Woolpack Hotel, Redfern

The Woolpack Hotel in Redfern is establishing itself as a crafty pub with a seasonal approach to food.

Nestled between the main drags of Redfern Street and Cleveland Street is a nice little pub on Chalmers Street that is slowly establishing itself as a bit of a craft beer hotspot.

The Woolpack Hotel might not have the crafty credentials of neighbours The Noble Hops, but it has the vibe of a traditional cosy pub with good food. This weighs heavily in its favour.

The Beer

The taps are separated into two banks. One with Carlton, VB and cousins. The other features the likes of Batch Brewing, Yulli’s, Sauce, Akasha, and Willie The Boatman, as well as some interstate breweries like Colonial, Holgate and Pirate Life.

The Woolpack Hotel has been the location of a number of beer launches in recent times, particularly for some of Akasha Brewing’s special seasonal or limited release beers.

A Pub With A Bit Of Everything

If you’ve walked down Chalmers Street at the Redfern end you might have seen the pub before. There’s usually a pile of kegs outside and there’s an umbrella-covered area on the street. It’s a beautiful place to sit in the sun. If it gets too hot then the lure of the air conditioned bar area with cricket on the TV might be too much to resist.

There are plenty of high tables, as well as seating up against the old dark wood bar. It’s the type of bar room that has character. Of course, it has the standard visual tropes of foreign currency stuck along the top of the bar, as well as old tap decals lining one wall. But it’s welcoming, cosy and comfortable. The service is friendly and it welcomes a colourful mixture of people.

Step away from the bar (although I’m not sure why you would) and there’s a dining area which suits the seasonally focused menu that includes a few pub classics as well as some more inventive dishes. Combining food, beer, comfort and hospitality it ticks all the boxes of a classic Aussie pub.

Have you been to the Woolpack Hotel in Redfern? Is it your local? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.