Winter's arriving. We've been through the feeds. Three pubs worth leaving the house for this weekend.
The Jag the Joker draw is tonight. $2500 is on the table at 7pm — the pot started at $500 back in April and has climbed $100 per round with no one finding the Joker. Tonight is the final draw, and they don't stop pulling cards until someone wins it. Buy a drink, get a ticket. If your name gets called, walk up and pick a card. That's the whole game.
Rod Collins plays from 7:30pm and Sydney take on Collingwood at the same time if the footy's your reason to be there. All-day dining from midday means you can eat early and settle in before the draw kicks off.
Saturday brings two games back to back — Melbourne vs Hawks at 4:15pm then Carlton vs Bulldogs at 7:35pm — plus bottomless at noon and 2pm and Brad Carter on from 8pm. Full day if you want it. Book through their website if Saturday's your plan.
Queen of the West — full listing →
Sailors' Rest posted this week about the lounge bar — fire going, menu running, waterfront view through the window going quiet as the week winds down. This is the version of Sailors' Rest that doesn't require a sunny Saturday. Cooler weather suits the space well.
The lounge menu runs alongside the main bistro, so you can grab a feed without committing to a full table. Good wine list, the kind of slow evening that's hard to cut short once you've ordered a second glass. Cocktail list is there if you're that way inclined.
Worth knowing: the rooftop is still open but the lounge bar is the call in mid-May. Views don't change with the weather. The bay is still there.
Sailors' Rest — full listing →
Murphys posted their ten-year anniversary this week. Started with no rooftop, no pool tables, no Godfather parmi. A pub, a dream, and a lot of Guinness — their words. The decade celebration runs June 12–14 across three days. Worth knowing about if you've got a connection to the place.
This weekend, the rooftop happy hour runs 4–6pm today — beers, wines, cocktails. Cam Bryce plays tonight alongside Sydney vs Collingwood at 7:30pm. Saturday they've got Melbourne vs Hawks at 4:15pm and Carlton vs Bulldogs at 7:35pm with Jibberish from 9pm. All-day dining on Saturday and Sunday if you want to eat.
Rooftop happy hour on a cold Friday before footy is a better idea than it sounds from the outside. Book a table through their website if Saturday's on.
Murphys Geelong — full listing →That's the wrap. Queen of the West for the $2500 Joker draw tonight, Sailors' Rest if you want to slow down, Murphys if you want to speed up. Three different moods, all worth your Friday.
If you spotted something we missed — a deal, a gig, something worth going to this weekend — drop us a line at hello@geelongpubs.com.au.
See you next Friday.