The Sporting Club

I’ve been to this place once before and I have to say that it was quite by accident that I actually discovered it — I had stepped out of the Brunswick Hotel, looked down Weston St and saw this Carlton Draught sign, so I decided to go and check it out. I must admit that it didn’t really stand out that first time, however when I went back more recently I discovered that this is actually a pretty cool pub. It is one of those pubs that have a lot of little nooks and crannies, and also staff that are more than happy for you to look around and explore. In fact when I mentioned that I quite liked old pubs, the owner started telling me how a number of historical societies come here to check the place out. I should come here more often.

I had a drink here on a Sunday afternoon. Very low key vibe and a nice place to have a quiet Sunday afternoon drink. The pub is family and kid friendly which usually does not bug me but there was a noisy baby which was kinda annoying. A particular highlight was this very funky long yellow couch. Will go back when looking for a chilled place

Tried the Friday Fish and chip deal. Very disappointed, cheap fish, slightly soggy batter and store bought tartare sauce.
Only reason for not getting 1 star was the quality of the beer.

The beer garden here is tops: Massive wooden picnic tables surrounded by cacti, crawling ivy, and other assorted flora with some exposed brick and a whole lotta bearded folk maxing and relaxing in the sun. I think I might just have to spend the entire summer perched on chair in the Sporting Club’s garden with a frosty pint of something crafty. The Growler was particularly good the other day.
The interior is pretty dang good too: A daggy, vintage cool feel, replete with old couches, a pool table, and mounted animal heads.
Food was average and 20 dollars for a small burger and heap of fries seems a bit much, even for the inner north. This place is seriously awesome in all other ways though, so it gets a pass by me.

Average food. Staff slow. In fact, staff seemed stoned. Meals came out 15mins apart. Not a great experience. Nice setting though.

The few times I’ve ventured into this place have all been for one thing — music. I know i doesn’t appear to be a music venue. A Sporting Club is nothing of the sort really — something to with horses perhaps?
I didn’t see any of it. Sunday residencies at the very least have good music live and loud without drowning out your sunshine, your meals and your brews.
The number of space guarantee somewhere to sit and enjoy, each with their own pulling card — be it a pinball machine, and couch or a beer garden.
The beer garden out the back is magnificent, and makes you feel like tomorrow isn’t Monday and the world is so very far away. The food they serve is an average amongst the pub variety foods, but the brews on tap include the local varieties of Mountain Goat and Thunder Road. How could you possibly go wrong?

You would be forgiven for thinking that this place is a betting and pokie club that specializes in showing sport on the big screen. You would be wrong, however. The Sporting Club is a live music venue serving up Spanish and South American food along with a fantastic range of local and imported drinks, including some fantastic cocktails. In fact I the only thing sporting about this cultured pub is a pool table, some pinball machines and an all-​round ‘fair play’ attitude from staff.
The Sporting Club has a few different spaces, with a large bar situated in a relatively small front room. Down the side of the pub is a few tables adjoining the walls for outdoor diners and smokers. In the middle is the ‘game room’ with said pool tables and pinball machines and then out the back is a large and fantastic beer garden.
Whether you are looking for a place to dine, some live music or a few beers in the afternoon or evening the Sporting Club really is a fantastic pub in almost every way.

The building is called Sporting Club Hotel, but the pub itself is known as The Sporting Club. And it is a truly fine example of what a modern Australian pub can be.
The most important ingredients are immediately evident. A thirst-​quenching selection of beers on tap, some of which are my faves — Ranga, Coldstream Porter, Mountain Goat Steam Ale, Coopers Pale and a bit of James Squire. A fine selection of wine, mostly Australian but with a few choice New Zealand, Spanish and French numbers. And as if to surprise and delight, a very enticing and exciting cocktail list.
The food is Spanish, and the style is tapas, which when you think about it, goes perfectly well in a pub setting. You can still order chips, but why would you when you can order patatas bravas?
You’ll get the occasional local band playing in the front room, and there’s a room to the side if you want to side step the sounds and cosy up to the pinball machine or the pool table. And you most definitely won’t want to miss sitting out in one of the best beer gardens in all of Brunswick and beyond on a warm evening whilst you savour your pinot and paella.