Perhaps it’s because I’m getting that little bit older, but are there many STUDENT ID HAPPY HOURS around anymore?
When I was a student I remember them clearly, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen the “show your student ID for half price drinks”.
Does anyone know? Cos it might be worth signing up to do a Masters, getting a Student Card, then deferring (this process is free btw)
St Patrick’s Day isn’t exactly a tightarse favourite. Usually the drinks are overpriced, lines to the bar and toilets are long, and rarely is there a happy hour to be found. However saying that, the day provides the perfect opportunity to binge drink on a school/work night, be completely and communally stupid and exaggerate your Irish family tree. Overall it’s a good day to be sure, to be sure. Below are some options (click the links to see their St Patties Plans).
The Normandy, 139 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill.
Probably the closest thing to a real Irish Pub - dark, sweaty and with interesting characters propped up on the bar. Add to this a cheap food menu, reasonably priced beer and some Irish staff, this could be the first port of call.
The Dan O’Connell, 225 Canning St, Carlton.
Easily the most festive of choices where thousands come and take over the park in front of the pub. Great atmosphere with bands, boys and babes, though the drink prices are way too high, and if you line up now you might reach the bar by Easter.
The Corkman Irish Pub, 160 Leister St, Carlton.
Hidden backstreet pub, known mainly to the Melbourne Uni students that fail nearby. If you’re after a little nook that won’t be overrun by crowds, but has entertainment and prizes, then this is your best bet.
The Quiet Man Pub, 271 Racecourse Rd, Flemington.
A saviour for those that live in the West, this well managed pub certainly has a bit of craic to it. It’s guaranteed to get a crowd so get their early.
Father Flanigans, 484 Smith St, Collingwood.
Pretty much ignored all year round despite having some of the best food specials in town (how about those $5 parmas), Flanigans comes alive on St Patties day, and is worth going back to on other days as well.
The Clifton Hill Hotel, 89 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill.
Doesn’t advertise it much, but the Clifton is the home away from home to many Irish expats who love their Gaelic football. Add a good spacious interior, Irish bands and good location, you’ll find that the Clifton punches above its weight.
Limerick Hotel, 364 Clarendon St, South Melbourne.
A local favourite which hasn’t gone down the “South of the Yarra – Sydney’s newest district” just yet. Easily the best option in the area and has the runs on the board with cracking past St Patties.
Bridie O’Reillys, 62 Little Collins St, CBD.
Cosy CBD laneway pub that attracts the suits within a 200 metres radius. Will put on heaps of entertainment throughout the day.
Bridie O’Reillys, 463 Chapell St, South Yarra.
Seems kinda wrong that an Irish bar would be on Chapel St, but Bridie’s has been an unpretentious oasis for all those that can’t starch their collars enough or wear Paris Hilton sunglasses. Live music from noon.
Bridie O’Reillys, 29 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.
Arguably the best of all the Bridies, this one offers a great outdoor area and a reputation for “picking up” – whatever that means.
Despite the homogenised Southbank location, this dark shopping centre type pub actually creates a great atmosphere where sobriety is frowned upon. Prizes and music.
Pugg Mahone, 106 Hardware St, CBD.
The pick of the CBD pubs. When they close down the lane, put up some marquees and let the beer flow, backpackers from all around will converge and start being festive. A good chance to meet real Irish people.
Irish Times, 427 Little Collins St, CBD.
If I did better at school and got a higher TER I might be one of those smartly dressed workers that come here and buy pints with $100 dollar notes. More of a restaurant, if they clear away some tables I’m sure this could be worth a look in.
Pugg Mahones, 175 Elgin St, Carlton.
Popular place that has a comfy booth ridden area downstairs but ample room to party upstairs. Attracts the younger student crowd that like to party and swap spit.
WRITE BELOW IF YOU FIND ANY OTHER OPTIONS
I’ve briefly mentioned previously how golf club kiosks are often a great source of cheap beer and last Saturday arvo proved it once again.
I was having a hit at Royal Park which is located next to the zoo, amongst greenery and noisy elephants, when we decided to have a brew after the game. Not wanting to pay Saturday arvo prices at nearby pubs, we headed for the pro shop instead, and found that the stubbies were just $3.90! That’s pretty cheap these days.
So there we were - with cheap beer in hand, thinking we should hit the links more often. Think about it people!
