24 July 2012

Canberra Full of "Stylish Lounges" and "Pumping Clubs"

| Ruqi
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The Tourism Australia website has released a ‘Fact Sheet’ on Canberra’s Bar Scene. Apparently, the greatest compliments one can pay to Canberra bars are that Honkytonks has “Melbourne-like chic interiors” and the Kremlin Bar is “a busy nightspot for hip young things”. No mention of whether the bars were chosen for the listing based on their merits or by paying for the advertisement.

Anyway, there’s a few interesting-sounding bars listed here, and if nothing else it does make Canberra sound like it has a thrilling nightlife. Any comments from people with first-hand experience as to how accurate these descriptions are?

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I remember a nightclub called Cocktails in Phillip. And the Henry Gratton lol.

Ha ha back in the early 90’s I had a bouncer mistake me for someone he’d had trouble with one Friday night at the Labor Club and gave me a hard time for a few months. Then he got off the roids and a year later took his own life. Karma has a habit off biting you on the backside.

Damien Haas re the cap, you should’ve said the cap is a religious head covering. Seikhs don’t get asked to take their headdress off at airport security (I asked at Canberra airport a few weeks ago) and if they get asked to leave, they take it to court, like one did to a bar in Manuka.

Funky1 said :

Ah Honeys, now that brings back memories. Also down Phillip way were the Carosello (first place I went to where your feet stuck to the carpet) and the Troubadour. Then you had the Elbow Room and another drinking establishment who’s name evades me but it was so small you couldn’t swing a cat in it (not that I condone cruelty to cats).

Going back even further there was The Floyd in Colbee Court as well as The Governor Phillip Restaurant which included the Winston Charles disco which mysteriously burnt down in early 1977. I also remember Coota’s Place (Belco?) and a basement bar in the MLC Tower, Woden Town Square. That was around 1987 or ’88 because I remember going down there one lunchtime and a guy was playing Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car over and over on the juke box.

knuckles said :

Funky1 said :

Ah Honeys, now that brings back memories. Also down Phillip way were the Carosello (first place I went to where your feet stuck to the carpet) and the Troubadour. Then you had the Elbow Room and another drinking establishment who’s name evades me but it was so small you couldn’t swing a cat in it (not that I condone cruelty to cats).

Carosello, that was the one I was thinking of, not the Copacabana. Sorry about that. I remember being there one night when one of the bouncers decided to give me a hard time because I had had a bit too much to drink. Hadn’t done anything wrong and this bloke had a reputation for being a dick head. Just when he was about to give me a push down the stairs another one of the bouncers came up, told him to stop being an idiot, apologised to me and slapped the 1st bloke across the back of the head.

Every now and then I see the 1st bouncer at the shops. He’s massively overweight and it looks like life hasn’t been very kind to him. I always smile and say G’day. He just stares back with a look like the cat just shat in his cereal.

It’s true, the best revenge is to show the people who have tried to screw you over that you are happy and successful.

Oh yeah, this guy’s spent the last twenty years giving a crap about your life.. hahaha. This post is GOLD!!!!!

So whilst agreeing that “Melbourne-like interiors” is a massive cringe-worthy comment, at least somebody is trying to promote the place. As usual, those rioters who choose to comment on this article alternate between snide and negative remarks or nostalgia about some serious dives from the past. Sounds like some haven’t been out for a couple of decades, so your opinion is kinda pointless. Here’s an idea, why don’t you put down that slice of Domino’s and go out and grace these establishments with your stylish presence so that they may be the cool places the article says they are. Make sure you get those stone-washed jeans out!

knuckles said :

Funky1 said :

Ah Honeys, now that brings back memories. Also down Phillip way were the Carosello (first place I went to where your feet stuck to the carpet) and the Troubadour. Then you had the Elbow Room and another drinking establishment who’s name evades me but it was so small you couldn’t swing a cat in it (not that I condone cruelty to cats).

Carosello, that was the one I was thinking of, not the Copacabana. Sorry about that. I remember being there one night when one of the bouncers decided to give me a hard time because I had had a bit too much to drink. Hadn’t done anything wrong and this bloke had a reputation for being a dick head. Just when he was about to give me a push down the stairs another one of the bouncers came up, told him to stop being an idiot, apologised to me and slapped the 1st bloke across the back of the head.

Every now and then I see the 1st bouncer at the shops. He’s massively overweight and it looks like life hasn’t been very kind to him. I always smile and say G’day. He just stares back with a look like the cat just shat in his cereal.

It’s true, the best revenge is to show the people who have tried to screw you over that you are happy and successful.

Reminds me of my favourite line from Running Man:
“What’s the matter? Steroids made you deaf?”

