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The Great Britain Hotel

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Come check out the GBH in Richmond sometime... go on.

Editorial


Melburnians are protective of their pub culture. This is one reason why the city has a long held reputation as the home of live music and it was certainly why thousands took to the street earlier this year to protest the liquor licensing regulations that threatened to stifle live pub entertainment. You can bet loyal patrons of the Great Britain Hotel were front and centre of that march.

Located in the increasingly gentrified inner city suburb of Richmond, the Great Britain has remained an oasis of cool from the quirky portraits of middle eastern Amirs that adorn the walls through to a bar service that eschews big name brands in favour of 14 selected label beers on tap (one of which is a Melbourne brew aptly titled Piss, if you please).

Entertainment wise, the Great Britain prides itself as a cover band free zone and while the live music mix may have lost a bit of its edge from the bad old rough-and-tumble days, there is still good listening to had at this Richmond watering hole. Aim for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for the live talent and expect the noisier bands on the weekend with indie folk on weeknights. Wednesday is open mic and Sunday is a bit of a free for all with bands popping up in the front bar. If a spot of Trivia is your thing, head for the Tuesday night and park yourself on one of the man-eating sofas but you'll need to arrive early for the privilege.

Fridays and Saturdays remains popular with the self appointed "cool" crowd who jostle for a posi in the tiny basement club - actually a converted cellar - with the alternative music DJs spinning until 3am.

As for a dress-code, if web posts are to be believed, best you leave your Tigers footy scarf in the car, it's unlikely you'll get past the door staff on busy nights wearing it. That said it'd be a brave Door Bitch to deny entry to footy patrons on Grand final night. Hey, this is Melbourne.

Daren Pope, September 2010

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