Auld Dubliner Verified listing

The Auld Dub is approaching 20 years serving the Long Beach community—and for those that don’t know its owner David Copley—along with his longtime creative partner, former Dub overseer, and now owner of The Ordinarie, Christy Caldwell—there is a particular brand of “This Is Special” that applies to The Auld Dub.

Forget the fact that the space was designed in Ireland proper and flown over in pieces to be assembled on sight, attempting to mimic an Irish pub as traditionally as possible.

Forget the fact that Copley takes an annual crew of worthy and loyal patrons to the Motherland itself, showcasing not just where their experience comes from but to update the menu and vibe at The Dub in order to keep in pace with Ireland proper.

It is an letter of love to Long Beach from Ireland—a point I hope no one easily dismisses.

“I was extraordinarily fortunate—and I want to emphasize that: extraordinarily fortunate,” Copley told me earlier this year, “I had walked into [immigration and naturalization services office] with nothing: no notes, no lawyer—and in all honesty, I was somewhat jovial about the whole thing. What changed was when I was in that waiting room, looking at hundreds of people. I don’t say this lightly and I really don’t read too much into situations but I say this with all earnestness: I think it was a matter of life and death for many people in that room. If they were sent back home, they’d likely die.”

This particular story essentially anchors what The Dub represents—that immigration, none the matter from where, is an important part of American culture—and that the celebration of cultures worldwide can only be achieved if those celebrations come from the people who directly represent those cultures.

Even better? It’s just a great food—and don’t skip the oysters, fresh and fried. (Yes, get the fried.)

Photos by Brian Addison