In a city awash with chain bars, soullessly hard seats, pounding throbbing and incessant dance and pop music the Drum and Monkey stands proudly as a beacon of what once was. Inside, a newly arrived customer will find a cosy pub currently in the middle of some re-decoration. There are plenty of seats and the landlord, Mr Nial O'Connor, is a well respected community leader with an engaging sense of humour. Always welcome to newcomers, the drum and monkey attracts a diverse mixture of locals, irish young and old and has patio seating outside and round the back for when the better weather comes.

Paddyman's verdict? A great watering hole if you're about archway. Definitely worth a look if you're searching for a decent irish pub in the north of the city, as I am often known to do.