Anybody here drink in the Cock and Bull, Bondi Jct?

top madra · 30-03-2014 07:21AM #1

Sorry about the rant...

But coming home from a BBQ in Tamarama yesterday with a few friends (no Irish) we said we go to Bondi Jct for a drink before heading home.

I hadn't been in the Cock and Bull yet and was kinda looking forward to it because I haven't been in a Irish pub or met that many Irish people since I got here.

But fuk me I couldn't wait to get out of there, it felt like a chit hole from back home, a load of scumbag looking guys hanging around the bar. It's the first time since I got here that I have been surrounded by a load of Irish.

And I couldn't wait to be rid of them........Am I no longer Irish lol.

I had heard before it's a ok spot, but is it always like that?

Mad4simmental · 30-03-2014 07:38AM

top madra wrote: »

Sorry about the rant...

But coming home from a BBQ in Tamarama yesterday with a few friends (no Irish) we said we go to Bondi Jct for a drink before heading home.

I hadn't been in the Cock and Bull yet and was kinda looking forward to it because I haven't been in a Irish pub or met that many Irish people since I got here.

But fuk me I couldn't wait to get out of there, it felt like a chit hole from back home, a load of scumbag looking guys hanging around the bar. It's the first time since I got here that I have been surrounded by a load of Irish.

And I couldn't wait to be rid of them........Am I no longer Irish lol.

I had heard before it's a ok spot, but is it always like that?

It's just one of them holes that people get stuck in, they drink in it 7 nights of the week and walk around as if they Owen the place. You'll find most of them are fresh of the boat or never moved out of the area since they landed. Personally I hated Sydney. Melbourne and perth are far better but they all have a hole like this.

browne_rob5 · 30-03-2014 08:54AM

top madra wrote: »

Sorry about the rant...

But coming home from a BBQ in Tamarama yesterday with a few friends (no Irish) we said we go to Bondi Jct for a drink before heading home.

I hadn't been in the Cock and Bull yet and was kinda looking forward to it because I haven't been in a Irish pub or met that many Irish people since I got here.

But fuk me I couldn't wait to get out of there, it felt like a chit hole from back home, a load of scumbag looking guys hanging around the bar. It's the first time since I got here that I have been surrounded by a load of Irish.

And I couldn't wait to be rid of them........Am I no longer Irish lol.

I had heard before it's a ok spot, but is it always like that?

The T gardens is even worse

mandrake04 · 30-03-2014 09:11AM

top madra wrote: »

Sorry about the rant...

But coming home from a BBQ in Tamarama yesterday with a few friends (no Irish) we said we go to Bondi Jct for a drink before heading home.

I hadn't been in the Cock and Bull yet and was kinda looking forward to it because I haven't been in a Irish pub or met that many Irish people since I got here.

But fuk me I couldn't wait to get out of there, it felt like a chit hole from back home, a load of scumbag looking guys hanging around the bar. It's the first time since I got here that I have been surrounded by a load of Irish.

And I couldn't wait to be rid of them........Am I no longer Irish lol.

I had heard before it's a ok spot, but is it always like that?

You sound like a very smart bloke.

CNB & T Gardens are typical Bondi, and is to muppets what Mecca is to Muslims.

top madra · 30-03-2014 09:29AM

mandrake04 wrote: »

You sound like a very smart bloke.

CNB & T Gardens are typical Bondi, and is to muppets what Mecca is to Muslims.

Lol I'm not too sure about the smart bit

But why they come to the other side of the world and carry on like they would at home, I'll never understand this mentality...

My French friends were slagging me saying 'this is Ireland' lol...
Tbf I was just embarrassed and couldn't get out of there fast enough. I guess I'll be staying clear of the Tea gardens also then..

mandrake04 · 30-03-2014 09:51AM

top madra wrote: »

Lol I'm not too sure about the smart bit

Well you sussed the place out, there's plenty been going there for years and they failed to spot it.

Mellor · 30-03-2014 11:12AM

Was this today? Sundays are the worst in there. You prob got a good idea of the place.
All the C&B is good for is free steak on Thursdays.

commited · 30-03-2014 11:23AM

top madra wrote: »

But why they come to the other side of the world and carry on like they would at home, I'll never understand this mentality...

There seems to be a number of Irish people in Sydney (mostly Bondi) who only have an interest in socialising with Irish people. I fell into a group like that when I first arrived but had a similar experience to yourself - haven't been back to Bondi (apart for some breakfast) since! Avoid C&B, Tea Gardens and Scruffy Murphys and you'll be OK. PJs used to be nicer than it is now but it's still decent during the day

Slunk · 30-03-2014 11:35AM

As someone said,the only decent thing about it was $0 steak on a Thursday.

top madra · 31-03-2014 02:46AM

Mellor wrote: »

Was this today? Sundays are the worst in there. You prob got a good idea of the place.
All the C&B is good for is free steak on Thursdays.

Sat eve, all the place was missing was a few pairs of track suits tucked in socks.

