The Fastnet Pub

The pub is authentic and in a great location. The daytime bartender was unfriendly and a bit rude. He tossed the bill back at us when we paid as if annoyed because we didn't open a tab. The bartender was jovial with the locals but a bit of a "douche" to two out-of-town customers. Order beer...basic mixed drinks are simply average. I never comment or leave a negative review but this bartender was blatantly rude.

My family and I visited on busy Thursday evening. However the bartender was not phased and attended to all customers in good timing! I highly recommend the painkiller it was amazing. The wings and onions were also pretty good. This place is about a 6 minute drive from the Cliffwalk.

Went looking for some great fish and chips and the Fastnet Pub delivered. It's delicious great job to the chef. It was my first visit to this location, but I will be back. I noticed plenty of dartboard and a pool table as I wandered around. It was a little early for much of a crowd, but the patrons seemed to be having a good time. Theres also lots of beers on tap.

Lively watering hole in the summer. This is an old New England joint so don’t expect anything fancy, from the food to the service. The owners and servers are friendly though usually hard to flag down. Great beer battered onion rings. Unsure if there is actual table or drink service outside in back as I’ve been told to go back there a number of times and never once saw anyone but locals playing games and smoking cigarettes. Cozy in winter. A place to get drunk, and not too cheaply. Irish bangers and mash were ok, but the mashed potatoes were of questionable origin/ preparation. A cool landmark to visit it Newport, but nothing to cry over if you miss it. Irish music Sunday evenings.

It's one of the top bars in Newport. Super friendly service from the staff. And also always friendly and welcoming are the patrons. I watched soccer games there in the past. This Saturday, I was looking for a place to watch the F1 Qualifying. When I got there the place was packed and golf was on TV. I asked the bartender if it could be switched, and he would check for me. And all the golf fans were happy to watch the Qualifying with me. And not to forget the food, I had honey mustard wings and they were really good. 😋 in the past, I had the Ceasars salad and the burger before. The menu is on line.

Had a great afternoon here on a day trip from QM2. Good selection of reasonably priced food and drink. Great atmosphere with the locals and barman. Highly recommend. We had a great day 🍻

I had a really bad experience here. I was feeling dehydrated and simply asked the bartender for a glass of water—something any decent bar would offer without hesitation. Shockingly, they said it would cost $5. Charging for water, especially when someone clearly needs it, is incredibly disappointing and says a lot about the priorities of this place. I won't be coming back and definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

My experience at the Fastnet Pub was nothing short of amazing! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by a cool, laid-back vibe that instantly made us feel at home. The atmosphere is inviting, and the staff is incredibly friendly. What really sets this place apart, though, is its rich history. The pub is housed in a building that was constructed in 1730 and was once the home of Dr. William Arnold, who happens to be the great-great-grandfather of Benedict Arnold. This historical connection adds a unique layer to the experience, making you feel like you're drinking in the past. We stopped in for a quick local brew before dinner, and the beer selection did not disappoint. They offer a variety of local options that are sure to please any palate. The quality of the brews is top-notch, and they perfectly complement the pub's historic ambiance. In summary, the Fastnet Pub is a must-visit if you're in Newport. Whether you're a history buff, a beer enthusiast, or just someone looking to enjoy a great atmosphere, this place has something for everyone. I can't wait to return and create more memories in this historical gem!

Deliciously made fish and chips! Lightly fried with a light coating and thick cut fries! Sat in the pub for a drink, and it took a bit to get served even though they weren't too busy, but to be expected for a weekday night. They don't have water but they sell water bottles. Certain nights have live music!

Fastnet is a Newport staple. Classic pub ambiance and menu. We usually sit out back on the patio. You order yourself at the bar and bring it back to your table. If you order food, they will deliver it to you out back. Excellent service by the busser and food delivery staff. The food is typical pub fare. Everything is fried deliciousness. At our most recent visit we had a hiccup with the order. They thought we ordered onion rings, a honey Buffalo chicken wrap, and an order of chicken tenders. We actually ordered Buffalo WINGS, a honey Buffalo chicken wrap, and THREE orders of chicken tenders. They were quick to remedy the issue at no charge. Fun facts - they have lots of TVs out back and several dart boards inside!

