Reviews

Sydney Road Review



Finally, it's here! Mark my words, Sydney Road is the new Brunswick Street. I've been saying this for the past few years and finally it is starting to take shape. It's true, when you've next got a quiet night, jump a tram, train or taxi and make your way down to Sydney Road. Start at Brunswick Road (not Brunswick Street) and make your way north. Here's how:




Nom de bar: Bridie O'Reilly's Brunswick
Location: 29 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Contact: (03) 9387 2600
Business Hours: Monday - Thursday 11.30am – 1am
Friday – Saturday 11.30am – 3am
Sunday 12 midday - 12 midnight
Accessibility Details: Neat casual
Web page: www.bridieoreillys.com.au
Overall Rating: 4 out of 10 pints

Details:
This was the beginning of the Sydney Road advance. Built in 1854, the pub on the corner was known as the Sarah Sands. Those of you who know the former Sarah Sands would know of its notorious early days. And before it closed its doors for the last time, it was a rough and ready live music venue. As I remember, for a while, it was even a Country and Western style hotel aimed at families.

Fortunately these days, the hotel has been renovated and looks the part as your typical Irish theme pub. Plenty of polished wood and bannisters, large open areas and a stage for Irish and cover bands.

They also have a number of large bars that are reasonably well serviced. Generally good meals and a bit of a party atmosphere on Friday and Saturday night. I find Bridie's a little over priced and have been asked to leave because I didnt have a collar on my shirt (though I was wearing a double breasted suit jacket!)

There is a little parking nearby (in Black Street) but you wouldn't be drinking and driving anyway, so you'd be getting off the train at Jewel. Has a small beer garden.

If Irish theme pubs are your thing, then this would be a good start.




Nom de bar: The Spot Bar and Bandroom
Location: 133 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Contact: (03) 9388 0444
Business Hours: Monday - Thursday 11.30am – 1am
Accessibility Details: Neat casual
Web page: www..com.au
Overall Rating: 8 out of 10 pints

Details:
Now this is what should change your mind about Sydney Road.This is my current favourite in Sydney Road. Only new but refreshingly different. This new venue occupies the site formerly known as The Paris.

Features "Lentil as Anything" vegetarian restaurant which is run separately from The Spot (ph. 9388 0222). Select anything from the menu but don't ask how much it costs. There are no set prices! Just pay what you feel the meal is worth. I have to say, I ordered Okonomiyaki and the Roti and dips. Not only were they very tasty, they were excellent value for money!

On to more important things.

Brunswick Hotel Built in 1852 According to the History of Moreland Fact Sheet 2, a Catholic school began in a back room in the Brunswick Hotel in 1860! Pool table

Cornish Arms Live music venue with huge stage, huge bar and a big open room

Brunswick Green Can be a little hard to find as it is only a shop front which a first looks a little like a restaurant. Inside you'll find a smallish front bar, but once you wander out back, you'll find a surprisingly large beer garden. A fabulous place to kick back on a sunny Sunday afternoon, drink beer and listen to some live music.

There is also a very limited food menu, however I found the food to be excellent. A little different but very tasty and good value.



Retreat Hotel

The Retreat was refurbished a little while ago - as genuinely retro. Here you can sit at the front of the hotel and watch life pass by while listening to Ed Keupper tunes and sipping beers. Or, head to the main bar, past the pool table, to where the band stage is and order a fabulously priced meal from the kitchen.

Kitchen service is quick and prices excellent. During the day you can relax an any of the tables in the main room, which are later cleared when the bands come on. To the left side of the stage is your access to the large beer garden. There is a nice grassy area where you can relax in the sun on mats or under shelter at the large wooden tables and bench seats.

If you've got a group, you can ask that one of the under cover tabels be reserved. From time to time you'll also get live entertainment in the beer garden as well.



