Window, Fealty's

Image: © Rossographer Taken: 23 Aug 2008

Window on the side of Fealty’s Bar (The Ormeau Arms - see Image), on the corner of High Street and Albert Street. This image has acquired a bit a cult status, now even appearing on local postcards. Guinness, with all their fancy multi-million pound advertising and “Quality Team”, have tried to standardise every pub poured pint. The official way to pull a perfect pint is “……best served at 6°C (that’s 42.8°F), with the legendary two-part pour. First, tilt the glass to 45 degrees and carefully pour until three quarters full. Then place the glass on the bar counter and leave to settle. Once the surge has settled, fill the glass to the brim. It takes about 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint. But don’t fret. It’s worth the wait.” Sadly, the quality still varies enormously from pub to pub and “how’s the Guinness here?” remains a popular question in many establishments. Not so in Fealty’s……. Here the black stuff is a bit special. I don’t know how they do it, but every pint pulled here is pure perfection and like nothing else around. 119.5 seconds? Pah! Expect anything from 5-10 minutes regardless of how busy the bar is. The “legendary two-part pour” seems to have been elongated into three or four. And never a frothy yellow head - here you get pure cream which will still be there when you drain the last drop. Pure bliss. The smoking ban has hit them hard. I hope it keeps going but nowadays is usually quiet on a weekday evening and only comes alive at the weekend. It remains the only pub in Bangor with a regular traditional session in the back room, every Friday and Saturday night, with everyone welcomed and encouraged to join in. The front bar, small and cosy, is always lively and strangers are treated like old friends. Try it at least once – if only for the Guinness.....

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