Nice local spot. Good food, good drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately, this is sometimes ruined by one or a couple of lower than top shelf girls desperate for attention and attuned to getting it as well as causing drama. "That guy at the bar is acting weird", I overheard one say, dragging a group of girls into the bathroom and enlisting one of them to "walk me out", as if she's Taylor Swift with an entourage of bodyguards. First of all, it's a local bar. Guys are going to be there drinking and acting weird. It's what guys do. They don't want to be all buttoned up and conformist when they are out drinking. They want to act a little weird, it's a perk. Most likely the dude had a few and is squinting through the haze to see the tv. The overinflated sense of self importance and creating drama is all the more over the top when the ones who do this also tend to be the "Plain Jane"s. Trust me, noone is going to care if you leave. In fact, good riddance, Plain Jane. Don't let the door bump you in the behind on the way out. Overall though, good spot.

Came in for lunch at the bar, the bartender was holding down the whole dining room. Had fish and chips...everything was great and service was very good and just what I expect from a great neighborhood pub.

One of the best local Irish pubs I've ever been to. The atmosphere and service are always fantastic. They have events on certain days of the week- all are a blast. Love fastnet, it is a must for me!

Come for the drinks, not the food. The bar & atmosphere is unique & cool. A great Guinness pour & plenty of other great beers & cans to choose from. The food is very mediocre. The crowd get pretty young & crazy on summer nights so be prepared. Probably the best spot in Newport to watch a soccer match.

The quintessential New England pub, Fastnet is the perfect spot in Newport for a beer and some great bar fare. We stopped in on a weeknight to find the spot crowded and convivial with throbbing music and dim lighting, making for a fun atmosphere with serious UK vibes. After settling in at the bar with a couple beers, we ordered their curry chips- thick and crispy fries served with a traditional rich curry gravy, making for a perfect happy hour snack. Loud and lively, Fastnet is a Newport classic.

Not my kind of spot but seemingly okay for the youths of Newport! I came in for a quick drink and was greeted by a bustling bar on a trivia night. The staff here was deeply unhappy to be working, which always makes the vibe feel HEAVY. I ordered an Aperol Spritz because I am dumb (who comes to a pub like this and orders a spritz?) and it was unsurprisingly the worst I've ever had. I think I was also charged like...$16 for it. If you're a college student looking for a party vibe, this may be a good spot for you. I didn't try any of the food and appreciate the super convenient location, but this is maybe a good bar to skip if you're on vacay looking for a service-focussed approach.

Pros: great beer garden, good drinks with a good pour Cons: the bartenders are very rude and actually just straight up mean, would not go back due to them

True Irish pub, complete with Tayto and appropriately grumpy bar-man (who did warm up after a while). Great Spot!

Fastnet is supposed to be a sports bar. Went in last Friday to watch the FIFA World Cup, and not a single TV had it on. Not one. Wasn't hard to figure out why. It was because women are playing this year's World Cup. I promptly left Fastnet and went to Tavern across the street. That place was chock full of USWNT fans sporting jerseys, etc., and the business itself seemed to get the memo that A) Women play sports, B) Women play sports very well, and C) We as viewers are entertained and find it worth watching. I won't be back to Fastnet. I'd rather give my business to non-sexist sports bars.

Apparently the whole town agrees from what I hear, this guy, tall, maybe 40ish, blonde/redhead short hair - is the RUDEST bartender Ive ever come across in my 55 years of life. I have been in the serving business in the past, for about 20 years, there is NO reason to be so rude & demeaning. We took our party, AND our $800 we spent, across the street, & will NEVER step foot in there again. And will spread the word - over & over. DO BETTER Fastnet!

Excellent atmosphere for a kid friendly dinner and late night drinks. It shouldn't be missed on your trip to Newport.

Forever a sucker for a great Irish pub & this place covered all the bases. We came here for a few hours before a wedding. worked great for us as we were a group of ~20 so we were able to grab drinks or order food at the bar and then float around the bar area. I ordered the honey mustard chicken wrap which was chefs kiss. Super warm and melty honey mustard. Definitely would return if we are back in Newport!