Funky1 said :

Ah Honeys, now that brings back memories. Also down Phillip way were the Carosello (first place I went to where your feet stuck to the carpet) and the Troubadour. Then you had the Elbow Room and another drinking establishment who’s name evades me but it was so small you couldn’t swing a cat in it (not that I condone cruelty to cats).

Carosello, that was the one I was thinking of, not the Copacabana. Sorry about that. I remember being there one night when one of the bouncers decided to give me a hard time because I had had a bit too much to drink. Hadn’t done anything wrong and this bloke had a reputation for being a dick head. Just when he was about to give me a push down the stairs another one of the bouncers came up, told him to stop being an idiot, apologised to me and slapped the 1st bloke across the back of the head.

Every now and then I see the 1st bouncer at the shops. He’s massively overweight and it looks like life hasn’t been very kind to him. I always smile and say G’day. He just stares back with a look like the cat just shat in his cereal.

It’s true, the best revenge is to show the people who have tried to screw you over that you are happy and successful.

Felix the Cat1:19 pm 25 Jul 12

Funky1 said :

Ah Honeys, now that brings back memories. Also down Phillip way were the Carosello (first place I went to where your feet stuck to the carpet) and the Troubadour. Then you had the Elbow Room and another drinking establishment who’s name evades me but it was so small you couldn’t swing a cat in it (not that I condone cruelty to cats).

How about some Belconnen memories like Captain Kiddies (Gregs), Leather Bottle, Blind Beggers and of course The Parachute Club (Labour Club).

Ah Honeys, now that brings back memories. Also down Phillip way were the Carosello (first place I went to where your feet stuck to the carpet) and the Troubadour. Then you had the Elbow Room and another drinking establishment who’s name evades me but it was so small you couldn’t swing a cat in it (not that I condone cruelty to cats).

How_Canberran10:57 am 25 Jul 12

knuckles said :

How_Canberran said :

Aaaah, memories! Bring back JD’s tavern, the Elbow Room and the Copacabana in Dickson!
Now those were places where a dapper young Canberran ‘out on the town’ could get a drink in the 80’s.

Weren’t these bars in Phillip? Along with Honeys and Zanzibar.

JDs Tavern was where Mooseheads is now, circa mid/late 80’s. It was a favoured haunt of the colourful motorcycle riding establishment

Less bloody clubs with wall to wall pokies.

Fewer

bloody clubs!

I think dress codes are a great idea if I’m heading out to a nightclub and am attempting to woo a young lady. If i just want to go to a pub for a beer with friends, why does it matter if i’m wearing a hat or sandals.

I walked into the Belconnen Labour Club for a meeting and had both arms full. I had my card in my hand to show staff. I had a cap on. I was told to take my cap off. I said my hands were full and I’d remove it as soon as I put my things down. The receptionist was apoplectic – especially as i simply walked off defying them to the sounds of ‘Security to reception…’ over the PA. I deliberately waited until i could see security head my way before i removed my cap. Its the fricking LABOR CLUB.

sadly, the club movement seems to have sucked the life out of many smaller venues. killed live music and created an addictive poker machine culture.

just dont wear a cap in there while gambling your families savings away.

How_Canberran said :

Aaaah, memories! Bring back JD’s tavern, the Elbow Room and the Copacabana in Dickson!
Now those were places where a dapper young Canberran ‘out on the town’ could get a drink in the 80’s.

Weren’t these bars in Phillip? Along with Honeys and Zanzibar.

Maquara, they’ve used a bar with no patrons because if it showed the usual crowd (who think G-Star Raw is the height of fashion), tourists wouldn’t go anywhere near the place.

Tetranitrate7:11 pm 24 Jul 12

Holden Caulfield said :

Also disappointed that Mooseheads didn’t make the list.

Me too.
I mean it isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but the setup they have there is fairly impressive and it’s sure as hell popular with the younger crowd.

It’s not as though it’s the trashiest bar/club in Canberra anyway when you have places like Academy, where you can snort coke, meet an eager skank, take her to an alleyway to attempt dry anal and punch her repeatedly when you fail to get in.

Though even then it’s probably still a better bet than places like Krave or Shooters.

How_Canberran6:46 pm 24 Jul 12

Aaaah, memories! Bring back JD’s tavern, the Elbow Room and the Copacabana in Dickson!
Now those were places where a dapper young Canberran ‘out on the town’ could get a drink in the 80’s.

Damien you’ve hit the nail on the head when you mentioned no dress code. 15 years ago if you’d tried to get into Bobby McGees dressed like males do these days, the bouncer would’ve given you a clip on the ear for taking the piss! Rascals and yes even upstairs at the Bin used to require the wearing of a button down shirt. Are the any bars/clubs in Canberra that won’t let males in wearing t-shirts or is it that young males don’t know how to button a shirt?

