Pending final certification from every man and his dog, we expect to be open in Darlinghurst by the end of this week! For those interested, here is what the opening tap list will look like... As usual, there will be new beers coming on tap almost weekly. Hargreaves Hill ESB will feature as soon as next week..
LAGERS
James Squire Pilsner (NSW)
Murrays Pilsner (NSW)
Trumer German Pilsner (Austria)
Hofbrau Munich Helles (Germany)
Kostritzer Munich Dunkel (Germany)
ALES
Coopers Sparkling Ale (SA)
Matilda Bay Fat Yak APA (VIC)
Wicked Elf APA (NSW)
Barons Black Wattle Ale (NSW)
5 Islands Spangled Wheat (NSW)
Wig & Pen ‘Kamberra’ Kölsch (ACT)
Mountain Goat Hightail English Pale Ale (VIC)
Feral Razorback Barley Wine (WA)
Little Creatures U.S Pale Ale (WA)
Leffe Blonde (Belgium)
James Squire Amber Ale (NSW)
Hoegaarden Wit (Belgium)
Franziskaner Hefeweizen (Germany)
Bridge Road ‘Chevalier Saison’ (VIC)
Jamieson ‘Beast IPA’ (VIC)
2 Brothers ‘Growler’ Brown Ale (VIC)
Hi, great news that the Sydney version of the Taphouse is to open soon. 2 questions, where are you and what is the actual date you open the doors?
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I think it'd be pretty safe to say this Thursday..
ReplyDeleteThe address is cnr of Flinders & South Dowling Streets in Darlinghurst..
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4RNWN_enAU306AU308&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=%22122+Flinders+Street,+Darlinghurst,+NSW+2010%E2%80%8E%22&fb=1&split=1&gl=au&cid=0,0,11130862898456515157&ei=L_ChSdv1MZDM6gPywo3BCg&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image
Prefect timing for the Rugby on Friday night! I might have to bookend the rugby with a couple of visits.
ReplyDeleteSee you then
Cheers
Dave
Dave, that's what I was thinking, but I wanna see the 'Canes on Foxtel 1st- so do you have Fox Sports on?
ReplyDeleteIs it still Thursday that Sydney Local will open?
ReplyDeleteWent to check this place out on Friday. SIMPLY AWESOME!
ReplyDelete7 (strong) beers and not even a hint of a hangover! Must be lack of preservatives or something. Best night I've had in quite a while.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Steve and his staff. 5 of us went last night and we all agreed that this place is a winner. The selection is great but also the accommodating manner of the staff really made it a fine night. We did a lot of 'paddling' last night, by virtue of the opportunity to try a lot of small samples. For the other blokes it was a great way to introduce them to new styles and flavours. We were even permitted to split bottles amongst the tasting glasses. The food is great and good value. Best of luck here everyone for a breath of fresh air to the Sydney pub scene. Tell your mates all you punters and make this a success it deserves to be.
ReplyDeleteI visited The Local Taphouse today after months of anticipation and have to say I was bitterly disappointed. I really love good beer and was excited to hear unloved Palisis Hotel was to become a shrine to quality beers. From the first time I read on the chalkboards of the promise of what was to come I was hooked. I checked out the website and believed that finally the Paliasi could raise phoenix like from the ashes of the previous management and soar to new heights. Perhaps it can but I doubt that I will be back.
ReplyDeleteI understand the difficulties of running a business and realize that pubs need to make a profit in order to continue trading but the prices at The Local Taphouse in Darlinghurst in my opinion are beyond the pale ( Coopers Pale). I like my beer and I”m more the prepared to pay a premium price for quality brew but the prices at the The Local Taphouse border on extortion.
I accept that when a person invests a their business they have the right to recoup their costs by charging a fare price for their produce. Take the Beresford Hotel (neighbouring pub 354 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst ) as an example the owners have spent over $20,000,000.00 renovating a decrepit site to create an beautiful drinking space. The Beresford charges $10.50 for a 500 ml glass of Hoegarten.
By contrast the Local Taphouse charges $14.00 for an equivalent sized beer and spent 99 cents on refurbishment.
The Trinity Hotel (505 Crown St Surry Hills) offers 500 mls of Franziskaner for $7.50. The Local Taphouse wants $9.10.
A Coopers Sparkling ale is a snip at $4.60 mind you this isn’t a schooner ( Forresters Hotel 336 Riley St Surry Hills ) $5.00, no it’s served in tiny wine glass. I may be wrong but in my opinion it was smaller then a middy.
