The Carlisle Castle Hotel Roars Back to Life in Newtown

A snapshot of my group chat after a peek inside the refurbed Carlisle Castle Hotel last week:

“Faaaaaaarrk”
“Omg SICK”
“Ooooh is the reno good???? When does it open again??”
“Did they keep the pool tables? ANSWER US”
“Did they keep those chairs that feel like u are falling into a hole?”

Such is the heat surrounding the Newtown pub’s glow-up by new operators Dan McBride, Dynn Szmulewicz, Rachael Paul, Zac Godbolt and Cam Votano. And the heat is warranted – this is the same quintet whose 2024 revival of The Bat and Ball not only managed to keep that boozer’s old guard onside, but reel in a whole new generation of punters with modern renditions of pub classics, affordable daily specials and ne’er a pokie machine in sight.

But here’s where the team really hit it for six: having a long-term vision for the place at a time when Sydney hospitality groups are trading community pubs like Pokémon cards. They have the same vision for The Carlisle, which reopens tonight. “The goal is to leave it in a better spot than it was before,” says Godbolt. “We’re not here to turn it into an unrecognisable version of itself. We want to preserve it.”

The Carlisle has stood on the corner of Albermarle and Probert streets since 1876. Everyone in the team has been a local at various times in the pub’s recent history and knows the community they serve. “We’ve been letting people wander through,” says McBride. “These two older blokes gave us a pretty glowing review. It was a nice feeling.”

Take one look at the refreshed marble bar, imported from Italy by the Reschs family in the 1920s, and you’d be happy as a bar fly on a beer tap too. “We had a few people say to us, ‘Please don’t get rid of the bar’ and it’s like, ‘Man, we’re polishing it’,” says Godbolt. “We’re making sure she shines so you can see your face in it.”

Thoughtful additions include two pool tables with fresh carpet underfoot, and a hand-painted Carlton Draught mirror by Good Hands Sign Co. The old betting window is now a wine shop, and the heritage phone booth is now a photobooth. Out the back is a refreshed dog-friendly courtyard and smoking area.

And while those chairs are gone and the status of the pub’s resident ghost is currently unknown, the gold lion statuette on the roof remains in pride of place. Even better, The Castle is still pokie-free. “We don’t have the luxury of pokies, nor do we want it,” says Votano, the team’s culinary director. “We’d rather let the food do the talking.”

Speaking of, say hello to one of Sydney’s best new pub menus. Snacks include a black pudding and chorizo Scotch egg with date ketchup, and pig’s head terrine paired with fried bread and burnt apple mustard. Mains include a thin Vienna-esque schnitzel with a pretzel and herb crumb, a veggie lasagne and seasonal specials (like the opening menu’s chicken Kyiv filled with garlic and chive butter). “It’s an old English-style pub, so we’re leaning into those northern European flavours,” says Votano.

Cocktails, while not as big of a focus as they are at The Bat, will no doubt be a drawcard here: expect an Irish Coffee topped with Baileys and cacao cream, and a hard vanilla cola. “We’ve very much gone down the line of simple, tasty, quality ingredients at an affordable price,” says McBride. “Newtown is home to some of the best cocktail bars in Australia, so we wanted our list not to compete, but to sit nicely somewhere in-between.”

After their incredible success at The Bat, daily specials will run throughout the week. The group chat went gaga for $10 cheeseburgers, $15 Martinis and live jazz on Thursdays. “It’s an electric deal,” says Godbolt.

Otherwise, come on Monday for $20 schnitzels and trivia; Tuesday for $20 steaks; Wednesday for $20 parmies and the badge draw; Friday for $1 wings; and Saturday for $1 oysters spiked with mezcal mignonette. Sundays are for the seasonal roast. “The trivia is by the same guys who have been doing it for something like 20 years,” says McBride. “We don’t want to lose touch with things like that.”

Carlisle Castle Hotel
17–19 Albermarle Street, Newtown

Hours:
Mon & Tue 3pm–midnight
Wed to Sat midday–midnight
Sun midday–10pm

carlislecastlehotel.com
@carlislecastlehotel