The South Strand - JD Wetherspoon

You know what you're getting when you walk into a Spoons, but this Docklands outpost does it particularly well. The building itself is proper impressive - all glass and modern lines overlooking the Grand Canal Dock, which makes it feel less like your typical chain pub and more like you're having a decent pint somewhere that actually matters. The breakfast menu runs until noon and it's genuinely solid - proper rashers, black pudding, and eggs that aren't swimming in grease. Later in the day, you'll find the usual suspects nursing pints and working through the surprisingly decent curry selection. The staff move with purpose, the Guinness is consistently well-pulled, and when you're meeting mates before heading into town, the location couldn't be handier. It's chain pub dining done right, without any pretensions about being anything else.