The Oxford Tavern is about to be stripped of its scantily clad reputation, with influential new owners Drink 'n' Dine planning to breathe some fresh (and fully clothed) air into the Petersham pub. The infamous inner-west drinking hole has been known for its topless barmaids, cheap booze and lunchtime strip shows since the 1970s, and its transformation is expected to help gentrify the area.
Sydney's Drink 'n' Dine company, who have rejuvenated pubs like Surry Hills' The Forresters, The Norfolk and The Carrington, plan to to turn the risque dive bar into an American BBQ beer house. Drink 'n' Dine CEO Jamie Wirth told the Sydney Morning Herald they'll be mixing Aussie pub classics with an American BBQ menu. There’ll be craft beer on tap and a leafy beer garden replacing the current pokie lair.
Wirth plans on keeping some of the Oxford Tavern’s exotic charm by reworking the existing interior, including the neon signs and stripper pole. The new venue will be taken over next month with doors set to open in November this year.
Via Sydney Morning Herald. Image: The Norfolk.