The Bat & Ball, Redfern

495 Cleveland Street, Redfern

Reviewers present: Southy, Macca, Simone & Blogs

Time of review: 6pm feed with batty bingo/ Sydney fc first home game 2012/13

"A pub on the mend. 4 runs!"

The Bat & Ball Hotel, standing on the corner of Cleveland and South Dowling streets, overlooks Moore Park and attracts all those on their way to and from the sport nearby. Like many pubs in and around Sydney, it has it's fair share of history and stories to tell. Built in 1929 and then known as the Duke of Cleveland, the B&B has gone through a few changes over the years. Whether before a game or after, win or lose, or for a drink, feed, or catch up with mates, The Bat is welcoming like an extension of your own loungeroom. Southy, local of the area and frequent pub-adventurer, tells us a bit about his experiences, good, bad and Pie.....

The Bat & Ball; well it’s very hard to remain objective of a pub that we have been going to for years. Over the years the Bat & Ball has had MANY faces and different attitudes to business. The most recent chapter sees the pub run by two English lads, Martin and Dean (who will now be referred to as Dean Martin), who took over the lease around 5 or so months ago and went about giving the old 'Ball a face lift.

Firstly, Dean Martin has done a really good job at keeping it a pub and not some swanky throw-away bar. As most people would know, there are a lot of bars in the Surry Hills and Redfern area and a sprinkling of pubs. This pub has managed to keep its soul. Well, most of it. I still miss the old-school hutch over the bar but the English guys have gone about installing some retro hanging lights that instantly transformed the bar. Other notes on the renovations is that the TAB is gone. When questioned, Dean Martin said that it’s just not profitable. The changes that they have made down that end of the bar make it more of an English pub.

The revamped front bar

Dean Martin has also installed some diner-style eating booths near where the old pokies room was and it makes for a more open, less slapped-together pub. Cool! A note though, a key feature for a pub that bears the name "Bat & Ball" is that it would be nice to see some cricket memorabilia inside the pub (check out the top of the pub outside). This was bought up during my chat with Dean Martin and he was also objective on this by stating he would be on the lookout for good pieces, not just any memorabilia.

Here stands a pub with a lot of heritage, that's cleaned itself up, brought it into the now, while still allowing for a recognisable link to its past. On-going potential for this pub is really high. For example, there is an old roof top bar that many a manager has spoken about opening up. If they can do this, the pub would be even better and would rate higher.

Here's me loading up for the pods 

Before I get talking about the food, I wanted to bring up the pub's willingness to
accommodate the sports fans. The Bat & Ball is within walking distance to two major sports grounds. Like many years gone by where the pub was the place to go following a game of cricket or football of varying codes, or for local sports clubs to come for a post-match coldy, the new new team behind the B&B are going to great efforts to get the punters through the door. For example, on a recent stop over for a Sydney FC game (football, the round kind!) Dean Martin had bought Sydney FC flags and hats and put on some special game day prices. A jug at $10 for 'local beers' is great for someone before or after a sporting event, having to drink extremely over-priced beer from either of the sports grounds (for the record, it's around 7 dollars in the grounds. Ouch!!).



The Food

Not being well known for its food, there are some happy new additions to the menu here at the Bat. For example, a couple of pies that we had to sample were the Chicken & Leak Pie and the Cod Pie. COD PIE!!!! Well, I never had one before and was very skeptical that a pie with smoked cod wouldn't be over powered with the salty taste. Well they did it. The Cod Pie was very delish and reasonably priced. Well actually, the full menu is reasonably priced!

Pie pie pie! And veg.

I reckon the winner of the night was the fish and chips. Maca got a very good deal. 16 dollars and three pieces of fish with a pile of chips and some nice dipping sauce. This is what a pub dinner is about! Do the basics well without any gimmicks.

Wagyu Beef Burger - pattie, bacon, cheese, onion, lettuce

Joe got the burger and had no complaints. In fact, a few times while I was watching him (I like to watch him) I saw this happy manic grin wash over his face and many times his tongue made an appearance through his beard and licked the edges of his lips in a very sexual manner. I don't know whether it was the beard or the way his tongue gently flicked about with joy, but it got me more excited about my pie. The more I think aboot it, teh less I can ttype proprly so here's Joe wit his commmennt s on the bbburgerrrrrr......

Right, so, the Wagyu Beef Burger was a win for me, and at a great price. Around $14 from memory, I think. Having had many burgers over the last two months reviewing for this blog, I was a bit stand-offish about tucking into yet another 'meat pattie and buns' combo, my stomach slightly grimacing at the thought. But taking the plunge was a victory for all mankind. I didn't notice the lack of tomato, strangley, but it was all good. The pattie was tastey and filling, and even though stuff got a bit messy as I got near the end, with pieces of pattie falling by the wayside, I wasn't bothered at all because I was just having such a good time. I had to take my pants off when I was done! Back to you Southy, this talk of burgasm has made me hungry.

The Ball's Kitchen

Simone also had a pie, of the chicken & leek variety (we believe the one pictured further above) and she was very happy with it, saying, "The pie was yum! Plenty of chunky chicken with a crispy pastry top. Having a choice of sides is always a nice touch." Overall, she was quite impressed with the pub, and it's worth noting that Simone isn't generally a big pub-goer. During the write-up of this review, she has said, "I always like visiting the Bat & Ball. It has a nice friendly vibe and is a sports friendly bar without shoving it in your face."  On a final note regarding Simone's experiences with the B&B, the pub used to (previous ownership) do a free beer following a match (football/soccer in this example) with your game ticket. One time on the way back from the football stadium, Simone managed to find a bunch of discarded tickets on the ground on the trek back to Redfern and when arriving at the pub she was able to shout us all beers! Win!

Wrapping up the food and beverage, the beer selection isn't half bad with all your favourites on tap, Draught, Coopers, Fat Yak, etc, etc, and all at great prices! The food is a real nice bonus in this current era of the Bat & Ball and at great value. Recommended. There are daily specials, all a bargain! On one visit, on a Wednesday night, we picked up some $12 steaks, which had really good gravy. Great value.



Bingo booty

Having been to the Bat & Ball many times before, we were quite keen to come back and punch in an official Sydney Pub List review. I've been a few times since we visited that night and haven't been let down. On that first official visit, the four of us got involved in the pub bingo and we cleaned up big with free beer, wine, meal vouchers, chocolates, and more. It was nice being involved and feeling part of the pub and vibe and not just a face at the bar. 

I've rated this pub at 4 schooners and suggest that if they continue to accomodate to the locals, throw in some more cricket (and other sport) memorabilia, and maybe even open that upstairs bar everyone keeps talking of, I would be tempted to rate 4.5 for a good all-rounder locals pub.

If you're in the Surry Hills or Redfern areas nearby and looking for a pub to call your own, to call your local, I suggest this pub, the Bat & Bat Hotel.

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