Edinburgh Castle
Built in 1854


Libation


Cornish Arms
163A Sydney Rd Brunswick
Just before the Brunswick Town Hall
Melway 29/G9
Phone: 03 9380 8322
www.cornisharms.com.au
Monday-Tuesday 2pm-1am
Wednesday-Saturday 12 noon-1am
Sunday 2pm -11pm


22/07/05


The Cornish Arms is primarily a live music hotel. Generally free, local acts, a big bar and a huge open room with plenty of seating make this a great local.

As you walk in the door, you'll notice the huge L shaped bar and just beyond it, the large entertainment \ stage area. Go check out their gig guide http://www.cornisharms.com.au/gigguide.html for some good free or cheap entertainment. From the Pearly Shells Swing Orchestra (free) to Nick Barker ($10), Andy Cowan ($10) or Chris Wilson (Free), you are sure to find a musical genre to suit your current mood.

The kitchen is open 6pm to 9pm and lunches on Fridays. Typical pub fare and well priced, with the Porterhouse steak or Peppered roo fillet with a red wine jus being the most expensive item on the menu at $17. On Monday nights, it's steak night, so you'll only pay $10! That's good value.

There's plenty of room and it's easy enough to find, so it'll be a great place to meet friends or kick back in the beer garden on a sunny Sunday afternoon. There's plenty of selection behind the bar and a function room upstairs for around 100.



The Big House Bar / Cafe
420 Sydney Rd Brunswick
Ph: 03 8309 9923
Open for lunch 7 days


The old Brunswick Post Office got a new lease of life as the Big House Bar \ Cafe.
More of a cafe than a bar, they do have a nice sized bar and live music.

You can make use of their function room or simply enjoy their sizable outdoor section.

Brunswick Club
203 Sydney Road
BRUNSWICK
9380-5144


A pokies venue in a prominent location on Sydney Road.

Northern Jackpot Pokies
67 Sydney Road
BRUNSWICK
9387-2387


A prominent pokies venue.


Ace Morning
791 Sydney Road
Brunswick

Late Night Bar

Bridie O'Riellys


I did get asked to leave one evening because my shirt didnt have a collar on it. I was wearing a suit at the time, but the bouncer decided it wasn't appropriate attire for a venue such as this.

Court House Hotel
615 Sydney Road
Brunswick


Aptly named, the Court House is across the road from the new Brunswick Police station. Probably quite handy really.

Crystal T's
676 Sydney Road
Brunswick

Adult venue


Cumberland Arms Hotel
341 Sydney Road
Brunswick
(03) 9380-1815


Beach Niteclub
303 Sydney Road
Brunswick
(03) 9388-1777


Adult venue?

Brunswick Hotel
140 Sydney Road
Brunswick


I like the Brunswick Hotel. Situated on the corner of


Drums Hotel
613 Sydney Road
Coburg
Cnr OHey and Sydney Road near the old Pentridge Prison
(03) 9354-1729


Drums hotel is past Bell Street.


Edinburgh Castle Hotel
681 Sydney Road
Brunswick
(03) 9386-7580


This is a hotel where the locals go. Large bar with good service and cheap drinks. Live bands from time to time and in a separate section there's karaoke competition nights. A jukebox with some average tunes and a pool table will keep you mildly entertained if you're stuck in the area. We had to leave one Sunday night at around 9pm because they were closing up for the day.


First & Last Hotel
1141 Sydney Road
Cnr of Boundary Road
Coburg North
Phone: (03) 9354-1791

Pokies venue

Post Office Hotel
231 Sydney Road
Coburg


Phone: (03) 9384-1173

Live entertainment on a weekly basis, this is a small pub with a little bottle shop associated wiht it. If you're thirsty you could buy a beer here.

Summer World Hotel
502 Sydney Road
Coburg
Phone: (03) 9354-1177


Pokies Venue

Woodlands Hotel & Bistro
96 Sydney Road
Cnr of Moreland Road
Coburg
Phone: (03) 9384-1122

Beer garden is reasonable. Bottle shop. You could have a couple of beers here and a game of pool if you were in need of entertainment.