35 Henderson Road, Alexandria
Reviewers present: Macca, Southy, Miller, Robot Simone, Joe Blogs
Time of review: Afternoon footy finals
One of the more positive things about the Alexandria is its respect of the AFL. In a city so saturated with NRL and NRL-pubs, it's refreshing to know that if there's an AFL game on, you'll be able to see it there. What's more, they've set up a big screen out the back for all to enjoy.
Points off for beer price
Now, here's what brings this place down - beer price. $5.50 for a Carlton Draught isn't too bad, if you were a pub in the city, but compared to some of the other pubs of the area and surrounds, it could be better. What's worse is you'll pay 50 cents more (at $17) for the privilege of ordering Carlton in a jug. And they expect us to bring it back and do their glassy's work? Get stuffed. A jug of Coopers Pale Ale (not "coopers green" you idiots!) is $18. If you can't sell a jug of beer for under $15, you're doing it wrong! Hey, how about pay $4 for a thimble of lemon squash (alcohol free)? $7 for a tiny vodka and orange? You've got to be joking. We here to watch the AFL match but we didn't ask to be charged like we were at the game! When I question a bar staff member about the price discrepancy between a three schooners and a jug (about the same volume), she claims she knows and seems to agree but says she doesn't make the rules. Ok, I'll pay that, but while this tap-robot can't do anything about it, somewhere here sure can and should because it's these kinds of services that will result in punters choosing another venue.
Noms
Enough about beer, how about food? Well, according to Sydney Pub Lister's, Macca & Southy, it isn't too bad, at least on a previous visit. The prices look pretty good on the chalk boards in the beer garden. Upon arrival, Miller orders up a steak sandwich, which is served with chips, and proceeds to make a mess of it. It doesn't help that he doesn't like tomato and has to pick through the sanga to fish it out. "Not bad", he states, however he isn't impressed with the unavoidable and unattractive strip of fat running the whole length of the steak. The chips are enjoyed by a few around him, including his 4 year old daughter (yes, family friendly pub).
Bar time
It's a fairly straight forward bar inside (the "saloon bar"), apart from the flashy "Cocktails" sign one one of the walls. The place has a lot of space inside and out in the beer garden. I like that there is no major bullshit refurb here and still feels a bit like a "pub" inside, like how old tiling remains on the walls and bar. Out back, you'll find plenty of places to sit, either in the sun or the shade of the nearby trees or undercover areas. Oh, if you like clocks and knowing the time, then you are in luck. Random comment, I know, but lots of clocks of different time zones in the main bar. Tick tock tick tock, that is the sound of your money dwindling away.
One thing most people have mentioned, apart from the unfavourable beer prices, is the shitters. They're not terrible but they could do with some work and more of them, given how popular this pub is becoming with the AFL folk. On a busy day (like an AFL final day like today), expect a line up out the door. Also, I hope you like doorway-sized mirrors in your facilities because apparently, here, it's cool to put them on the walls and make the customer confused about what's really a door and what's not. Sliding doors on cubicles too! Kinda weird, kinda cool, in the old-school pub water closet way, but weird.
Read the signs!
They love signs at The Alexandria. Signs for toilets, signs for the bar, signs for pull, push, where to shit, when to scratch your balls, where to stand and where not. We also had fun discussing the signs about what kind of functions the Alexandria can cater for - birthdays, fundraisers, film launches, wakes, divorces, staff moral parties and hens nights, to name a few. Sorry 'bucks', no nights for you! The amount of functions they are trying to cater for sounds a bit desperate.
Another sign we weren't fond of on this day is the one claiming a massive area of the beer garden was booked. This was bad because there was no one there, it was an hour after their booking time and it was an AFL final day with people looking for seats. The mob that eventually rolled in for the booking weren't even there for the football. We think this is poor form on the hotel's behalf.
Brownie point
Thankfully, there are no pokies here. Finally! I get that gambling is big in NSW and pays a lot of the way of many establishments but it is definitively nice to know there are no pokies here.
Wrapping up
The Alexandria has its pros and cons. Unfortunately on this occasion, the cons far outweighed the pros. The beer price was the first, playing Kylie Minogue up LOUD was the second. More toilets are required here, especially when you consider the capacity of the bar and beer garden. One palm tree amongst the surrounding natives does not make a "tropical garden" by the way, but we wont mark you down for that ;)
With a short walk from and to Redfern station, the hotel is in a nice location. It's close enough to transport yet far enough from the throws of the city. I'm told the place has gone a bit down hill (for what we like in a pub) over the last few years. This family-friendly pub has some stuff going for it but it does have a points against it and hence why we give it 2. They're dropping the ball.
Sydney Pub List, out.
