Despite no NSW teams in this year’s Grand Finals, pubs around the country report a massive footy-soaked October long weekend.
Few embraced the opportunity more than the new owners of the freshly refurbished Cauliflower Hotel, in the heart of southern Sydney.
Open just two months, Pippi and Justin Drew threw a combined Footy Finals and Oktoberfest party across the two days, billing “an uber-abundance of BBQ and bratwurst” for lovers of football, beer and all things German.
“The atmosphere over Grand Final weekend was hugely exciting, with a combination of new and old-school locals coming in to watch the big games,” new mum and co-owner Pippi Drew told PubTIC.
“Getting to know everyone from the neighbourhood has been so important for us, and we’ve been thrilled that people from out of the area are rediscovering an old favourite.
“We just really want this to be a pub for everybody … a proper local where after-game drinks can mingle with families and girls’ nights out.”
Guests enjoyed lamb and pig spit roasts, German pretzels, and lashings of saucy sides, with new general manager Heath Caster, formerly of craft beer haven the Forest Lodge, donning the lederhosen and manning the spit.
Designer Justin Drew went to great lengths to ensure the new look maintains the character of the original pub, and the couple report ‘boundless enthusiasm’ for launching their new business.
Outside-the-box initiatives include ‘Mummy Mondays’, and the upcoming Grape vs Grain wine and beer tasting and degustation, as well as a pre-Melbourne cup “What Not to do at the Races” ladies’ brunch.