Such a amazing place. Food is so good, service was nice and I was playing darts and the cook let me borrow his. Ambiance is sick because it feels like your like in Ireland.

my first 5 mins of being there and ordering the bartender was rude & when i asked questions of some drink options he couldn't of acted more annoyed or as if he didn't have time & he did not have answers. I ordered a drink from the menu and he said "no" and shook his head like they didn't have it.. when that bartender stepped away my boyfriend went back and again tried ordering the same drink.i had tried to order & they made it for him... so what was it? reading other comments on here confirms a lot though

my gfs review: i've never yelped before but i figured that i should warn people. this place made us pay $2 for water and automatically added a tip more than 20% to our bill, which feels illegal when there is no warning or signage to indicate it. i also waited multiple times for more than 10 minutes just to order food. do not come here

Came here Thursday night to meet up with friends. For an off-season weekday, this place had a good amount of patrons and by the time we left around 9 PM, it was jam-packed. classic pub feels with lots of charm but unfortunately smelled akin to fertilized dirt. Ordered: Cheeseburger w fries: burger patty was unfortunately burnt, fresh veg Veggie burger w fries: fine, patty help up well and tasted reminiscent of bean burritos from a supermarket (in the best way), fries were average and well fried Water by the bottle for an additional charge. They have pool and darts in the back which was fun to play. May be fun as part of a pub crawl around Newport or after having dinner somewhere else first!

Never been super into the whole pub scene, but the Fastnet may have changed that for me! I've been a few times in the past month, plus I visited here a couple nights ago for their weekly Wednesday Trivia Night, and I have to say that I'm a believer! Not only is the team trivia super fun - and you can have 9 people on your team, which is a total anomaly! - but it's actually kind of challenging, and really requires you to think! No easy questions here - you'll work for your free pitchers of beer, which are the rewards for winning a round, and of course, the grand prize of a $25 gift card to defray the cost of the cheese fries you absolutely HAVE to order to fuel your team during a particularly difficult round of Harry Potter movie trivia! The bar itself is kind of divey, but that's part of the charm. There's plenty of seating and activities if you're not there just to drink. The back deck is the place to be during the warmer months, and I took part in an INTENSE game of ping pong between trivia rounds when I was here. So much fun! They also have darts and foosball as well. I'm not a huge drinker, but this place has enough stuff for you to entertain yourself anyway! Not every pub sells food, but the Fastnet does. It's nothing that's gonna stop the world spinning on its axis, BUT when you're three rounds into a game of darts, nothing says "satisfying" like a plate of Irish Nachos, which is their answer to loaded fries, piled high with cheddar, bacon, scallions, and sour cream, or a classic Euro favorite, the Fish n' Chips. It's mostly fried, and definitely not healthy, but for bar grub, it hits the spot. Make sure you ask for extra "Bam Bam" sauce on the side for the fries (or for anything!) It's like the amazing matrimony of ranch and spicy mayo. Just trust me on that one. Service is speedy and cheerful. Shoutout to Adrianna and Killian for keeping our party happy all evening with quick refills on drinks and awesome customer service. These two seriously rock! I'm not usually a bar-goer, but for the Fastnet, I'm gonna have to make an exception!

Super fun place. It's a pity we came here in November. This pub boasts billiards, darts, outdoor seating and beer pong set up which is really cool. Big Shouts to bartender Ethan who was really awesome. He makes a mean Hot Toddy. More often than I care to disclose, I have to explain how to make it to bartenders. This place is super cool. I'll definitely return ESPECIALLY during the summer season!

Would give zero stars if I could. Who charges $2 for water when you're trying to be responsible while consuming alcohol? Our group was denied tap water when a bourbon, two shots of patron, and a vodka soda were purchased. Terrible customer service and consideration of patrons. Also, place was a filthy, sticky mess.

Customer service is awful. Went here couple nights ago, had a great time outside in the back outside. Went to use the bathroom and for whatever reason the whole floor was covered in bleach. The bottoms of my pants got bleached/ruined and by the time I realized it I had a chemical burn on my leg from the bleach. So we told the guy at the front, who got his manager (Paul?) who walked right past us. When we asked him if his manager was coming he said "I mean he doesn't really care, what do you want us to do?" Unreal. Clean up the bleach off the bathroom floors! So many better spots in Newport. Would never go back or recommend to anyone.

We came in here with a party of 6. Our server rudely and begrudgingly took our order and threw our drinks at us 20 minutes later. 3 out of the 5 cocktails we ordered were made completely wrong. Any time we tried letting our her know that she sprinted away from our table and ignored us until close. While we were leaving the bar manager was hostile and aggressive to me and my party. I would never spend another dime at the Fastnet Pub. Spend your hard earned money at one of the many better bars in the area.

I love this little hole in the wall pub in Newport and usually visit a few times when in tow visiting my sister whom lives down the street. A great place for a "cheap" drink or meal that's off the tourist strip of downtown Newport. Mostly locals and with dart boards and pool tables this place can get packed. The food is decent, I've really only have had appetizers but there are vegetarian options including a veggie burger. Drinks are stiff and can't beat an Irish coffee on a cold New England day. Take a seat when you come in, there aren't a ton of seats but there is plenty of standing room. The service is usually pretty good.

