Melbourne Pubs "where"

[Back Yard Brewer]

Hi all.
I am heading off to Melbourne in June need to know if there are any Irish or English style pubs worth visiting. They need to be in the Melbourne CBD as we are flying over for the footy and we are staying in the heart of Melbourne.

Cheers BYB :beer:

 

[Jens-Kristian]

"The Charles Dickens" on Collins Street is very good, I think.

It can be a little bit of a hassle to find, as there's only a small sign out on the street, leading you into an arcade where, just as you enter it, you have to turn right and walk downstairs to find the pub.

They have a few good beers available and serve good pub grup. The atmosphere is pretty good, particularly because there generally aren't very many "young" people in there. It's a pretty mature audience and they show football most of the time (if not actually all the time?).

Nice feel, friendly staff and I'd say it gets pretty close to being like a good pub you'll find in England.

Most of the English and Irish pubs you see in most places are pretty new and are obviously a form of pre-assembled package of "bar, tables and themed nick-nacks" that came with whichever style the owner decided he wanted his pub to be in. It often results in a very "staged" sort of atmosphere where you somehow just feel that there isn't really much personality put into it; rather just a business concept.

The best pubs are those where the owner has put in his personal touch and made it a bit out of the ordinary. I'm sure the Dickens has a bit of "bought concept" in it, but it's done well enough that you don't feel it's staged.

Cheers,

Jens-Kristian

 

[AngelTearsOnMyTongue]

Hi all.

I agree with Jens-Kristen, most of the "Irish" pubs are themey pubs filled with mainly a younger crowd wishing they were in Ireland. However, the variety of beers are usually there. For choice of beer, the Elephant and Wheelbarrow's (St Kilder and CBD), pubs have a wide UK range. Others include the Bridey O'Reilly's South Yarra and CBD) and PJ Obriens' (Southbank) However, for a authentic atmosphere in a tiny pub I choose "The Irish Time's"

427 Little Collins St Melbourne

www.theirishtimespub.com.au

They do have a bit of a band thing upstairs from time to time but the downstairs bar is great and often filled with Celts. Unfortunately they only have Caffreys, Kilkenny and Guiness (rest are all Oz beers).

Another which is just an Aussie Pub filled with UK ex-pats is the Windsor hotel in Windsor (Near Sth Yarra), and also "Molly Blooms in Port Melbourne has a session night (Tuesdays from memory).

I can assure you that none of these mentioned have Pokies.......and thats got to be good.

Lets hold a minutes silence for the traditional Melbourne pub which seems to have fallen by the wayside, yet another victim of commercialisation increased profits.

Hope this helps.

cheers.

ATOMT

PS. I will have to try the Charles Dickens now.

 

[Beer Krout]

I've found this website pretty good for pre-pubcrawl homework.
Has reviews on most pubs.

Melbourne Pubs

A quick pick of English/Irish pubs in the CBD is below (note: a few of these are of the "plastic" or "staged" variety that JK is talking about, but most are not).

Bridie OReillys 62 Little Collins Street
Celtic Club 316 Queen Street
Charles Dickens Tavern 290 Collins Street
Elephant & Wheelbarrow 94 Bourke Street
The Fiddler 577 Little Collins Street
Irish Times 427 Little Collins Street
Pugg Mahones 106 Hardware Street
Sherlock Holmes Inn 415 Collins Street
Turf Bar 131 Queen Street

Cheers
BK

 

[Back Yard Brewer]

I know what one means by that staged look, I should rephrase my enquiry to where would you find a pub with atmosphere, that older mature crowd (35-45), and some down to earth good Eglish & Irish ales on tap.

Bottoms up. :beer:

 

[MHD]

Charles Dickens is a great pub... Definately not a plastic "irish pub"