Seven Pubs to Hit Before, During or After the Game
Whether you want to commiserate, celebrate or congregate, these sporty Brissie bars have you covered.
Seven Pubs to Hit Before, During or After the Game
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Whether you want to commiserate, celebrate or congregate, these sporty Brissie bars have you covered.
Before goals are scored at the Gabba, beers start flowing. And after the last passes have been thrown at Suncorp Stadium, brews are well and truly needed. If you're a sports fan, you know that every game, set and match goes better with a drink in hand.
Sipping on a beer and watching folks kick, hit or throw a ball, really is an ideal pairing. But if you aren't able to see it IRL — maybe your match of choice is in another country/city or you haven't managed to nab tickets in time — don't stress. Head to a pub and watch all your sporting shenanigans on the big screen. With help from our friends at Heineken, we've found seven Brisbane pubs that'll take care of your thirst before, during or after the game.
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There are no prizes for guessing what kind of sport often takes centre stage at Brisbane’s British-themed pub chain. Yes, it’s football — especially when the World Cup is on and England come close to making it all the way to the final. The Pig ‘N’ Whistle in Fortitude Valley shares the sporting love around, however, so you can expect to watch games of all sorts here. Between matches — or if you’d prefer to opt-out of the fan antics — you can also soak up the chill vibe in the beer garden.
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Brisbane’s home of hefty steaks is also the home of sitting back, having a few brews and enjoying whichever sport takes your fancy. In the pub’s main beer garden, you’ll find a big screen playing the game of the moment — if it’s a weekend during the NRL season, it’s likely to be that — however, a number of smaller screens around the place have everything else covered. Cricket, footy, soccer, AFL, you name it — it’s on the bill. In winter, you’ll also find heaters to warm you up, which is something you definitely won’t get at the actual game.
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An eastside favourite sandwiched between a local park and the main road, The Pineapple Hotel is a haven for the AFL obsessed. If you’re a Lions fan looking to wet your whistle on the way to the game — or (fingers crossed) get jovial post-match — the Gabba is just a few blocks down the road. Other sports get a spin here too, but you know what they say in real estate: location is everything. Grab a pub meal before, after or during the game to go with your Heineken and you’re all set.
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Home to Harry Potter parties, evenings dedicated to onion rings, live gigs, heavy metal festivals and everything in between — you can’t accuse the Jubilee Hotel of not valuing variety. That extends to the sporting lineup filling the pub’s screens, although it’s the kind of spot you’ll want to save for a particularly big occasion. Come State of Origin night, for example, dinner and drinks packages are the name of the game. As The Castle taught us, it’s the vibe of the thing, and the vibe here is usually very energetic — especially if you’re also playing ping pong or giant Jenga in the beer garden.
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The view over Newstead’s Gasworks precinct is just one thing vying for your attention at the Defiant Duck. A food menu that includes poutine, Philly cheesesteaks and smoked barbecue pork ribs is another. And, as you might guess from a joint that has dubbed one of its desserts The Mighty Ducks Sundae, live sport is yet another attraction. While the space calls itself a food and drink pavilion rather than a pub, you know the kind of mood you’re in for. Along with the game of the hour, the venue is also big on trivia — which, if you play it right, is another kind of sport, really.
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Sports fans are just like everyone else. They go on holidays. They go to hotels. They go on day trips and ferry rides. And in one visit to the Straddie they can achieve all of that and watch the game. Nestled on the headland between the beach and bush, the Straddie boasts unparalleled views of the Pacific Ocean, should you tire from watching the game. Enjoy a schooner or two, and make a night of it by staying in one of the on-site hotel rooms. Sport, like most things, is always better by the sea.
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Buffalo is one of Brisbane’s original American-themed hangouts. It’s your go-to for three specific things: the Superbowl, obviously, but also rugby league and rugby union. Well, that’s the case as far as the sporting lineup is concerned. Food and drinks wise, grab a brew and enjoy a basket of wings, a burger or some deep-fried maple ice cream. As you sit surrounded by old-school wooden decor, peer out over the corner of Mary and Edward streets, and soak up the passionate atmosphere. Also on the menu: a 16-hour one-kilogram platter of smoked brisket, chorizo, chicken and pork shoulder for $60, which is made to share, obviously.
