Ok, I know I gave the Brickworks Beer Garden four stars, but it is the weirdest pub I've ever been to. But hey, it works. Behind the permanent fixture of the icecream and donut fixture, up some brick stairs (watch out for loose bricks), above the rubble and wild greenery that is the Brickworks, is the Brickie's Beer Garden. Inside there is a shabby old stage, some wooden tables and benches, and what looks like the dodgiest speakeasy this side of Ho Chi Minh.
It sort of just an open air corrugated iron shed - hence the term 'beer garden'. Out the back is an outdoor setting with more tables and chairs under the sun. Vines wrap around the supporting beams inside and out. Behind the stage is a big hand painted sign saying 'BEERGARDEN', with palm trees and an oasis horizon. If you're there on a Sunday afternoon a bunch of elderly rockers are likely to be playing classics from beyond the grave. It's surprisingly enjoyable.
Behind the bar is loads of strange ephemera - photos of performers and patrons and ancient Coopers promotional junk. Oh and some fuzzy headed bartenders. The folks here are real nice, if a bit toasted. Some friends decided they should try and play some gigs there, but talking to the staff was mighty confusing.
I reckon the Brickie's Beergarden is a real find. A pleasant place with a big ole outdoor setting, deserted on a Sunday, perfect for a few beers after playing soccer at King's Reserve. There is no EFTPOS, so bring cash. read more