In Canada we DO truly have a few pubs like that, but in a lot of North America (maybe even more pronounced in the US - not sure) most pubs are just 'toned down bars' In Vancouver we really did have some great Irish pubs, but even at that, when my friends from Scotland came to visit they said that although the look was obv trying to be replicated that they were very unlike any UK pubs.
/me wants to go to the UK!