Union Hotel, Newtown

The Union Hotel in Newtown is a venue that features good beer, satisfyingly greasy bar snacks and fun times.

The Union Hotel fits in with the grungy aesthetic of the south end of King Street and with the look and feel of local neighbours Young Henrys who frequently feature and tap.

Shared, Communal Experience

The main bar area is everything you’d expect from an old local pub. There are booths, bar stools, a stage for musicians, TVs showing sport, and a pool table. There’s also an enormous row of taps with a variety of craft offerings.

Through the back is the bistro area, Big Arties, which features another bar and much brighter, breezier and more modern seating. It’s a nice contrast to the earthy feeling of the main bar.

With a small outdoor seating area, good for catching the sun, and large dining tables in the restaurant, this part of the Union is just as conducive to a shared, communal experience as the main bar, just in a different way.

If you’re having a session it’s hard to look past the deliciously greasy reuben sandwich and fries. The menu above the bar features a variety of burgers, sandwiches and fried snacks. The bistro offers an eclectic line up which lends itself more to sit-down dining than leaning against a pool table with a burger in one hand and beer in the other.

Whether it’s bar or bistro, there’s good beer to wash down the food.

The adjacent Union Cellars is the pub’s bottle shop, licensed for takeaway and stocking a range of local independent beer.

Beer Events

Throughout the year, the Union Hotel is a good place for beer events. They have semi-regular tap takeovers, beer launches and themed celebrations. Dark beers are a focus in winter, while sours pop up occasionally and the pub never needs an excuse to celebrate local breweries.

It also plays host to a number of Sydney Beer Week events. These typically include showcases of gypsy or inner west brewers and, in recent years, the Feral House Party.

The move towards a solid craft offering has cemented the Union in the minds of Sydney’s beer enthusiasts. Many of whom will make a trip especially for the beer.

Such is the focus on good beer that the pub is happy to pour tasting paddles. This is probably just one of the reasons the Union is now recognised as one of the many good beer pubs in Sydney.

Awarded & Recognised

The pub has also won awards. In 2016 it took home Time Out’s Best Beer List and Publican of the Year. It receives wider recognition from a merry band of regulars.

One of defining characteristics of the Union Hotel is the locals. It has a loyal group who frequent the pub regularly and reflect the diversity of Newtown as a suburb. There a few pubs in Sydney who combine the beer, music, food and a strong community vibe. The Union is one.

Are you a regular at the Union Hotel in Newtown? Leave a comment and share your thoughts on the pub.