Why have they illustrated this with a bar with no patrons whatsoever?

Flippant said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Very few decent bars in this town.

…Referring to one of my previous comments on another thread these changes in a few short years have included… liquor fee increases (2009 max paid $3K – 2012 max paid $23.5K), smoking bans, outdoor seating fee increases, trading hour restrictions, complex risk assessment plans, compiling alcohol data (unique to the ACT), a host of penalties from new regulation (lining PS coffers) and then on top of that is the never ending paper-burden imposed by the bureaucratic machine turning service providers into administrators……

I suppose the question is, have any of these changes – and increases in fees gained by the Govt – made Civic (and other places) safer? Are there more cops on the beat? Less overly-drunk yobbos? Seems about the same as it’s always been to me, but surely the Govt must be doing some eval before/after these changes?
I imagine all the extra $ collected just goes into consolidated revenue, so we can have nice art and stuff! 🙂
Seriously, it would be a lot more sensible if such money went ‘transparently’ into paying for things related to the industry. E.g a few extra cop shifts for Fri and Sat night, towards nightrider buses – and maybe some extra staff in ED for those nights too!

I see the Pot Belly has already received a mention, and thought I’d remind people of Belconnens ‘The Basement’.

Its accessable by bus – theres a stop about 20 metres away, it hosts a lot of live music – Frenzal Rhomb on Saturday, and they will let you wear a cap inside, in fact i dont even think it has a dress code. It has a great seedy pub atmosphere and friendly staff.

Brisbane has better bars the Canberra.
How *do* they create those cosy, chic establishments in places other than Canberra?
Apparently the people who do fit-outs in the ACT are unfamiliar with the concept of sound dampening.
Then again, when you’re chasing the $$ spent by drug-fuelled yelling tattooed 20-year-olds on trays of shots, style doesn’t really come into it, does it…

Not Hippo again .. seriously that place gets way too much hype. They need to work out their acoustics before they can ever hope to be hip. Making decent cocktails is only part of the package the rest involves the patrons enjoying your time there, listening to good music and being able to hear each other talk.

And Tongue & Groove .. if I wanted to spend my Friday nights brushing past prickly, bare chested young men or orange/tangaring hybrid women I’d go to Foreshore – or just watch The Shire .. eewww.

There is a real shortage of classy venues in this town .. as much as I love it here.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Very few decent bars in this town.

C&G Nerd… You are right and there is a simple answer for this… After a tireless creep in regulation and a host of changes in a few short years running a bar is very difficult.

Referring to one of my previous comments on another thread these changes in a few short years have included… liquor fee increases (2009 max paid $3K – 2012 max paid $23.5K), smoking bans, outdoor seating fee increases, trading hour restrictions, complex risk assessment plans, compiling alcohol data (unique to the ACT), a host of penalties from new regulation (lining PS coffers) and then on top of that is the never ending paper-burden imposed by the bureaucratic machine turning service providers into administrators.

Bureaucrats who set policy having never worked a day in a business and yet protest good governance is something that will always remain to baffle me.

Why would anyone in this town open up a small business let alone a bar when the ACT Government keeps sticking their hands in your pocket like the Sheriff of Nottingham.

For those of you reading you may not be aware that those ‘bars’ mentioned… if they are defined as bars (under the liquor license regime) represent just over one third of our total bar stock. There really isn’t that many and that is very sad! So when Tourism Australia gives the poor Capital a bit of a plug lets get out and support those businesses that are hanging in there.

Newley opened Keneddy room …..newly open 3 years ago.

Its got to be a paid thing, I can’t imagine anyone going to Public more than once on purpose

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd1:30 pm 24 Jul 12

Very few decent bars in this town.

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo1:30 pm 24 Jul 12

“Melbourne-like chic interiors”

CRINGE

gentoopenguin12:47 pm 24 Jul 12

Curious that the Pot Belly or Lighthouse in Belco didn’t rate a mention… must be an oversight.

colourful sydney racing identity11:52 am 24 Jul 12

No mention of Kambah Tavern?

I think one will find it’s spelt “nite spot”!

Mess said :

Northbar stylish and sophisticated. Hmmm…. clearly weren’t there on a Friday night then.

Or at all.

Holden Caulfield11:44 am 24 Jul 12

One could only imagine how they would have described The Private Bin.

Also disappointed that Mooseheads didn’t make the list.

To thier merit, Kremlin and Honkeytonks are probably the two least-crap nightclub venues this city has.

Northbar stylish and sophisticated. Hmmm…. clearly weren’t there on a Friday night then.

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