| The Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills |
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| Written by Administrator | ||
| Thursday, 03 January 2002 | ||
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The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire St Surry Hills, Ph 02 9319 6883 Fax 02 9310 1345.
Once more unto the beer, dear friends, once more... Not so much a hidden gem as a semi-precious stone, but a well-kept secret nonetheless, and a worthwhile discovery.
I must mention the Bard here. It would be easy for a more superficial owner to overplay the name of the pub and go for any number of Shakespearian quotes, prints and paraphernalia (after all, the Actor´s Centre is only a hop away). But restraint has been tastefully exercised here. Apart from the Great Man´s head and a handful of quotes almost invisibly etched into the glass of the doors, and the bar-staff´s T-shirts, you´d need never know that Bill existed. What´s in a name? This pub, by any other name, would smell as sweet. I´ve read elsewhere, and heard told, that you´ll often get a celeb or two in here (sporting and thespian), but on my visits I´ve never spotted any. Just locals, a few after-workers, and a not unpleasant number of sad old drunks. "The common herd", to quote Julius Caesar Act 1 scene 2. I don´t want to get anyone into trouble with the Health Department, so let me just say this: there were no dogs tied up outside this pub (if you take my meaning). I don´t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Wednesdays 7 - 9pm is the badge draw. It will cost you $5 for a badge. Well, as we know, "men of few words are the best men", and "brevity is the soul of wit". So, check this pub out for yourself. You´ll be back again. Beer Serving:
Food/Type: There is a restaurant out back that we have never sampled on our visits. Anyone care to append a comment for us? If the restaurant doesn´t appeal, there is a fish and chip shop across the road who will take your order and deliver to the pub. Now that´s service. Pool Tables: Alas no, sirrah. Poker Machines: Two machines in the main bar and a small pokie room out back. Out damned pokies! Out I say!. JukeBox and Selection: None. Here live music be the food of love. Decor: As above, wonderfully natural and understated. Crowd: Workers, locals, punters, sportsfans. Operating Hours: Stay tuned. Live Music: Sundays from 6-10pm you´ll get a girl and a guitar doing a few acoustic sets. If you´re sitting on the comfier of the two types of stool, you may have to give up your seat for her. But why not? "...music oft hath such a charm to make bad good..." TAB: Yea, verily! The gee-gees play loudly here. "A horse! A horse! My kingdom each way on a horse!" Map:See The Map Surrounding Suburbs: Redfern, Strawberry Hills, Moore Park, Chippendale.
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The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices make instruments to plague us. Well that´s my excuse for being three-parts pissed whenever I lob up to the Shakespeare. Small, quiet, quaint and welcoming. Original baby-shit brown tiles outside, turquoise tiles, stained-glass fanlights, lots of old wood and well-worn carpet inside. You get the agreeable feeling that the décor has evolved by itself rather than from anyone´s conscious decision. As the man said, "ornament is but the guiled shore to a most dangerous sea".| < Prev | Next > |
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