The Lord Gladstone Finds New Life from The Vic Crew

The crew behind Enmore's Vic on the Park have revamped the long musty Chippendale pub.
Shannon Connellan
April 29, 2015

You know that kind of unassuming pub on Regent Street? Up from Freda's, across from the servo with the attached Chinese restaurant? Yeah, the Gladstone. Once the realms of Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights on jukebox repeat, drum and bass nights and a certain beery carpet funk (but always good pub grub), The Lord Gladstone is back as Chippendale's newest revamped live music venue and art-friendly pub.

Revamped by the legends behind The Vic in Enmore and the Toxteth in Glebe, the Lord Gladstone has a fresh coat of paint, reopened kitchen and that widely high-fived sound system (previously well-thrashed by drum and bass night Afterlife); perfect for hosting after parties over the last six weeks for the likes of Sticky Fingers, Horrorshow and One Day. Little Bastard even played in the beer garden, and FBi shows Dusty Fingers and Loose Joints teamed up for a little shindig. Chippendale dwellers can officially look forward to ad-hoc music events up ahead at the Gladstone, continuing on its history of sporadic Sydney music nights. It's another win for the suburb after the expanded music roster of the Lansdowne, the folk/country residencies at The Chip Off the Old Block and the perpetually kickass electronica at Knox Street Bar, not to forget Freda's always eclectic  lineup of gigs.

gladstone

But more live music isn't all you can look forward to at the reborn Gladstone. The pub is now home to Goodspace; a gallery curated by Chris Loutfy of Press Books. Lord Gladstone now hosts monthly art exhibitions, including its debut show Process which opened last week on level one — featuring work by Chris Yee, James Jirat Patradoon, Georgia Hill, Beastman and Numskull among others. Plus, you can take in a Swans game downstairs after you're done. Up the Bloods.

Food-wise, the kitchen's cranking out burgers, parmy toasties and deep fried Golden Gaytimes. There’s pickled eggs ($2 each) and endgame beans ($7) to nibble at as well. Don’t expect your cheap, basic pub specials though, with fancy fare like 300g New York cut steak with potato gratin, green beans and cabernet jus ($26); beef cheek and red wine pie with mashed potato and smashed peas ($20), pancetta, garden pea and gorgonzola dulce risotto ($22) and whole roasted rainbow trout with fenugreek butter, kipfler potatoes, fennel and dill ($28). But that's what you're paying at the Courty anyway these days, it's the pricey pub age we live in.

gladstone-burger

Find the Lord Gladstone at 115 Regent Street, Chippendale. It's open for lunch and dinner every day, and open until 3am Thursday to Saturday, lockout free. Check the Facebook page for upcoming events.

Images: The Lord Gladstone.

Published on April 29, 2015 by Shannon Connellan
Tap and select Add to Home Screen to access Concrete Playground easily next time. x