Finnegans Harp, Nuremberg, Germany

With its attention to ornate detail and insistence on quality craftsmanship, the Victorian-style pub, often found in Dublin, harks back to the good old days of comfort, hospitality and enjoyment. The interior was usually lavish, with much use made of bevelled mirrors and stained glass, elaborate tiling and decorative brass.

The bar counter was beautifully crafted in highly-polished hardwood and the walls panelled with rich, dark timbers. The older and more mature a pub like this becomes, the better it is, whether for an intimate chat in a secluded ‘snug’ or for singing and sociable conversation in the drinking emporium.