The South County, Douglas

The Douglas pub food scene is one of the most competitive in Cork, and we are kicking off our series of reviews with The South County, a true Cork institution that sits in the heart of Douglas village, just across the road from Johno's Bar and the Douglas Village Shopping Centre.

A New Era For A Family Business

The South County has been a family business for over 100 years, passed down from parents to children over multiple generations. It has recently been sold in a deal reported to be worth over €1.5 million, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for one of Douglas’s most recognisable venues.

A pub with that kind of history holds a real place in the community, and there will be plenty of locals watching with interest to see how the new ownership shapes the venue going forward.

The Food

We have been in The South County for dinner a number of times, and the food menu is comprehensive with plenty of pub classics to choose from. We thought the food was generally good, though in our opinion it is not yet among the very best pub food in Douglas, which is a high bar given how strong the local competition is.

We tried the chicken wings and tenders on a couple of visits and found the experience solid but unremarkable, and I did get a bit of heartburn after the chicken on one occasion. The beef burger was a noticeable step up and was the standout dish we tried, with a better flavour and texture overall.

The breakfast menu does look reasonably priced for the area. A full Irish comes in at €14.95, and there is a bigger breakfast called The County which will set you back €17.95. We have not tried the breakfasts yet but they are on the list for a future visit.

Atmosphere

This is where The South County really comes into its own. The atmosphere is genuinely good, and they often have very good live music which brings a real buzz to the place. It is the kind of pub where you can settle in for the evening and the time flies.

One small thing worth flagging: on a recent visit, most of the room was watching the football on the TVs, and when the Gaelic football came on, it appeared on every screen even though nobody seemed to be watching it. A small detail, but one that could be managed better depending on what the room is into on the night.

Staff And Service

The staff were good throughout our visits, friendly and attentive, and the overall experience is always pleasant. Service is a strength here and something the new owners will hopefully look to build on.

Scorecard

• Facility: 7.5
• Atmosphere: 7.5
• Staff: 7.0
• Food Quality: 5.5
• Value: 6.5
• Overall: 6.5/10

The Verdict

The South County is a Cork institution with a fantastic atmosphere, good staff, and live music that brings the place to life. The food is solid pub fare but there is room for it to climb up the Douglas rankings, and the new ownership represents a real opportunity to push the offering forward.

We look forward to returning over the coming months to see how the new chapter develops, and this kicks off our Douglas pub food review series, with plenty more local venues to come.