Orchard Tavern

I like The Orchard. It does what it says on the tin. Like a lot of places in Sydney it’s an old school working class bar that has been done up to reflect the changing demographics of the area it’s in.
I’ve been here loads and I normally catch up with my mate here for a couple of beers, pub grub, a flutter on the races and some sport. It’s actually hard to find a place like that North of the bridge. Only the Steyn and the North Sydney Hotel come to mind.
This particular night we decided to try the Chelsea Hotel to try something different. We didn’t even get near the bar, as there was an old guy with a mullet and no teeth with a humongous dog yelling at people, so we decided to go back to the Orchard with its familiar surrounds, TAB and usual Aussie tap beer.
The food is good, not too flash, cheap enough. The atmosphere is lacking a bit, it feels a bit less dingy since the renos, but there is a pool table if you are that way inclined.
All in all it’s the type of place for dinner and a beer with the old man or a couple of pints with mates before heading into town. Don’t bring a date here unless you are already married and she likes a punt and isn’t fussy what she drinks.

Lipstick on a Pig is what the Orchard Tavern’s public bar should be called.
And this ain’t no Babe… Bloaty from Pizza Hog springs to mind.
This used to be a rough and tumble, don’t bring your real teeth with you, argy bargy worker pub back in the day — and quite frankly nothing’s changed. Well the décor has. Sure it looks nicer inside, but really they haven’t attempted to shift the clientelle to their new look (I was in there after all ha!)
The Orchard has large pointless areas, like their pool room which is about as sterile as Royal North Shore, Ward 3. They also have a large bank of TAB monitors which dominate the presence of the place. Hence they attract that unsavoury element by having them *in* rather than *adjacent to* the public bar.
They do offer food, and it is generally quite good, but after half a dozen bowls of loudmouth soup, everything tastes good (even 3 month old Mrs Macs pies from 7-​eleven or those nukeable cheeseburgers) so it’s a little more difficult to gauge the restaurant. I’ll let someone else give that a stab.
In terms of the atmoshpere unless you are there to drink yourself stupid whilst punting on the tab; or getting a few cheapies in before heading somewhere else; I wouldn’t bother going. If you are looking for a fun time, you’ll probably find it elsewhere methinks.
There’s better places to chill in Chatswood, so why was I at the Orchard? Convenience, and post German beer hall, friendlier to the wallet and the liver, but ultimately I ended up somewhere else.

Wow. I remember this place as a moribund craphole, a «last stop on the train to homelessness and/​or alcoholism» kind of joint. How the times have changed.
Now it’s a huge, sprawling, multilevel first floor mega-​bar, with a restaurant, games room, smoking pool room, lounge /​hawks nest, and outdoor beer garden. Really, there’s something for everyone here.
Although, it being Chatswood, I don’t think you’re ever gonna get any more than the pre-​party /​post-​movies crowd.
There was one grizzled old battler there still nursing a beer he thought was VB while holding on to the memories of yesteryear with gnarled, knotted fingers. I like that guy. I hope he;s there next time.

You know the type; the place that you only ever go to after you’ve been
kicked out of everywhere else/​you really want to keep going even though it’s 4 a.m./ you’re about to vom and want a bathroom. Yeah, that place — nobody ever plans to go out there.
The Orchard is one such place. Located in Chatswood, overlooking the railway station, The Orchard Hotel is pretty much the definition of a dive bar. The venue itself is ok — wooden bars and floor, and the drinks are cheap; way cheap. But it’s dirty — I literally saw a cockroach wander out from underneath the bar. Ewwwwwwww! And being the kind of end of the night venue it is, it’s no shock horror that the bathrooms standard of cleanliness often leaves a lot to be desired.
The clientele are also… interesting. Almost exclusively fifty year old men
watching the dog/​horse/​car races, a young girl like myself is somewhat out
of place — and way uncomfortable — at The Orchard.
The concentration of pokies in the gaming room of The Orchard is, in my
humble opinion, way out of control; there are A LOT. Every single patron of
the establishment would have to pay a visit for them to all be used; hey,
maybe they do!
The Orchard isn’t somewhere that I like, or would ever plan to go. But
sometimes, on a boozy night out, I will find myself there. And unhappy about it in the morning.

The Orchard is perfect for a few cheap pre-​drinks before hitting the town. The service is fast and the pub style food rather appetizing! The Orchard is great for after work drinks with the multiple bars stocked with spirits and friendly bartenders. The courtyard is great for summer drinks and even has outdoor heaters to cater for those cold winter nights and customers who like to smoke.
The Orchard has had a recent renovation and is now home to plenty of flat screen televisions! A bottle shop is also located below if you desire a ‘roadie’ on the way to the city. The calamari and salad is sensational but other than the chips, your guess is better than mine! Portions are generous indicating good value for money.
The Orchard is open late which is great when other places are winding down. Music is average, but it’s not exactly a place you’d go to dance. The Orchard has plenty of gaming for those who love to gamble. The Orchard is right next to the train station, which is both convenient and will save you money!
Function rooms are available to rent and can hold up to 80 people. The two for one meal vouchers are hugely popular and many repeat customers frequently redeem them. Check The Orchard website for their weekly specials and upcoming events for more information. Visit The Orchard for a cheap and enjoyable night– just don’t expect a 5 star experience.