Cricketers Arms, Surry Hills

106 Fitzroy Street  Surry Hills
Reviewers present: The Family Blogs & Family Burgman
Time of review: Dinner and drinks 

"Unassuming backstreet gem" aka "Backstreet's back, alright!"

Some of the Sydney Pub List crew embark on a Surry Hills mini-pubcrawl, making their way from Excelsior Hotel, to Carrington Hotel, then onto dinner-scheduled location The Cricketers Arms, a little rippa.

There doesn't seem to be much going on from the outside, but this little back-streeter has loads of potential within. Burger Bot and I have stopped here previously on our way to the HiFi Bar and we were impressed enough then to make the return on this evening. Southy and Macca have also enjoyed the Cricketers Arms on occasion, managing to not frequent it too much only by the fact they already have a handful of decent choices in their local Surry Hills/Redfern area. Get down here more often, lads!

From what we've gathered thus far, The Cricketers has one of your more bar-sittable spots out of the pubs of the area. I don't know about you, but that's something the Bot and I enjoy in a god pub. It's nice to be able to pull up a stool at the bar and relax with your beer, enjoying the happenings of the staff and patrons and even sometimes, strike up a rapport with the friendly bar staff. This place is great for that.



Upstairs "tropical" bar

 You'll find a smallish bar here but with plenty around to look at (similar to what you might find at The Grace Emily, for those playing from Adelaide). Cast your eyes over the old trophies, trinkets, fuddle-dee-dees, knick knacks, doo-fligies, old pictures and signage and so on. Alongside the front bar you'll find a roomy pool room, with a bit of the ol' stick-ball and couches, with a bit of a shabby loungeroom feel. Through another door there's a beer garden area.


Upstairs couches


Take a little stroll up the stairs and check out some more couches and tables and a remarkable mirror collection. Up here is where you'll be shoving some delicious pub grub in your gob. On this visit we ordered up a couple of burgers, a schnitzel parmigiana and a felafel roll.

Good food pub!

"Great burger!", the Burger Bot announces with joy. The massive robotic smile is seen stretching right across his noggin. Another few bites and he's done. He goes on, "I'm thinking it's my favourite burger so far. Will have to come back to make sure. Repeatedly!"  I also had a rippa of a time with my burger. The deliciousness was apparent given the look of burgasm all over my face and pants. And at $17, what a score!



Burger Bot: "Best burger yet"


Simone reports a very tasty schnitty, demolishing everything on her plate, while Frauline Burgman told us, through a mouthful of felefal roll goodness, that "this is real good. And cheap!" So for food, good reports all 'round!

After finishing up we take a look around the 1st floor and are happy to find some comfy couches and a tropical themed bar. Only a small bar though with two beers on tap. Back down stairs we pulled up some stools at the apex of the bar. For beer at the Cricketers, you're up for some Little Creatures Pils ($7), Coopers Pale ($5.50), Australian Brewery Mexican lager, White Rabbit Dark Ale, Pure Blonde, and among others, Carlton Draught (which here is also known as "cunt beer" going by the dymo label on the staff's side of the tap). Carlton Draught $5! Drink specials are on Monday to Friday 5pm to 7pm.


The front bar


We quite enjoyed sitting at the bar on this visit and while the music was a little crap at first (in our opinion at least), we felt relaxed and were happy to stay on a few more drinks. Thankfully, a DJ jumped on upping the quality on the sounds, which was a bonus, however the crowd also steadily increased with a shout-fest occuring to meet the volume of the patrons and increasing bar music.

Check these bad boys out

It was about this time we decided to make a move (off to our HiFi bar show) when some poor bastard orders up a couple of "cunts" - Inside story courtesy of a friendly barman, the Draught keg is a bitch when it gets to the bottom, putting all the other beers out.

Speaking of.... these vagina tiles remind us of a similar design of nearby Shakespeare Hotel, of which we aim to review soon.

The Cricketers Arms is not too unlike Newtown's Courthouse Hotel in the way that it's a bit grungy and worn out but its "well loved", homely and full of character with a front bar you want to sit at. 4 schooners of rippa!