I love good beer but I also don’t want to be ripped off. I had such high hopes for the The Local Taphouse but sadly these dreams were unfounded . The owners are clearly more interested in making buck then becoming a “real local”
Perhaps the barman should dress in Ned Kelly costumes to let customers know that the owners are from Victoria and are highway robbers.
PS. It will be interesting to see how long this post is removed. It will be a true indication of the owners intent to stick out the competitive Sydney pub market.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi All, we just got back from The Local tonite and enjoyed ourselves. Downstairs still has a little work left to do but has a pretty relaxed vibe, upstairs has lots of wooden shutters and looks similar to the St. Kilda bar- the light upstairs is great and the little rooms inviting.
ReplyDeleteI had the beef burger which was great, my wife had the vege burger which was OK ( a bit too much pumpkin) and my sister in-law had mussels which she liked.
I had 3 beers: The Jamieson Beast first- it's a great beer full of flavour; The Matilda Bay Fat Yak was fine too with an interesting citrus note; Lastly the Frankinziner (sp) wheat beer which is always a safe bet.
So we'll be back- and if they get Foxtel on and show the Super 14 i'll have a second home!
Cheers
Thanks for your comments Cultureshot. There are still many things we're tweaking and we did the same in Melbourne. The reason we don't have any Grand Openings is so we can fix them before it gets busier! It's always hard for me to read reviews when I'm already aware of most of things we need to improve on!
ReplyDeleteDid you introduce yourself to Guy, Justin or me? What's your real name?!
After a successful outing to the bar last Friday night and a win for the Waratahs’, I'll be heading back this Friday for more of the same (hopefully another win for the Tah’s).
ReplyDeleteA visit before and after the game works great unless you need to watch the NZ match on Fox as there are no TV’s. Hopefully by the end of Friday night I will have worked my way through the tap beers and I come up a shortlist for future outings.
As far as Franziskaner's comments go; I understand where you are coming from mate but I am happy to pay extra as a sign of appreciation for the guys in bringing this bar to Sydney. I can't think of one bar in Sydney that has anywhere near the amount of Aussie Micro Brews available in one spot. As for the decor, I love it - it's not another Sydney snobby bar with its flash walls and fittings and that suits me just fine.
By the way Steve, loved the salami pizza and the staff were great.
See you on Friday
Cheers
Dave
Thanks for your honest and constructive feedback Franziskaner (if that is your real name). It is important we consider all feedback, both good and bad. Thankfully, the other comments we have received from many new Locals since opening a few day ago have been more encouraging than yours!
ReplyDeleteThe reason our prices aren’t as cheap as some Sydney places is simple. We are passionately against gaming and poker machines and choose not to have them on our premises. We therefore don’t generate the profits from the machines which allow us to sell cheap drinks. We try to offer a nice venue, a strong point of difference (great beers, no pokies etc) and a high level of hospitality which our return customers are happy to pay for. This is certainly what has happened in Melbourne where our margins are exactly the same, despite the increased costs of operating in Sydney (rent etc)..
There is another factor too. Some Sydney hotels take generous incentives and rebates from big brewery groups to serve the products the breweries want them to sell (which thus allow them to sell all their beers cheaper). While we have a few taps tied to Malt Shovel, Coopers, Little Creatures & InBev/Matilda Bay, they are for specific beers (and beer styles) we genuinely want anyway. We have turned down other incentives we feel would compromise what we’re about. The other 14 taps are completely, and intentionally, independent.
As we prefer serving our drinks in better looking and more appropriate beer glassware than a 425ml standard schooner, our pouring measures vary depending on the beer. Seven of our current tap beers come in specialist, branded, glassware of 330ml or less. The German beers (Kostritzer, Franziskaner, Hofbrau) come in both 300 and 500ml glasses. Trumer and Leffe Blonde a 330ml glass. The Feral Razorback (11% ABV) comes in only 250ml brandy snifter for obvious reasons. Our standard tulip ale glass (for ales without specialist glassware) is 310ml. Our Beer Book menu clearly indicate the measure for each and every beer. If people want a larger serve of most beers, we offer handled pint glasses at exactly the same profit margin.
We work very, very hard in sourcing the best beers we can find to have on our taps. Of our opening taps in Sydney, eight or so beers have never been on tap in this city before. Over the course of the next year, I estimate more than 80 or 90 of the beers we tap will be new to Sydney. This means we have to organise special (and often expensive) transport to have these kegs delivered from breweries (some in far flung corners of the country).
Those Sydneysiders who want to see more non-pokie drinking venues can't expect prices to be the same.
Thanks again for your comment. Of course time will tell how things pan out but we're hopeful! I am sorry you won't be visiting us again. If you do, however, be sure to introduce yourself... by your real name and also check out our beautiful upstairs space! And the first drink is on me!
Steve