End of Season Review
What an adventure. It was an arduous task trialling as many pre-game bars as possible, but someone had to do it. Many of us had a regular place to meet before games at Subi, which is what I was looking for again. I’m not sure our crew really settled on a new regular, and I think where we spend our time before games next season will vary a fair bit depending on Freo’s schedule and the make-up of the group.
The final leader board looked like this.
The Best
Dutch Trading Company (Vic Park): 80 points
Five6Eight (East Perth): 78 points
The Grosvenor (East Perth): 75 points
The Rest
The Royal (Claisebrook): 74 points
The Camfield (Optus Stadium): 70 points
JPs Bar (Gloucester Park): 75 points
The Bridge Bar (Gloucester Park): 70 points
Bright Tank Brewery (East Perth): 66 points
Blasta Brewery (Burswood): 65 points
Skyview Room (Optus Stadium): 64 points
Final Verdict
Of the best, DTC landed in the gold medal position, and it is certainly a great place to get a pint and a bite to eat; but its distance from the ground means it’s probably best suited to a Sat night game where you can take your time a bit. The same probably goes for The Grosvenor, which is a really good pub, but still a fair walk. Assuming we receive a similar Sunday-heavy schedule next year, I think we’ll be spending a fair bit of time at Five6Eight - but as it is a small venue that might depend a little on how popular it becomes. I can also see us popping into JPs at Gloucester Park for a Sunday game where some of our crew decides to drive.
Not reviewed
There were a few places I was keen to get to but ran out of time this season.
It didn’t seem like my sort of joint, but I thought the deck at Ku de Ta might have been worth a try given its proximity to the ground. Turns out it wasn’t really anyone’s sort of joint, because it went into administration before I had a chance to try it. If any business can survive there, and if parking is available, I think that Point Fraser area could be handy before games.
There are a few pubs like the Empire and the Carlisle on train lines just before the stadium that could be worth trying. A few of my friends come from the Northern suburbs, so that wasn’t really an option for us.
As discussed above, places like PICA, Petition Beer Corner and The Globe could work well for those catching the city shuttle. Given its location Hadiqa in the new Westin Hotel precinct could also work.
There are heaps of places at Crown that could work well, but as discussed, I reckon Packer has been given enough of a free kick.
User Scores?
As with all topics on Dockerland, you’ve probably heard more than enough from me. I’d be keen to see where everyone else landed this year, especially any places I’ve missed. The late-season completion of the footbridge might also have skewed my reviews a little, especially as it relates to how busy a place is, so I’d be keen to know where people’s opinions of a venue have been different to mine.
Happy drinking (responsibly).