The bartender with shoulder length frizzy hair began our exchange by saying, "give me the money or stop talking." After ordering a relatively straightforward order he said, "you get what you get." When my friend tried to go up and tell him he'd been served the wrong drink, he responded, "I haven't talked to you all night 'get lost.'" We ended up going to the other side of the bar for the remainder of the night, and Paul the other bartender was pleasant, amendable, and professional. Unfortunately, my friend wanted to play darts which required exchanging your ID for the darts. After playing we went to return the darts and they'd "misplaced" his ID. After waiting until the lights turned on they still couldn't find the ID and basically said "tough." We will certainly be forgoing this bar for any other option in Newport.

An awesome and historical pub that goes back to pre-1776! Great layout of the pub and a lot of outdoor patio chilling with a pool table and foosball with tons of seating. A decent selection of local beer and standard beer too.

Been going for 25 years back when they were Aidens. Great food, great beer, great service. Good place to play pool & darts

Asked for water after a night of drinking at this bar and rude bartender wanted to charge $4 for a bottle instead of giving tap water

An absolute blast, affordable beers, live music, a pool table, what more could I possibly need? Even on a Monday there was an eclectic group of people, so if you're here on holiday or business, pop in and you'll be sure to meet someone new.

Fastnet staff kills it. Over 30 beers on tap, great Irish food & atmosphere. Pong tables, darts, pool & life size Jenga for fun bar activities! Brand new floors, bathrooms, tables & chairs, it looks awesome!! "There are no strangers here, only friends that haven't met."

This place is awesome. Came straight here to meet a friend from the airport. Loved the outdoor patio and music playing; bonus points for the ping pong table. Great vibes. I ordered the fish and chips and it did not disappoint! Loved the batter and how thin the fish was. It was so good that I probably could've ordered another one. Still salivating over it while I'm writing this review.

This place was the fuckin rockin' tits. Great atmosphere good demographic (post college - early 30s) Awesome patio outback, especially for the start of/summer time. Was great to be back in the thick of things. We did drugs out there amongst all the commotion. The ping pong table is an awesome feature . Wish more jawns had that.

I would give this no stars if I could. Went here because I live the vibe. When I asked for a water after spending a good amount of money, I was given a warm bottle of water. When I asked for clarification as to why I was charged for water, I was told they don't give out tap water. I asked for ice and was told I should have asked for ice water if I want it cold. The service was rude and argumentative. Do not go here. Terrible customer service and you will pay for water.

Do not open a tab at this establishment. On multiple occasions the bartenders give you your credit card back and inform you to exit after your night of drinking. Then they add items to your final bill and per management are allowed to add a 20% gratuity to the credit card ..... because guess what.... You didn't close out your tab! How disgusting and insane. Talk about taking advantage of patrons. How low is that. It is a bar, after taking last call the bartender should say here is your tab. No, they don't, they take full advantage of your intoxication, hand you your credit/debit and do what they please. Support other local bars that actually care for their patrons and have more dignity than greed. Hopefully this establishment reports this " automatic gratuity" as a service charge vs a tip for tax reporting because the IRS has just been informed of this wonderful scam.

i bought 4 drinks and they wouldn't give us a glass of water for FREE???? that's messed up...only will give you water for 2$ how cheap. very wrong for a bar who may be over serving alcohol .

it was fast service but we bought four drinks and they wouldn't even give us a free tap water

Had bangers and mash, have to laugh, the worst food you ever see. At least put some effort in. Mash potatoes not long enough in the MICROWAVE, the cremated sausages too long in the MICROWAVE. Absolute shocker!

Legit like the only place to go in Newport. This place is really hit or miss. Feels like generations have been going here. If you're a local you can come here and happen to run into someone from high school that you haven't seen in six years. The bathrooms are pretty dirty. The drinks are average pricing. There's a dart board section, which I like to play. There's an entire outdoor area with ping pong and pool. It's really only fun in certain times of the year. But any night of the week, you can find a crowd here!

We held a dinner at Fastnet Pub for a large group on a Wednesday evening. The owner was friendly and accommodating ensuring we had everything we needed. It ended up being a busier night than planned so the service was slow but the staff did the best they could with a full house inside and outside. Solid pub food with awesome wings and drinks. Highly Recommend.

