A brand-new pub has arrived in Queensland’s Whitsundays, offering something old-school different to stand out from the pack.
Hospitality veterans Roger Hunter (previously at Paddy’s Shenanigans), Ivan Lonsdale (Magnums) and Matt Bayford saw a gap in the market and leapt to fill it.
The trio realised that there wasn’t a option in the area for locals, British tourists and ex-pats to enjoy a British meal, let alone a typical UK pub … so they created their own.
The Pitch and Wicket, in Airlie Beach, aims to be a laid-back British pub, offering the space to chat and watch a multitude of sports.
It will offer all day dining, every day, with British classics such as a roast dinner with all the trimmings, including Yorkshire pudding.
And there won’t be a schooner glass in sight.
Unfiltered ales from Mackay’s Goanna Brewery will be served in pints, along with Aussie lager Travla; The Pitch and Wicket will be its first distributor in North Queensland.
Multiple screens will show all kinds of sports – from Formula One to premier league football, and, of course, cricket.
In fact, having the option to watch big games on the big screen was the reason the men applied for a commercial hotel licence in the first place.
While they all love music, the group decided to keep a homely, family vibe where punters didn’t need to yell to be heard.
“When it’s the middle of wet season and it’s chucking it down, you can sit in front of a big screen, watch a team play, get a roast meal with Yorkshire pudding, without a band playing in the background,” Lonsdale said.