The Gertrude Hotel was once the extremely DERO Renown Tavern but how times have changed. Pop your head in now, and you’ll discover it’s been done up a bit (pulled up carpet, added a beer garden out the back), yet it still has that Fitzroy pub feel that the Builders Arms across the road no longer has. With fairly decent happy hours and excellent daily food specials (the parma is in my top 10), I’m putting the Gertrude firmly on thehappiesthour map.
The John Curtin Hotel at the start of Lygon St has always been underutilized. Situated about 30 metres from the CBD, amongst RMIT buildings, it never really had the ambience to attract more than the blue singlet brigade. However a few weeks ago, Leon (formerly of Rochester Castle Hotel) took over the lease and has brought with him a bloody good chef who used to work at the Gunn Island Brewery. All the food is $5 entrees, $8 mains ALL THE TIME!!!!! And its not your typical pub food….it’s premium ingredients. Get yourself the steak!
It’s getting to that time of the year when colder weather and occasional showers might have us stepping inside from the beer garden. Yet I guess I’m right when I say that most of us just aren’t ready for that yet?
Where are the best beer gardens that are under cover?
In the spirit of apologising today (here here Mr Rudd and on a personal note, about time too), I was thinking about what I’m sorry for….in a purely pub sense. It happened a while back, when I craved nachos at a Fitzroy pub.
“Yeah, can I get some nachos thanks?”, I said spitting the second syllable of nachos embarrassingly onto the top of the bar woman’s shirt.
“The kitchen is closed”
“What the …?”
“Well it’s 2.30am”
“Can’t you just whack em in the microwave like usual?”
She looked at me like I was a moron, but because I was drunk I naturally though she was the moron and started motioning with my fingers like I was pushing a button and saying “beep, beep, beep” as I did it.
The attack on both her culinary skills and intelligence was too just to much to handle from someone like myself and motioned to the bouncer who I had met on a number of occasions before and categorised as one of those “I am the Gatekeeper of this realm and too fat for the police force” kind of guys.
I left in a hurry defeated and more than ever wanting some nachos, but was lucky to notice one of those dodgy late night food petrol stations was across the road. The microwaves at these kinds of places are suitably fitted with instructions for people who have trouble seeing or are pissed. Big signs that read “3 minutes – chicken roll/ 4 minutes – Cheese burger” are easy to see even for people who are ‘blind’.
Walking across the road back to the pub, and up to the window that had a clear shot of the bar and the woman that stood behind it, I knocked on it hard covering it with melting cheese and instantly gained her attention. As an offshoot I had also gained the attention of a group of girls sitting next to the window who were either very jealous of me eating nachos, or thought I was a complete dickhead. At first I could tell the bar lady didn’t know what she was looking at but when I wiped away the cheese and showed her my trophy and the biggest “I won” smart arse grin, I could tell she didn’t take defeat well.
“What you think ya doing?” the gatekeeper said behind me.
“Eating some nachos”
“You going to clean that off the window”
“The cheese?”
“Yes the cheese”
“I’m just eating some nachos?”
“Goodbye”
“Ok”
WHAT HAVE U DONE AT A PUB THAT U ARE SORRY FOR?
It hasn’t taken very long either so thanks to everyone for visiting, responding and spreading the word!
I was catching the skybus service the other day, when I started to read the little pamphlets they have near the baggage area. One was the usual discount voucher with10% off Dracula’s restaurant (popular with Geelong residents looking for a weekend getaway) and the more enticing 2 for 1 short stack at a Pancake Parlour, but the real winner was the “Complimentary Drink” at the airport pub, P.J O’Briens Pub. Very handy indeed, though one per customer.
Ahh the airport pub…..is there anywhere better for break ups?
I’m guessing most of you know about the enormous size portions at the Napier Hotel (Napier St, Fitzroy), including the gut busting Bogan Burger (see an article I did for the Melbourne Age Magazine here), however I’ve noticed in the last few weeks that the huge wedges have been replaced with chips? Anybody know why this is?
|
Best Pub Rochester Castle, 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy Worst pub Beach Hotel, 97 Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park. Best place to “pick up”? Elephant and Wheelbarrow, 169 Fitzroy St, St Kilda. Worst place to “pick up”? Frostbites, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra. Best Bar Lambs Go Bar, 135 Greeves St, Fitzroy. Best Beer Mountain Goat Hightail Ale Encouragement Award Wils Beer Carlton Cold I actually thought they stopped selling Carlton Cold in 1995, but lately I’ve come across it in bathtubs at house parties. It’s the ones down the bottom that people don’t touch. Town Hall 33 Errol St, North Melbourne Pub at Crown- Crown Casino Retreat Hotel, 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick |
