The Baltinglass is pure class serving up affordable €5 pints by a very friendly barman

​Despite its location not far from our HQ, it’s more than 12 years since Pub Spy and the team of Commandos visited Baltinglass in Co Wicklow.

The Old Commando always enjoyed his trips to this football mad town in the past and he was really looking forward to his first visit in more than a decade.

“They’re very passionate GAA supporters here in Baltinglass and Wicklow in general, you’d wonder how they never get a breakthrough at county level. It wouldn’t be for the lack of enthusiasm anyway,” he told us, as our designated driver parked the pub-mobile on the Main Street.

While checking back through our notes, we realised we had paid a very brief visit to The Baltinglass Inn in April 2012 – so, this time we planned a prolonged stay and plenty of Guinness to get a real taste of what the place has to offer.

The price list at the front door is extensive and very neatly typed out which makes it very legible, and we just hoped having gone to all that trouble they were updating accordingly — something most pubs are failing to do.

A young barman with glasses served us immediately and the creamy pints of Guinness cost us €5 — exactly as advertised at the front door.

“Relatively cheap by today’s crazy standards,” the Young Commando said.

The young barman was full of chat throughout our stay and as we watched the live sport he engaged with our Commandos on all things sport.

Pints of Rockshore lager and cider, Guinness Zero and Coors are all available on draught and the shelves were also well stocked. Having trawled through his old diaries back in HQ, the Old Commando was able to tell us that he had paid €3.80 in April 2012 for the pints of Guinness he drank in Baltinglass — a 26.5 per cent rise in 12 years.

The red leather barstools at the counter were in decent shape but some of the green coloured stools were torn in parts.

There is a jukebox in the corner of the bar and while there were songs playing consistently throughout our stay, it was at a “perfectly acceptable level” according to the Old Commando.

“As long as you can still hear yourself talking then the decibel levels are fine,” he joked.

A second section contained additional seating, a TV and a pool table, and this was where the younger crowd was sitting during our stay. The front bar had a mixed clientele of all ages and as we sat in ‘Des’s corner’ we got a good overview of the whole pub.

There are two TVs in the front bar, although one was switched off, and we noticed they had music advertised every weekend for the full of month of June.

There are multiple GAA photos throughout, as well as numerous horse racing related photos.

A framed and signed picture of local man Peadar Timmins in action for Leinster rugby hangs proudly near the counter and the Old Commando had to inspect it two or three times for a proper look.

“I could have sworn that was O’Driscoll, good job I checked,” he joked.

The Young Commando gave the toilets a quick once over before we left and he informed us that they were clean with a stainless steel urinal, one cubicle, two sinks and a powerful hand dryer.

We really enjoyed our first visit to Baltinglass in 12 years and we vowed not to leave it another 12 before returning.

Rating: Three pints out of Five

One for the road:

Lizzie Keogh’s – Baltinglass

WE think this was our first ever visit to Keogh’s pub in Baltinglass and we received a nice welcome from the blonde barmaid on duty.

The brown leather barstools were in good condition and there was an all male clientele in the front bar and outdoor section.

The colourful stained-glass windows at the front are a nice feature and the stone interior walls are also quite eye catching.

We noticed a large menu for food at the side of the bar and while they have all the old favourites on tap, they aslo have pints of Corona available on draught.

The Young Commando soon discovered there is a mobile chipper van established in the back yard and we can only imagine how convenient it must be when you’re peckish after a few pints.It must do a good trade at the weekends!

As we passed through another section of the pub we noticed a dart boar, while the toilets were spotlessly clean.

There are two urinals and one cubicle but we did note the cubicle light bulb needs to be replaced.

Rating: Three pints out of Five