Open & Closed

ROYAL OAK PARRAMATTA GONE AT 197

Posted on May 22nd, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Parramatta’s iconic Royal Oak Hotel is no more, as demolition begins on one of Sydney’s oldest pubs to make way for the $2.4bn Parramatta light rail. An inn was established at the site, on the corner of Church and Ross

HISTORIC KING’S HEAD WILL NOT REOPEN

Posted on April 29th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
The historic King’s Head Hotel is one of the first pubs to formally pronounce it will not reopen after the mandatory closure period, as the financial burden proves too much. The King’s Head has been trading since 1876, and for

HALLMARK REVIVES THE LEFTY’S LEGEND

Posted on March 4th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Brisbane good-time venue Lefty’s is back, Hallmark Group reviving its systemic Americana and swinging the doors open again last week.   Lefty’s Music Hall is a honkey-tonk style venue with rockabilly flair on Caxton Street, in the heart of the

STOMPING GROUND LAND BREWPUB IN MELBOURNE AIRPORT

Posted on February 7th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Melbourne beer doyens Stomping Ground have this week opened their all-new permanent brewery and beer hall in Terminal 3 of Melbourne Airport. The new site is the first working brewery inside an airport in Australia, and the evolution of the

IVY GROWS AND COOGEE IN THE MIDDLE

Posted on January 22nd, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Merivale has finally unveiled its much-anticipated ‘Middle Level’ of Coogee Pavilion, as well as further iteration of the ever-growing ivy and Hemmes’ proposition to reinvigorate Sydney’s nightlife.  Five years after purchasing the Coogee venue, late 2019 Justin Hemmes’ Merivale design

RETURN TO BIRREGURRA

Posted on January 20th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Just two months after its farewell party and locals fearing the taps may stay dry indefinitely, new operators have proudly swung the doors back open to Birregurra epicentre the Royal Mail Hotel. Birregurra is a farming community of 540 people,

FAREWELL 200-YEAR-OLD ROYAL OAK

Posted on January 17th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
The old girl of Parramatta has lost the battle and will soon be demolished to make way for the light rail. A pub was established on the corner of Parramatta’s Church and Ross Streets in 1813, adjacent to Cobb &

SLY FOX LOSES BID FOR FREEDOM

Posted on January 15th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
One of the great late-night venues of Sydney’s inner west will stop the music for the last time this Saturday as the Sly Fox loses its fight to retain 24-hour trading. As reported in November, since 1999 the Sly Fox

MATILDA BAY LAUNCHES HEALESVILLE PUB AS SEXTON RETURNS

Posted on December 20th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
Australian craft beer royalty Matilda Bay will throw open the doors to its new pub-brewery in the Yarra Valley on Boxing Day, led by the returning founder, Phil Sexton. Sexton began Matilda Bay 35 years ago, partnering with Carlton &

WILLIAM WALLACE BIDS FAREWELL

Posted on December 13th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
After two decades manning the bar and watching Balmain transform, Gary Cowan has sold his famed William Wallace and development plans that will see it transform and literally welcome in locals. Following several years at Rozelle’s Merton Hotel, Cowan bought