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Light Brigade Hotel

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

After recently undergoing a major facelift to its upstairs bar, the Light Brigade could now be accused of harbouring a multiple personality disorder. And it pulls it off beautifully. Half watering hole for the upmarket locals and half fine drink-and-dinner venue, the Light Brigade caters for the quick pub meal crowd as well as the Mod-Oz gastronomers. On entering you could be forgiven for thinking you'd been warped back to the ??50s, with the decor beautifully preserved and a lack of pretention sorely missed in these days of the mega-bucks bar.

With standards on tap (plus the rare addition of Asahi), it's the perfect place to sit back and gaze from the booths at the goings-on of far-east Oxford Street. If you drop in on a Monday or Tuesday (which a lot of people do), you can also score a $10 steak or schnitzel. The good news for the Thursday crowd is the advent of $10 pizza and long neck of Coopers deal. Genius!

The upstairs bar and dining room is an entirely different kettle of fish. With a tantalising menu and astounding list of signature cocktails, this is one not to be missed. Barman and cocktailier extrodinaire, Percy Small, will happily whip you up anything ranging from a Cucumber and Ginger Mule to a Passionfruit Foam, or a Green Apple and Lavender sling to house speciality the Pineapple and Rum Punch (with huge slab of toffee so you can ruin your teeth as well as your liver).

Watch out also for jugs of Punch set to hit the decks in time for Summer. The Cider House rules, as does the Pimms Number 1- both of which appear on the bar chock full of fruit and freshness. They're Summer in a bottle but at $30-$40 a pop they're not for the Doleys. Be warned, it's tough to stop at one.
Jessica Miller, October 2007