booze
Seemed like all
Seemed like all the Inner West of Sydney was on the drink yesterday, after local boy Anthony “Albo” Albanese was elected as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister. What better way to celebrate than get on a session of ‘The Albo’, with a picture on the tap of the Labor Party leader at about 20 years old after he’d had a couple. In the heart of his own electoral district in the Inner West, at the Marrickville Hotel. Marrickville.
Demolition work reveals
Demolition work reveals a ghost sign on the side of the late 19th century building housing the Malt Shovel Brewery (est. 1988), one of the first small batch breweries in the Inner West. There’s now a dozen or more. Things change. Camperdown.
Lady Hampshire Hotel
Lady Hampshire Hotel (1911). One of the smallest front bars in Sydney. Blink and you’d miss it, and go thirsty. Strangely enough, it has a beer garden out the back. The pub is currently closed for refurbishment. Camperdown.
“The Rose”. Rose
“The Rose”. Rose of Australia Hotel (1932). There’s been a pub on this site since 1879; the original building was demolished to make way for the current boozer at the height of the Great Depression. Long gone are the days of wild dancing on the semi circular front bar with a very loud thrash band squeezed in the corner. Just before the Pandemic, the joint had a swanky multi-million dollar extension and interior fit-out over two levels, with three new bars and bistro. Now, oh-so bourgeoisie. Erskineville.
Factory Theatre. Much
Factory Theatre. Much loved Inner West night club over many decades, that’s struggled these past two years with Covid19 closures and restrictions like everyone else. Several venues in one; comedy, burlesque & cabaret, band rooms and outdoor/indoor bar. Only now really getting back to business. Marrickville.
Cat and Fiddle
Cat and Fiddle Hotel (1930). Built during the Great Depression and opened as the Star Hotel, later changed its name to the “Cat”, as it’s always been known by locals in living memory. Once boasted a thriving live music scene in the 1980’s-90’s, and was the launch pad for some iconic Sydney alt-rock bands, but alas, no more. Those days have gone away. After languishing for many years, it’s gone from grunge to as gentrified-as-fuck. Balmain.
Hotel Broadway (1933).
Hotel Broadway (1933). There’s been a pub on this site since at least the 1850’s; been through a few buildings and name changes down the years, before the current proto-brutalist art deco hotel was built during the Great Depression. The hulking concrete pub is named after the last stretch of the old main drag into town from the Inner West, on which it stands. Chippendale.
All that remains
All that remains of the original Erskineville Post Office (1928). The modest building had two stories added for 16 apartments in the 1990’s, and the post office moved to a tiny shop-house across the road. Hairdresser, small bar & pizza joint; what more do you want? Erskineville.
The Red Lion
The Red Lion Hotel (c.1936). There’s been a pub on this site since 1828. Gone through many name changes down the years, including the Callan Park Hotel and Darling Street Hotel. Became the Red Lion after the original public house was demolished for the current building. Upstairs balcony now features physically distanced seating. Rozelle
The Crown and
The Crown and Emperor Hotel (2019). Now here’s a thing. A new pub in the Inner West, and that never happens. The liquor trade is tightly held. Opened as a sports bar just before the pandemic hit, then became a fully-fledged pub last year, with bistro and betting shop, in an old Edwardian era building that’s never before been licensed to serve alcohol. Marrickville.