Come in, spinner!
The ANZAC Day long weekend is here, with ANZAC Day itself falling on Monday April 25. And while the day is one of commemoration to our fallen, it’s also one of celebration. Enjoy an ANZAC Day of food, drinks, entertainment – and a bit of two-up – with our picks of the best venues in Sydney.
What to see and do: It’s all about the party vibes this ANZAC long weekend! Friday will see the legendary Tenzin headline the main room followed by a very exclusive back-to-back set with house queens Beth Yen and Lavida. On Saturday, Melbourne’s favourite Tess Vockler will take the reins, and on Sunday we welcome back triple j host and party monarch KLP. For those wanting to continue on the celebration, on Monday we’ll see the king of smooth Mike Champion laying down some smooth jams – and how can we forget the classic two-up and Aussie courtyard BBQ!
For our ears: Party jams and all your favorite club anthems on Friday and Saturday with DJs Tenzin, Beth Yen, Tess Vockler and Tass. Plus all your guilty R&B pleasures can be heard in our back room with K-Note, Sabio and Helena Ellis. Sunday is all about the house party vibes with KLP and Monday we’ll be getting unclubbed with the Mike Champion band live.
Bevvy of choice: Our famous espresso martinis for sure!
Getting in the ANZAC spirit – what’s the highlight? “I got to party up close and personal with KLP from triple j!”
Two-up tips: Go for tails, because at The Argyle we’re always shaking our tail feathers.
Cost: Free entry before 8pm on Friday – Sunday and $10-20+ thereafter
Where: 18 Argyle St, The Rocks
When: Friday April 22 – Saturday April 23 6pm-3am, Sunday April 24 – Monday April 25 11am-late
What to see and do: Doors open 8am with the beer flowing and BBQ breakie rolls on offer. Four bars and three can bars to take care of the drinking throughout the day. BL Burgers are doing a pop-up burger stand upstairs, yum! Once upstairs, head to our custom-built grandstand for your game of two-up run by our local legends Tommy, Carney and Ox.
For our ears: All four bars have a different DJ playing throughout the day so you have your pick of tunes. You will see gracing our decks: Luen, Drabs, Stu Turner, Jesse and many, many more!
Bevvy of choice: Nothing beats an ice-cold beer from one of our four bars or three can bars, however if cocktails are more your style, head upstairs to our newly renovated cocktail bar for a house special.
Getting in the ANZAC spirit – what’s the highlight? Nothing is going to beat our grandstand around the two-up ring, with plenty of room and viewing points for all involved. Throw in a tasty BL Burger and the option to kick off from 8am after the dawn service, and this is the only place to be for ANZAC Day 2016!
Two-up tips: Jump in for your own toss, or just watch from the sidelines, playing from midday to sundown. For those who don’t know the rules, don’t worry – we have you covered with rules around the venue. Head ’em up!
Cost: Free entry all day – the only costs are the money well spent in your game of two-up and on the tasty burgers from BL and your beers!
Where: 71 Beach Rd, Bondi
When: Monday April 25, 8am – late
What to see and do: From 12-6pm we’ll have two-up in the beer garden, $5 VB tinnies, and $5 sausage sangas.
Bevvy of choice: VB
Getting in the ANZAC spirit – what’s the highlight? Coming out on top after two-up and all while juggling your sambo in one hand and a cold beer in the other.
Two-up tips: Tails never fails. And if it does, run. Just kidding. Get out your set amount of cash, stick to it, and just enjoy the game!
Cost: Completely free
Where: 75 The Corso, Manly
When: Monday April 25, 12-6pm
What to see and do: From 12pm the Marrickville Bowlo will be doing two-up on the dancefloor and from 2pm we have some mighty local live music to see the day through.
For our ears: This is the tenth anniversary of Spurs For Jesus and Handsome Young Strangers doing their massive ANZAC Day gig (previously at the Annandale and Vic On The Park). Anyone who has been to these gigs previously knows that the day has grown to be as much a Sydney institution as both the bands are. We even have a special guest trumpeter coming along to pay respects, playing the Last Post.
Bevvy of choice: Local brewery Shark Island will be doing a great special on their famous kolsch for the day – a great drop, and we’ve done our research.