Website: www.alexandriahotel.com.au
 |
| The Alexandria |
35 Henderson Road, Alexandria
Reviewers present: Macca, Southy, Miller, Robot Simone, Joe Blogs
Time of review: Afternoon footy finals
"Footy pub dropping the ball with footy ground prices"
One of the more positive things about the Alexandria is its respect of the AFL. In a city so saturated with NRL and NRL-pubs, it's refreshing to know that if there's an AFL game on, you'll be able to see it there. What's more, they've set up a big screen out the back for all to enjoy.
Points off for beer price
Now, here's what brings this place down - beer price. $5.50 for a Carlton Draught isn't too bad, if you were a pub in the city, but compared to some of the other pubs of the area and surrounds, it could be better. What's worse is you'll pay 50 cents more (at $17) for the privilege of ordering Carlton in a jug. And they expect us to bring it back and do their glassy's work? Get stuffed. A jug of Coopers Pale Ale (not "coopers green" you idiots!) is $18. If you can't sell a jug of beer for under $15, you're doing it wrong! Hey, how about pay $4 for a thimble of lemon squash (alcohol free)? $7 for a tiny vodka and orange? You've got to be joking. We here to watch the AFL match but we didn't ask to be charged like we were at the game! When I question a bar staff member about the price discrepancy between a three schooners and a jug (about the same volume), she claims she knows and seems to agree but says she doesn't make the rules. Ok, I'll pay that, but while this tap-robot can't do anything about it, somewhere here sure can and should because it's these kinds of services that will result in punters choosing another venue.
Noms
Enough about beer, how about food? Well, according to Sydney Pub Lister's, Macca & Southy, it isn't too bad, at least on a previous visit. The prices look pretty good on the chalk boards in the beer garden. Upon arrival, Miller orders up a steak sandwich, which is served with chips, and proceeds to make a mess of it. It doesn't help that he doesn't like tomato and has to pick through the sanga to fish it out. "Not bad", he states, however he isn't impressed with the unavoidable and unattractive strip of fat running the whole length of the steak. The chips are enjoyed by a few around him, including his 4 year old daughter (yes, family friendly pub).
 |
| Steak sandwich - inexpensive and with bonus fat strip! |
Bar time
It's a fairly straight forward bar inside (the "saloon bar"), apart from the flashy "Cocktails" sign one one of the walls. The place has a lot of space inside and out in the beer garden. I like that there is no major bullshit refurb here and still feels a bit like a "pub" inside, like how old tiling remains on the walls and bar. Out back, you'll find plenty of places to sit, either in the sun or the shade of the nearby trees or undercover areas. Oh, if you like clocks and knowing the time, then you are in luck. Random comment, I know, but lots of clocks of different time zones in the main bar. Tick tock tick tock, that is the sound of your money dwindling away.
One thing most people have mentioned, apart from the unfavourable beer prices, is the shitters. They're not terrible but they could do with some work and more of them, given how popular this pub is becoming with the AFL folk. On a busy day (like an AFL final day like today), expect a line up out the door. Also, I hope you like doorway-sized mirrors in your facilities because apparently, here, it's cool to put them on the walls and make the customer confused about what's really a door and what's not. Sliding doors on cubicles too! Kinda weird, kinda cool, in the old-school pub water closet way, but weird.
Read the signs!
They love signs at The Alexandria. Signs for toilets, signs for the bar, signs for pull, push, where to shit, when to scratch your balls, where to stand and where not. We also had fun discussing the signs about what kind of functions the Alexandria can cater for - birthdays, fundraisers, film launches, wakes, divorces, staff moral parties and hens nights, to name a few. Sorry 'bucks', no nights for you! The amount of functions they are trying to cater for sounds a bit desperate.
Another sign we weren't fond of on this day is the one claiming a massive area of the beer garden was booked. This was bad because there was no one there, it was an hour after their booking time and it was an AFL final day with people looking for seats. The mob that eventually rolled in for the booking weren't even there for the football. We think this is poor form on the hotel's behalf.
Brownie point
Thankfully, there are no pokies here. Finally! I get that gambling is big in NSW and pays a lot of the way of many establishments but it is definitively nice to know there are no pokies here.
Wrapping up
The Alexandria has its pros and cons. Unfortunately on this occasion, the cons far outweighed the pros. The beer price was the first, playing Kylie Minogue up LOUD was the second. More toilets are required here, especially when you consider the capacity of the bar and beer garden. One palm tree amongst the surrounding natives does not make a "tropical garden" by the way, but we wont mark you down for that ;)
With a short walk from and to Redfern station, the hotel is in a nice location. It's close enough to transport yet far enough from the throws of the city. I'm told the place has gone a bit down hill (for what we like in a pub) over the last few years. This family-friendly pub has some stuff going for it but it does have a points against it and hence why we give it 2. They're dropping the ball.
Sydney Pub List, out.
Website: www.alexandriahotel.com.au
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