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AB Hotel

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Hug a tree, express a random act of kindness, live life for today. And love a pub. There are some venues which refresh the soul, and this is one of them. In the heart of gorgeous Glebe there is what used to be the Ancient Briton Hotel, dating from 1864. A nice old building, beautifully made up inside on various levels and sporting a beer garden insulated from the traffic noise outside. The beer garden is purportedly in a Gaudi style (well, sort of; more a ??tapas kitsch' to be honest) and is lovely in the sunshine. Upstairs is a bar made out of an aquarium - some of the fish are close relatives of piranhas, so James Bond antics are ill-advised.

But two things really make this pub glorious; first, the food. The AB has won awards for its laksa and might be the only pub in Australia to have Wagyu beef on the menu as a standard - simply delicious and unbelievably priced (surely they must be stealing it?). There's also a cheap and cheerful breakfast from 10am. The second is the entertainment. Cabaret, poker, DJs on the weekend and the crowning glory, Bingo with a Bang! This happens on a Tuesday night and is run by a Dolly Parton look-alike (or possibly the real Dolly Parton, but that's classified information and it's doubtful we'll ever know the truth), plus loads more - the AB website has details.

This is a fun pub, an elegant pub, great for that function or date or business gathering or hangover cure, with fabulous staff, and for Dolly Parton fans (you know who you are) a heaven on earth.
Austin Harrison, April 2008