Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
Paladin
Craig HillThe yuppification of Sydney pubs
November 8th 2006 22:30
Five to ten years ago I noticed a number of pubs in Sydney going for a new look - rennovating their old historic interiors and putting in a stripped-back cocktail bar. Pretty quickly, particularly in certain areas, they realised they had destroyed their pubs by pushing away all their locals and making it a place where yuppies came. The problem with yuppies is they drink far less than your average Sydney punter.
Why this is relevant to today is that it is clearly happening again. The number one example is the Bank in Newtown. Okay it was pretty cocktail bar already, but it seems as though they spent millions of dollars pushing the cushions around. While Newtown has a plethora of pubs, last night I saw people lining up to get in to the Bank! Get a life people. Of course the fanfair of their reopening will subside and they'll have to try just as hard as any pubs to get people in.
Another example is the AB in Glebe. It was always a locals pub and then they spent a fortune redoing it. It is the most souless place ever - simply a little bit of Las Vegas without the appeal. It seems they didn't have quite enough cash to get everything done. The huge water feature was empty and dirty, the bathroom didn't have soap dispensers, but simply your home bathroom soap bottle and there were just a pile of paper towels placed in the corner.
The Coopers Arms is being rennovated at the moment. Here's hoping it doesn't go the same way!
Why this is relevant to today is that it is clearly happening again. The number one example is the Bank in Newtown. Okay it was pretty cocktail bar already, but it seems as though they spent millions of dollars pushing the cushions around. While Newtown has a plethora of pubs, last night I saw people lining up to get in to the Bank! Get a life people. Of course the fanfair of their reopening will subside and they'll have to try just as hard as any pubs to get people in.
Another example is the AB in Glebe. It was always a locals pub and then they spent a fortune redoing it. It is the most souless place ever - simply a little bit of Las Vegas without the appeal. It seems they didn't have quite enough cash to get everything done. The huge water feature was empty and dirty, the bathroom didn't have soap dispensers, but simply your home bathroom soap bottle and there were just a pile of paper towels placed in the corner.
The Coopers Arms is being rennovated at the moment. Here's hoping it doesn't go the same way!
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Comment by Anonymous
the old saying "balmain boys don't cry" doesn't quite fit the feeling of a pub filled with lava lamps and fish tanks
Comment by Glen
Reggae