It felt like walking into another towns local bar where the whole pub turns and checks you out to see who you are when you walk in.

What does one have to do to acquire a free steak though?

Mellor · 31-03-2014 04:01AM

top madra wrote: »

What does one have to do to acquire a free steak though?

Buy a drink on a thursday.

Apollo_Creed · 31-03-2014 06:01AM

top madra wrote: »

Sorry about the rant...

But coming home from a BBQ in Tamarama yesterday with a few friends (no Irish) we said we go to Bondi Jct for a drink before heading home.

I hadn't been in the Cock and Bull yet and was kinda looking forward to it because I haven't been in a Irish pub or met that many Irish people since I got here.

But fuk me I couldn't wait to get out of there, it felt like a chit hole from back home, a load of scumbag looking guys hanging around the bar. It's the first time since I got here that I have been surrounded by a load of Irish.

And I couldn't wait to be rid of them........Am I no longer Irish lol.

I had heard before it's a ok spot, but is it always like that?

As a regular enough customer of the CnB, I want to just query what your complaint was with the pub.
Was it that you thought it was sh*thole as in decor? I'd disagree with that, it's designed in an Irish pub style but could do with some renovations but mostly I find it to be ok.
Was it the scumbags at the bar? Can't have an issue with that. No one wants to drink in a pub with scumbags.
Was it that the pub was full of Irish behaving like they would at home, with little or no other nationalities present? Well, it is an Irish pub. Maybe it's Irish people you have an issue with.

Was suprised enough by your comments, as of all the Irish pubs in Sydney the CnB would possibly be my favourite (especially on a Sunday).
I understand perfectly well that a lot of people in there, possibly spend all there time in the junction, but you have to realise that most of these people did not move to Oz to experience the culture and meet people of different nationalities, they moved to work. And while they are here, they choose to enjoy themselves as they would at home with Irish people.

Peregrinus · 31-03-2014 06:21AM

The city with the largest number of good Irish pubs is, unsurprisingly, Dublin. There's not a huge amount of point in travelling half-way round the world and then trying to recreate the experience of being in Ireland. You're bound to be disappointed, since it's never going to be as good as actually being in Ireland.

The point of going and living in another country for a while is to experience something different.

That's not to say taht you shouldn't go to an "Irish pub" in Sydney if you want to. Just don't expect it to be an Irish pub. It's an Australian hotel.

catbear · 31-03-2014 06:37AM

I can appreciate why some people who came to oz purely for the cash would be happy to stay within their scene, plenty move to the middle east for the cash yet no one expects them to become Muslims just to experience the culture.

derfderf · 31-03-2014 06:46AM

browne_rob5 wrote: »

The T gardens is even worse

It looks worse but it doesn't have nearly as much trouble.
Also the $0 steak is now $1. The bastards.

bmwguy · 31-03-2014 06:49AM

The cock n bull is an English bar, not an Irish bar.

top madra · 31-03-2014 06:50AM

Apollo_Creed wrote: »

As a regular enough customer of the CnB,

I wouldn't have too much of a problem with the decor even though it did look like a chit-hole.

I suppose it was the combination of the clientele and the overall feel of the place, it felt one of the local chit holes at home and 'some' of the clientele weren't any better.

The minute I walked in there if felt like I back in Ireland but not in a good way.

Lol at having a problem with Irish people, I would love to meet more Irish here but ones that like to spend their time surfing and enjoying the outdoors rather than sitting in a chit hole that looks like a dive at home with more of the same people.

And just so we're clear I'm no sob, I was raised in a council estate where the people that are still there think it's cool to act like full bred travellers.

Peregrinus · 31-03-2014 06:52AM

catbear wrote: »

I can appreciate why some people who came to oz purely for the cash would be happy to stay within their scene, plenty move to the middle east for the cash yet no one expects them to become Muslims just to experience the culture.

I get that they want to stay within their scene. I just think (a) they're missing an opportunity, and (b) their scene is in Ireland; realistically, what they are going to find here is a not-very-good pastiche of the reality they knew in Ireland. All the best Irish pubs are in Ireland.

When I was 17, I met an American in Paris who had eaten in McDonald's for every night of his one-month stay. Not that I'm suggesting that Sydney hotels are to the licensed trade what Paris is to haute cuisine but, still, you get the point.

derfderf · 31-03-2014 07:17AM

bmwguy wrote: »

The cock n bull is an English bar, not an Irish bar.

They call themselves Australia's number 1 irish pub?

jackbhoy · 31-03-2014 07:40AM

Peregrinus wrote: »

I get that they want to stay within their scene. I just think (a) they're missing an opportunity, and (b) their scene is in Ireland; realistically, what they are going to find here is a not-very-good pastiche of the reality they knew in Ireland. All the best Irish pubs are in Ireland.

When I was 17, I met an American in Paris who had eaten in McDonald's for every night of his one-month stay. Not that I'm suggesting that Sydney hotels are to the licensed trade what Paris is to haute cuisine but, still, you get the point.

