The

Guinness® Collectors Club

Michael Good reports from........Lebanon!

I have been an active collector for around 12 years. Being Irish I
have had an interest in the national drink since a very early age. My
collection is at my home in UK but I spend 60/70% of my time in Beirut. I
beleive my wife holds the record for paying the highest price ever for
Guinness Flying Toucans at Christies!!

My wife, Jacky, actually started me on this and she and our daughter, Miranda, still do most of the buying for me. I am the happy recipient of their purchasing.

Guinness is not a popular drink with the local population but
did enjoy a reasonable level of support among the small expat community.
However it is no longer imported here presumably due to lack of sales.
Murphy's on the other hand is still available there.

The nightlife in Beirut is absolutely fantastic. Goes on till dawn
seven nights a week! Local pub is The Hole in the Wall, Rue Monot, which
used to sell Guinness but now only does Murphy's, is the main hangout for
the expats.

Given the above have not seen any lately but with St.Patrick's Day on the horizon why not run one.We will be organising some festivity.

Lot of very good items. Will give more info later plus pics.

Guinness has not been available for several years. However your correspondent has recently been frequenting a newish Irish pub, Paddy's, in Beirut Central District, the rebuilt heart of the City.

Abed, the owner of Paddy's, and I had been lamenting the absence of our favourite drink. We vowed to get a supply for St.Patrick's Day one way or another. For my part I promised to bring one case on each of my trips to the UK over the coming months and had already got two dozen cans laid in - not that such a meagre supply would go far - but we might accumulate 10 dozen cans before 17th. March.

So, seizing the initiative Abed, and his excellent bartender, Paddy, flew to Cyprus on 14th. January, and met the Guinness people in Nicosia. They placed an order for sufficient cans to keep us going for the next six months! These are due to arrive by the end of January. They also brought 4 dozen cans of draught back with them for immediate consumption!

On Thursday we combined our respective supplies and consumed a fair few of them, there and then, accompianied by plates of Irish oysters which are flown in three times a week.

We are noe preparing to practise hard for Paddy's Day when a special lunch of Irish Oysters, boiled bacon and cabbage or Irish Stew will be laid on under the patronship of The Guinness Collectors Club who are donating the, very hard to get, boiling bacon.

All this will ,of course, be washed down with copious quantities of "The Black Stuff".

Kindest regards,

Mike

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How long have you been collecting Michael?	I have been an active collector for around 12 years. Being Irish I have had an interest in the national drink since a very early age. My collection is at my home in UK but I spend 60/70% of my time in Beirut. I beleive my wife holds the record for paying the highest price ever for Guinness Flying Toucans at Christies!!
What made you start collecting Guinness memorabilia?	My wife, Jacky, actually started me on this and she and our daughter, Miranda, still do most of the buying for me. I am the happy recipient of their purchasing.
What is the popularity of Guinness where you live?	Guinness is not a popular drink with the local population but did enjoy a reasonable level of support among the small expat community. However it is no longer imported here presumably due to lack of sales. Murphy's on the other hand is still available there.
Do you have contact with other collectors of Guinntiques?	No.
Describe your local pub details and nightlife.	The nightlife in Beirut is absolutely fantastic. Goes on till dawn seven nights a week! Local pub is The Hole in the Wall, Rue Monot, which used to sell Guinness but now only does Murphy's, is the main hangout for the expats.
Are Guinness promotions run in these establishments?	Given the above have not seen any lately but with St.Patrick's Day on the horizon why not run one.We will be organising some festivity.
Please describe your own collection.	Lot of very good items. Will give more info later plus pics.
Thursday, January 16, 2003 Mike added this correspondence.....:	Guinness has not been available for several years. However your correspondent has recently been frequenting a newish Irish pub, Paddy's, in Beirut Central District, the rebuilt heart of the City. Abed, the owner of Paddy's, and I had been lamenting the absence of our favourite drink. We vowed to get a supply for St.Patrick's Day one way or another. For my part I promised to bring one case on each of my trips to the UK over the coming months and had already got two dozen cans laid in - not that such a meagre supply would go far - but we might accumulate 10 dozen cans before 17th. March. So, seizing the initiative Abed, and his excellent bartender, Paddy, flew to Cyprus on 14th. January, and met the Guinness people in Nicosia. They placed an order for sufficient cans to keep us going for the next six months! These are due to arrive by the end of January. They also brought 4 dozen cans of draught back with them for immediate consumption! On Thursday we combined our respective supplies and consumed a fair few of them, there and then, accompianied by plates of Irish oysters which are flown in three times a week. We are noe preparing to practise hard for Paddy's Day when a special lunch of Irish Oysters, boiled bacon and cabbage or Irish Stew will be laid on under the patronship of The Guinness Collectors Club who are donating the, very hard to get, boiling bacon. All this will ,of course, be washed down with copious quantities of "The Black Stuff". Kindest regards, Mike
Have one or two for us Michael !