Went with a group of 9 - at first thought it was a great place until one drink wasn't good but instead of replacing it, charged for another one. Then, we could not get a glass of water unless we paid $2 for a bottle. We had 2 rounds of drinks but could not get a glass of water?!

You must try this place! It's like a hidden gem of Newport! I loved how you're not completely outside and not inside! The curry sauce you dip your chicken and fries in.. OH MY WORD!!! I want to come back now!!! Loved this place! You won't be let down!

Need to hire another bartender for upstairs on busy nights. One person to run all the tables and the bar is ridiculous. Huge loss of money as after waiting 20 minutes for a drink, most everyone at the bar left.

I've been to Irish pubs the world over and many feel like they are trying too hard. Fastnet is a neighborhood pub that happens to be Irish but is so much more. Great service, great food, good prices, wonderful service, good selection of beers and booze, a perfectly poured Guinness and very friendly folks. Will be back for sure. Gotta go on a Sun night for great tunes.

Strongly recommend avoiding this place as I've never been treated so poorly by bar staff, first off there is no free tap water at this bar, they make you buy a $2 bottle of water. The bar staff was incredibly rude, I bought a couple drinks and the bartender took my card and gave it back with no receipt so I asked him if I had to sign something and he extremely aggressively told me it was a $20 minimum for a card and they started a tab for me (without telling me or asking permission) because I was nowhere near that. Maybe don't attack someone who's trying to make sure they tip you or let them know you're starting a tab. He continued this obnoxious behavior the entire time we were there and was disrespectful to my wife and friends as well. Disappointing because this was a cool venue with an outdoor patio, a ping pong table, and darts. But based on the incredibly poor service I will never go back and am upset I spent a dime their. Their men's room is also one of the worst I've been in, zero privacy in there with a toilet, two urinals and no dividers in an extremely small room. Don't make the same mistake I did, avoid this place!

fraudulent charges on my card 4 beers ??? $37+$16?? disputing charges with credit card company.. they added thier own tip so I'll be disputing $21 dollars and not leaving a tip.. the bartenders are rude and likely did this to others attempting to steal money from people who do not check thier cards.

You have to pay cash for anything under $20, and they don't give you cups of water for free... as a bar. Are you kidding me.

Discounting drinks during happy hour is a no no in RI, but we did not let this deter us from quenching our thirst at Fastnet Pub, named after an islet off the coast of Kinsale in Ireland, Newport's sister city. The was a selection of beers on draft was somewhat limited so I ended up with a pair of Newport Storm blueberry ales that were quite enjoyable. The Mrs. chose an equal number of Robert Mondavi Private Reserve, la de dah, merlots. Both of our servers took good care of us while being very friendly. Given its modest interior, I did find prices rather high even for Newport.

Went here via a friend's recommendation and it did not disappoint. We sat in the beer garden which is well set up for new-age dining requirements. This is a true Irish Pub with friendly staff and great food and drink. Just a couple of steps off the beaten Newport path and well worth it. Not gonna lie, I had one of the best pints of Guinness outside of IRE here. Definitely check this place out if you are in or around Newport!

I have been coming here to grab drinks since I have arrived in Newport a few months ago. I finally ate dinner here with the wife on a Friday night. Overall, it was a positive experience and I would recommend this place. I will warn you, the place is an Irish style pub and it is usually rather loud in here. So if you are hoping for a nice dinner conversation, expect to be competing with the noise from all the other patrons, several probably that have been drinking pints for a few hours. However, the lively atmosphere is fun and if you are just looking for drinks and dinner this is great. I ordered the fish and chips, wife ordered a bacon cheeseburger, and we split an order of potato skins. The potato skins were great. Five came with an order, each was a decent half of a potato, hollowed out with cheese and bacon. The potato was super soft, almost like a twice baked potato consistency. It came with sour cream and was great, only problem was that it was super filling. Two people splitting this appetizer could have been a light dinner. This is not a bad thing at all. The fish and chips were better than the ones we had earlier than the Tavern on Broadway (avoid this place for dinner). The fish was cooked perfectly, the breading was nice and crispy on the outside, the fish was super tender and juicy on the inside. The home cut fires were really good, only complaint on the dish was that the coleslaw could have been better, but overall, a good fish and chips. The only fish and chips I have had that has been better has been at Anthony's (local seafood joint). The wife's burger (I stole a bite) was better than the ones we had at Mission. They cooked it medium for her, which is nice. They have a lot of choices of beers, ciders, and have a decent rail of liquors. I'll be back again.