Yeah, some people just like their comfort zone of the familiar. I know lots of people from home that got to Spain or whatever every year and just drink in Irish/English bars and eat Irish food (or maybe the odd exotic night in the Indian/Chinese) for 2 weeks while getting sunburn.

Personally it is my idea of hell and share your interest in travelling to experience new things but if they are happy doing it then good on them, has no real impact on me.
Plus because these types of places are generally clustered in one area (St. Kilda/Bondi Jct, Northbridge) they are quite easy to avoid if not your cup of tea.

thejaguar · 31-03-2014 08:15AM

I lived in Bondi Jct for a couple of months while I was in Oz in 2004. Went in to the Cock & Bull a few times - usually to meet up with other Irish friends because everyone knows where it is.

Seems it hasn't changed at all in 10 years.

Personally, I try to avoid places like that - that's not what I like to do when I travel. But saying that, I can remember some great days/nights drinking in there and enjoying the Irish vibe (people falling around drunk, puking, fighting etc.)

JimmyCrackCorn · 31-03-2014 10:36PM

I usually pub crawl on a paddys day. Any pub Irish or Irish sounding usually gets stopped in.

Other than that i stay out of the place.

catbear · 01-04-2014 01:00AM

They just haven't tried the Aussie alternatives.

josip · 01-04-2014 01:16AM

It was a hole 15 years ago as well. But a great fcuking hole. Never to be entered in daylight, sober, alone or with anyone who might have notions (goes without saying that would exclude a lot of French). But if you were with the right group, in the right mood, on a Friday evening, the only thing you'd be good for on Saturday would be to watch the cricket and a puck around in Queens.

AngryHippie · 01-04-2014 01:27AM

Ah come on now, its not like there aren't plenty of above average alternatives

http://www.lordnelsonbrewery.com/

http://thelocal.com.au/

http://www.durtynellyssydney.com.au/

I go to one of the above pretty well every time I'm in Sydney, and they are spot on. Durty's get's pretty hectic when the GAA crowd are in, but can be lovely for a quiet pint, familiar menu and a decent pint (in front of a fire in winter)

That said, there are a lot of folks out there who have no interest in meeting anyone or doing anything outside of the scope they had at home. It's a bit sad that they miss an opportunity to meet new people, go to new places, and try something that can't really be done back home, but it's their loss, and if they want to spend their time and hard-earned propping up a bar in Bondi, then that's their choice. I feel sorry for them rather than angry or resentful, in the same way I feel sorry for the local pi$$heads back home that go from work to the pub to home and repeat it 5 days a week and then head for a "few pints" all day Saturday and Sunday. They're only harming themselves for the most part.
It's when they decide to batter the heads of one another that I have a problem:rolleyes:

NorfolkEnchants · 01-04-2014 02:27AM

Is there really that much fighting going on there? I mean, I haven't darkened the door in a couple of years now, and even then it was an ealry evening free steak I was after, but is it as bad as all that in terms of violence?

I completely agree that it's a dump though, and anyone I know that ever goes there always seems almost embarrassed to admit they were there. Of all the great places there are in Sydney to go for a drink, I just can't fathom why anyone would pick a fairly run-down dump on a dark corner as their regular spot.

jackbhoy · 01-04-2014 08:10AM

catbear wrote: »

They just haven't tried the Aussie alternatives.

Think I have seen a few of those lad drinking in the Brunswick Green over summer....:)

bmwguy · 01-04-2014 08:55AM

derfderf wrote: »

They call themselves Australia's number 1 irish pub?

Its been largely taken over by Irish and they are cashing in. Think of all the British pub names, the pig and porter, fox and hound etc.....I cant think of a single pub in Ireland with a name that sounds similar (unless there is a pub called the horse and jockey in the town of the same name). I was in the CnB last summer, its a good boozer though, full of Irish but definitely not an Irish boozer in its origins. Had a few good nights there and a few free steaks always welcome

Zambia · 01-04-2014 08:56AM

jackbhoy wrote: »

Think I have seen a few of those lad drinking in the Brunswick Green over summer....:)

That's me behind the dog....#selfconfessedbogan

Mellor · 01-04-2014 10:30AM

bmwguy wrote: »

Its been largely taken over by Irish and they are cashing in. Think of all the British pub names, the pig and porter, fox and hound etc.....I cant think of a single pub in Ireland with a name that sounds similar (unless there is a pub called the horse and jockey in the town of the same name). I was in the CnB last summer, its a good boozer though, full of Irish but definitely not an Irish boozer in its origins. Had a few good nights there and a few free steaks always welcome

It's also called The Grand Hotel, and the bar it's self us Siobhan's Bar.

A name is largely meaningless.

Misty Chaos · 01-04-2014 10:43AM

catbear wrote: »

They just haven't tried the Aussie alternatives.

Having being in one of those type of pubs in the farming town I'm living in at the moment, the design of such bars made it feel like I've stepped into a time machine and gone back to the 1970s. :pac:

Anybody here drink in the Cock and Bull, Bondi Jct?

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