UPDATE 21 OCT 2024

I hope they can arrest the slide but this place is starting to wobble. Unsurprisingly, the chain is down to two (2) properties. Whoever is in management needs to fire their recruiter or get a good one because right now they're bedevilled by staff mismatched to job requirements.

If you're a kick-ar$e drummer, singer, guitarist, artist, go do that. Don't try to be a hospo if you're not hospitable. If you're in admin and can't admin, don't.

I made a telephone booking in February for December. I rang and emailled to cancel in May but had to email again and physically walk in to the venue three (3) times to cancel the booking.

Somehow that's my fault. "Should have spoken to a manager," in a condescending tone.

I did, C. Couple of times. And even if I didn't, can the snark, C. Shouldn't take eight (months) to cancel a booking.

And get your staff some basic hygiene training. I tried to very quietly tell one who I'd been bantering with about the three finger rule* and he yelled in my face to speak to his supervisor if I had a problem and stormed off like a toddler. The supervisor? Muso off in a creative little cloud and didn't want to hear a word of it.

FFS, since COVID we have to do this better. Now with new strains and mpox rising again, it's even more vital. IF IF IF you have anti-vaxxers on staff, get new staff. They can believe what they want, but not while waiting tables and serving drinks.

Normally I'd say, you'll restore to 5* but I don't know.

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My happy place.

The staff are 99.9% fabulous. The food is to die for, though spend five minutes there and you'll go searching for the fountain of youth so you can spend more time there.

So many different areas to either rant and roar* or chill completely out**. A book library. Lots of local info, copies of street press, and flyers for all manner of musical and artistic distractions both on site and off.

A drinks range that could coming back 'til you're 236yo and still not cover the lot. Knowledgeable bar staff, and though I've been only going there for about eight months, the consistency of top barkeeps, mixologists, wait staff, cooks, and managers tells you mostly all about what the place is about.

I've cruised past on nights when Google Maps tells you they're still open, but sensibly they've pulled stumps a wee bit early. What are the staff doing? Sitting with outside lights off, doors closed and locked, neon signs switched to the 'Come back tomorrow' position, they're inside having staffies, enjoying each others' company, decompressing after another amazing day in hispitalityville.

I nod, wave, smile, recently shoved some comp festival tickets through the crack in the door to the duty manager, and walked off whistling, humming, or singing a sea shanty.* Or a bluegrass/faux gospel song.***

Or Sgt Hulka song.****

Me: so many years on this planet. So many years treading the boards. So many years in the music industry, so many years a hospo trainer, 10 years travelling this land mass in about one month's time. This place is in definitely in my top five venues for food, drinks, music, good cheer, meeting friends + acquaintances + randoms and having life-changing experiences.

Add a dart board and a pool table and they'd be top three.

Translation: awww yeah, it's a bit good, eh? ;-)

• Sea Shanty night with The Lost Quays on first Monday of the month. 7pm for 7.30pm.****

** Clancy's Country and Bluegrass Club with The Hamilton Hillbillies+ friends/guests on third Sunday of the month.****

*** Live, original music including pub choir, musical trivia, local, state, and non-WA artists on practically every other night of the week.****

**** Check local guides.

Clancy's Freo, I have to ask: are you seeing anyone? 🤣