Good thread subject, skarpi. I don't buy into mandotim's quip though. I always make the distinction between theme bars which are little more than movie sets. You know the places, they are filled with all kinds of props and pictures, and look nice. They usually have a really nice menu, sell Guinness, Smithwicks, etc. But they are nothing more than theme bars. I make a lot of money in these places, but the lack the feel.

Let me give you a contrast, and actual example. In my hometown there is a pub named Quinn & Tuite's. This is a gathering place for the Irish community. The week before St Pat's, March 8, on a Saturday afternoon, had you walked in, you would have found families, kids playing with the pool tables and running around, the adults were at the tables and in the snugs solving the problems of the world (did you notice a difference?), down in the lower area there were musicians playing music. After a bit, Chris Gibbons sits down with his 4 kids, and plays jigs, reels, hornpipes, sings songs. Each kid plays an instrument, with Daddy Chris playing banjo. The littlest is 6 year old Patrick who wears a flop newsboy hat and plays bodhran. The lad is all hat and drum

In short, you can have an Irish themed bar and probably do fine. But if you want it to be what it should be, you need the music, a decent jar, and it should be a place where families might gather and getting drunk is not the first priority. No one should ever feel out of place, or alone, in a decent pub.

Might be vague, but it's the best I can do.

Mick