The Railway Hotel
TheLoadedDog - Publican
Licenced to sell fermented and spiritous liquors
Just across the road from Skerri’s is another drinking establishment, with a very different atmosphere. A traditional Australian/British pub (complete with boring name), it’s a huge, half boarded-up freestanding brick edifice which has seen better days. An Australian cattledog lies sleepily on the footpath right in front of the door, but the patrons love him, and step over him without complaint.
The Public Bar has tiled walls and floor, a huge island bar, 70s vinyl orange barstools, a jukebox, dartboards, old KISS pinball machine, and two pool tables.
An early opener, the first customers of the day are refugee partygoers from Skerri’s, roadworkers having a pick-me-up before work, and various dopers from society’s margins hunkered down at the bar chainsmoking. As the sun comes up, Aussie, NZ, and British backpackers from nearly every town in the state turn up to watch the AFL, Rugby League, and cricket satellite broadcasts live on the big screen.
The Aussie theme isn’t contrived, so there are plenty of American regulars who treat this place as their second home. They start wandering in about lunchtime, and flick the TV over to the American Football. TLD gives them some friendly lip about the game being stupid, and the guys wearing pads, then gives everyone a beer on the house. In the evening, the thirsty, after-work crowd comes in, and it’s a mad rush in the cellar to keep the new kegs connected in time. About 8pm, the young’uns come in all dressed up, for a few beers and bourbons before heading off to Skerri’s for the night’s entertainment.
TLD heads across the road to Skerri’s to borrow an extra couple of kegs of beer, and has a friendly drink over there while he’s at it. Contrary to popular belief, the two establishments have a good working relationship, and Skerri is very happy that TLD knows which favours to call up from the Municipality to somehow keep the Police around when we want 'em, and away when we don’t, and to get the street closed off once a year for the Beer Festival. TLD on the other hand, admires Skerri’s professionalism, and is always pulling little favours (and borrowing kegs 'coz he didn’t order enough).
We could open a makeshift club in the upstairs of the Emporium!
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