The Kingston Hotel 27/04/11

Attendees: Michael, Ned
Price: $4.40 pot, $8.40 pint - about $1 overpriced
Location: 55 Highett St Richmond
Distance: From Wellington Manor about 1/2 hours walk or 10mins by public transport (very close to West Richmond train station). Walking distance for the Vice Pres & other Richmond/Abbotsford people.
Obscurity: Hidden in the back blocks of Richmond - unheard of.
Ambience: Fantastic food ($12 steak night with good proportions - usually $20. Pretty nice feeling - very open. Sectioned off to allow intimacy with friends or a date. Great beer garden.
Character: Unassuming. Very old building front completely modernised. Slightly homely
Decor: All the character is in the beer garden. Inside consists of a mixture of "RSL without the pokies" and "modern cliche". No chill out area.
Comfort: Stock standard. Not impressive. Temperature level quite warm inside without any fire places. Outside has potential to be cosy but they've decided to be tightarses with the gas bottles.
Variety: Great tap selection. Extensive menu
Patron Hotness: Typical private school look (ie pearl earrings and necklace combo). Ned rates it. Patrons have money to spend on themselves. May need a Swiss Bank account to pick up
Staff Hotness: Above average however dopey
Amenities: Would take a shit here. Clean.
Field Notes: Ned is considering having his birthday drinks here. The outside area makes the whole place but if they continue to be tight with the outside heating the can 'go fuck themselves'.
Memorable Quotes: "This place would heave on the weekend" - Ned
"Where's the toilet?"-Ned "Up the stairs on the right"-Michael "What, next to the make out couch?" "Yes!"
"Best $12 steak ever!" - Michael
"Worthy of a weekly adventure for the steak" - Ned
Arbitrary Score: 69

A big thanks to B.E.E.R.S Vice President Michael for chairing the outing in the absence of Presidents Cam & Ben!

The Napier Hotel 13/04/2011

Attendees: Cam, Ben, Michael, Ivanka, Richo and distinguished interstate guests James and Kat. (George left early).
Price: Excellent. $7 for a pint of Carlton.
Location: 210 Napier St Fitzroy, tucked away from Brunswick, Smith and Johnson St.
Distance: 15 min walk/ 1 hour flight.
Obscurity: Have to be in the know, but still quite an iconic pub.
Ambience: Homely feel, bit cramped, 'toight'. Lighting is spot on. You can see what's on your fork but dim enough to create a nice 'ombionse'. Good food pub, not so much as a watering hole.
Character: Steeped in history, old but maintained well, its in great shape. Iconic Fitzroyalty. Great fire places-add to homely feel.
Decor: Literally looks like it has been accumulated over the last 100 years-well it probably has! Heaps of decorations crammed on every wall, but it all ties in and works.
Comfort: It's cosy, but not ergonomic. Temperature control is quite nice (e.g. roaring fires make it a great winter pub). But it is very cluttered, tables crammed in everywhere.
Vairety: Quite a good selection of various Australian beers, both well known and the slightly more obscure.
Patron Hotness: Slightly more Fitzroy than Collingwood.
Patron Attitude: Low interactivity between groups. Bit more of an occasion to come here, people normally come in their own groups, no chance to mingle.
Specials: Portion sizes are massive. Good value for money. Nice food.
Outdoor Area: Wasn't well ventilated. Smoke everywhere, even though there was only 2 or 3 smokers. Heaters are good. The beer garden seems to bit of an afterthought. Moveable chairs are a must, the bolted down tables and chairs suck.
Service: Food service was crap. Food came out at very different times. Personality wise hit and miss.
Staff Hotness: Not hot at all.
Amenities: George felt scared. Thought she was going to fall through a hole in the floor. Scummy toilets are in a direct juxtaposition to the nice interior.
Field Notes: For a place that has 'Bogan Burger' on the menu, they don't even have BBQ sauce. Just the shit American cousin HP Brown sauce. Kat was not happy.
It is a very satisfying pub. Could never be disappointed after a meal there. Easy going and low key dining.
Kat liked the absence of T.V.s something you would never get in a pub in Sydney. Makes it a lot more intimate and pleasant.
Memorable Quotes: "Bit more South Yarra than South Morang" B.H.
"The decor is off its tits" M.L-G.
"It's not a memorable quotes kinda place" B.H.
Arbitrary Score: 75 Good for about a once-a-month dining experience.

Builders Arms 06/04/11

Attendees: Cam, Ben, Ivanka, Michael, Shaun, Ned, Richo, Jos
Price: $9.20 coopers pint - on the pricey side
Location: 211 Gertrude St, stumbling distance of maccas!
Distance: 5min tram ride, 15min walk
Obscurity: Deceptively large, easily overlooked
Ambience: Top notch, friendly feel, different areas keep it interesting
Character: Got lots going, Awesome 'igloo' section. Top marks!
Decor: A bit bare inside in some areas, some stand out pieces (like the gorilla poster!). Good lighting. Warm feeling, it all works. (bit disjointed - BH)
Comfort: Booths win. Dark corners for dark deeds - MLG. And light areas too. Variety of comfort levels for different tastes.
Patron Attitude: Extremely friendly. Easygoing and welcoming.
Patron Hotness: Seems like it could be good. A few potentials.
Service: Quite good, staff are friendly. Good at table clearing.
Staff Hotness: Positive! On the mark.
Selection: Above average but nothing too special - tried em all before.
Beer garden: Cool foliage in beer garden and seating on-street as well. And a bandroom/dining room. Kicking goals!
Specials: Off the chart - practically every day. 1/2 price bar food Mon, other specials tues, wed & sun and $10 jugs until 6pm every day.
Amenities: Quality, well kept & clean. Maybe a little too many urinal cakes, a bit of nostril sting going on.
Field notes: Love the gorilla/phoenix room. So awesome to kick back and put your feet up! Has good pillow fighting pillows. Its a big pub but would never feel empty - good use of segmented spaces, open but with different sections. Want to come back every day for the specials! Vanks digs the coasters.
Memorable quotes: "I feel glorious!" - Norwegian shallow diver
"Actually yes that girl is not that fucking ugly" - M.LG.
"I had a good exchange in the toilets" - B.H.
"Let's shuffle right along now" - Shaun
"Every girl is going to look good after 4 or 5 beers out here" - Ned
"It's everything Bimbo's should be" - B.H.
Arbitrary Score=83
A great pub well worth a revisit on a weekday or the weekend!