Harrigan's Irish Pub
Editorial Review
Ah, the Hunter Valley. Vineyards, opera, restaurants, wine tastings, more vineyards and more tastings, slightlly sloshed bike rides, or for the more elegantly sloshed, a pony and trap (take care not to fall off). But after a while a decent, honest beer is required. There is a place called Harrigans on Broke Road. It's the only Irish pub in the Pokolbin district; in fact it's the only pub, so there.
Harrigans is part of the Hunter Valley Gardens complex - owned by the Roche family - although it is a little way up the road. There are 25 hectares of gardens, which are well worth a visit (especially after a few tastings) - the Storybook Garden is delightfully weird for the adults and good fun for the kids - plus restaurants, top notch accommodation, shops and even a Chapel to get married in and to which, of course, all of us winos should occasionally have recourse.
The pub is a modern, well-designed building with the usual authentic Irish tattle decorating the walls inside and good, shaded outdoor areas for all the family. The staff, depending on the season, vary from the spectacular (a mention for manager, David Assef, here) to the not so spectacular, but you can't have everything all the time. There are an impressive 13 beers on tap, and Guinness is a seriously reasonable $5.00 a pint. The food is good, basic pub tucker by chef Daniel Teggins, just what's needed after re-mortgaging your house for the fine and not-so-fine dining which proliferates in the Hunter. And check out the bottle shop which has up to 170 different beers at any one time. Plus they do tastings. Oh dear, here we go again ? Take care not to fall off whatever you're riding on the way home.
Austin Harrison, January 2008
User Feedback
Chris J
August 25, 2008
give it a miss on weekends if not seeking Bucks Night grousp and yobos, queuing for dining room, queuing to order, queuing for drinks. Must also tolerate drunks outside most of night if staying. Accomm staff disinterested. Undeserving of the 4-star rating. Quality food but obnoxious experience, never to return.
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