Getting in the ANZAC spirit – what’s the highlight? Seeing a massive crowd go silent for the Last Post. Apart from that it’s just another massive day at Sydney’s new spiritual home of rock.
Two-up tips: Heads all the way, baby.
Cost: $10 cover charge for the bands from 2pm. Everything else at Bowlo prices.
Where: 91 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville
When: Monday April 25 – two-up from 12pm, bands from 2pm
What to see and do: Located in a prime position for the dawn service proceedings in Martin Place and directly on the parade route along Elizabeth Street, Martin Place Bar will be hosting a Diggers’ Breakfast BBQ from 5-10am on the alfresco terrace, bordering the iconic Martin Place forecourt, featuring free-range bacon and egg rolls and gourmet sausage sandwiches on Sonoma Bakery sourdough ($7 each). The bar will be in full operation offering a vast selection of wines, beers and spirits throughout the day. Following on from breakfast, a tailored bistro favourites menu will be on offer between 10am and 2pm featuring items such as Martin Place Bar’s delicious free-range chicken schnitzel and pot pies.
Bevvy of choice: It’s ANZAC Day, so pretty much everything. Martin Place Bar features a large selection of local, international and craft beers and ciders available on tap and bottled, spirits and a noteworthy wine list boasting an array of cellar-aged Australian wines.
Getting in the ANZAC spirit – what’s the highlight? Prime location bordering the Martin Place ANZAC Day proceedings, killer B&Es from the Martin Place Bar Terrace BBQ, and of course the large array of beers on tap.
Two-up tips: Heads!
Cost: Free entry, $7 B&Es and sausage sandwiches
Where: 51 Martin Place, Sydney
When: Monday April 25, 5am-late (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
What to see and do: Two-up arena from midday hosted by the fabulous Hannah Conda!
For our ears: DJs kicking off from 4pm till late featuring PHDJ (Purple Sneakers), Meem and Ego (UNDR ctrl).
Bevvy of choice: $6 Colonial Brewing tinnies ($1 from every sale goes to Legacy Australia).
Getting in the ANZAC spirit – what’s the highlight? Join us ANZAC Day eve for a lineup of Sydney’s best DJs, then we open early at 10am on ANZAC Day!
Two-up tips: Get to know your terminology – this can be a very serious (but fun) event. “Come in, spinner!”
Cost: Free entry, as always
Where: 174 King St, Newtown
When: Monday April 25 from 11am
What to see and do: Great live acts from noon till late, and check out our new menu, washed down with $6 VB cans – $1 from every sale goes to Legacy.
For our ears: Great party classics with a huge Aussie songlist.
12pm: Rob Henry, known as the human jukebox, playing all your favourite classics, new stuff, requests et cetera. Everything from Hozier to Hendrix, Van Morrison to Ed Sheeran, and everything in between.
4pm: Paul Winn Trio. Paul Winn performs a smorgasbord of edgy vocal stylings and virtuosic guitar, from the acoustic sounds of the Eagles and James Taylor, to Frank Sinatra and classic jazz, to a night of sing-along favorites from Cold Chisel and other great Aussie bands.
8:30pm-12am: Gary Johns Band. Gary Johns Band has earned a reputation in Sydney as one of the best party bands when it comes to getting the dancefloor and the sing-along aspect of your day or night to a whole new level of awesome! The band has more than 1,000 songs to choose from and knows how to read and work a crowd. As it’s an ANZAC celebration, you can be assured of a great songlist and the best ANZAC songs of all time.
Bevvy of choice: The Orient Hotel has a huge range of drinks available and an impressive list of Aussie beers, bottled and on tap.
Getting in the ANZAC spirit – what’s the highlight? The Orient Hotel draws a great mix of people from international visitors to our local community, and as they do every ANZAC Day, people from all areas of Sydney come to the Orient for great service and a great day. The Orient has bars that range from the intimate to party-crowded – check it out.
Cost: Free entry and hotel prices for drinks and food
Where: Cnr George St and Argyle St, The Rocks
When: Monday April 25 from 11am
[Main image: Beach Road Hotel 2-up; The Argyle photo by Sam Ali]
