me don't inadvertently seem to be skipping the queue which could potentially create conflict, I got an immensely snarky response from the staff member. She explicitly told me I was the only person ever to have made the mistake - which I know to be untrue, because the fellow-customer who let me know about the system made it clear he'd been caught out before! All this for a very minor suggestion: I certainly did not say that it was outrageous for them to enforce queuing at a bar, no matter that it is outrageous, completely contrary to the culture of pubs.

When the food order eventually arrived, my wife turned over her burger to find that the bottom bun was absolutely covered in mould. If this was inadvertent, it shows a horrifically poor concern for food hygiene: it was not just a small amount of mould, I don't want to think about how long it had been sitting.

But I can't shake the suspicion that it was deliberate, because the top bun was free of mould, which wouldn't have happened naturally if they'd been stored together. My wife would not have noticed the mould if she'd not happened to turn the burger upside down. Without being certain, it looked like they had grabbed a mouldy bottom bun from the bin and paired it with a fresh top bun to disguise it; the equivalent of spitting in our soup, because I had raised a suggestion about the queuing system.

I didn't want a fight so I just went up, showed the mould, and asked for a new burger, which was not quick in coming. At one point, a staff member came down seemingly under the impression that our problem was that my wife wanted a gluten-free bun, and not that she simply wanted a bun with no mould on it. But my wife did eventually get a mould-free burger, which was fine.

Airport bars are nobody's first choice, and I wouldn't normally write a negative review because I had a bad experience in one, but this...

This is an airport pub, so one can’t expect the world. For the type it’s pretty good; it isn’t crowded today so there’s plenty of seating, and it’s quiet enough for a relaxing pint before my flight.

The drinks selection is decent, considering it’s an airport pub (I’m drinking a “cute hoor” Irish pale ale), but there isn’t a vast selection on tap. Nonetheless what is there is very pleasant and drinkable. It’s let down by the price (£6.19), but again, this is an airport so it’s to be expected when they have captive consumers. I can’t comment on the food, as I haven’t ordered any.

The staff are really nice, as is usual for Northern Ireland, but the décor is nothing special: red brick facade, cheap furniture and quite a few bench-tables. The music is a bit annoying and there are little children’s machines nearby which make repetitive noises which would probably drive me insane if I couldn’t put my earphones in to...

"Exceptional ambiance, top-notch service, and an impressive selection of drinks make this bar a standout gem. From expertly crafted cocktails to a diverse beer selection, every sip is a delight. The friendly staff ( Jayne ) adds to the inviting atmosphere, creating a perfect setting for a night out with friends or a date. This bar sets the standard for a memorable and enjoyable experience. Cheers to a fantastic spot that delivers on all fronts. "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Jayne for elevating our experience at the bar and making it the highlight of our time in Ireland. Jayne's exceptional service, attention to detail, and friendly demeanor truly enhanced our evening. It's evident that Jayne takes pride in ensuring guests have a memorable and enjoyable time. Thank you for contributing to our wonderful memories of Ireland, and for setting a standard of excellence in...