You can tell people are keen to get into the new Bat & Ball from all the nosey smudges on the Cleveland Street stalwart’s wraparound windows. And the massive pub is nearly ready for you: after a four-month revamp by a new five-part team of friends, the Redfern boozer’s welcoming punters this week.

“I’m anxious to get going,” co-owner Rachael Paul tells Broadsheet. “Not anxious in a scared way, just chomping at the bit, ya know?”

Paul (former manager of The Sunshine Inn and now closed-Golden Gully) is one part of a well-seasoned hospo team, joining Zac Godbolt (Doom Juice, Enmore Country Club), Dan McBride and Dynn Szmulewicz of Enmore Country Club, The Sunshine Inn, Golden Gully and The Little Guy, and chef Cameron Votano (Lowkey, BTB Kirribilli).

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With that spread of small, moody bars and eateries, The Bat & Ball marks the biggest project – by far – for each of the owner-operators. There’s room for 250, and honestly, you’ve never seen the space this schmick.

The floors aren’t sticky and the walls (inside and out) have a fresh coat of paint. The booths have been ripped out of the main bar, where there’s now wall-hugging seating and a smattering of tables. Local vinyl DJs, CDJs and musicians will play on Fridays and Saturdays from a DJ booth tucked next to the sports-dedicated TV, with disco lights popping out “when the mood’s right”.

“The most consistent DM we’ve had on Instagram is about the pool tables,” Godbolt says. “They’re out the back! We’ve got darts and two pool tables, please put that in bold. We love pool.”

A far cry from the oft-seen white-washed pub refit, The Bat & Ball will make everyone feel at home. “None of us are really a fan of the new-age pub reno,” McBride says. “[We tried] to match all the beautiful old things that were here, like the tiles and original pub carpet. It wasn’t going for any set theme, it was embellishing what was already here.”

Abstract paintings by local artist Alexandra Weichert Robertson join funky details like a vintage Southern Comfort mirror (nodding to Enmore’s signature Country Club Cooler) in the main dining room. While out back is, unofficially, the “largest collection of Australiana vintage tea towels”, which have been steamed, framed and hung on the pastel-washed walls.

“When I was there steaming them, I don’t think I got too many [of the team] going past like ‘Yeah, nice!’,” Godbolt laughs. “But you’ve gotta stick to your guns.”

The old pokies area is now a bottle-o, where 50 different bottles of wine could be yours to take home (for a very small mark-up) or drink in-venue for $15 corkage. A “never-ending” happy hour means $16 Negronis and Espresso Martinis, with a tight list of cocktails, Doom Juice red on tap and a bunch of winning beers, too.

In a small kitchen prepped to deal with big numbers, Votano’s pushing out very nice pub fare. Hot wings come with house-fermented chilli sauce, and mussels are deeply aromatic with liquorice and fennel. Seven classic mains cater to most dietaries, while starters are Euro-style nibblies and share plates.

The specials line-up spans a $15 pasta night, bargain steaks and parmies (with a snazzy eggplant schnitty for the meat averse). Sunday is an ever-changing roast, complete with a Guinness-spiked yorkie. The ultimate use of the specials line-up? Buck-a-shuck oysters on Saturdays, best enjoyed alongside an exclusive bottle of fizz – made for the team by the Hunter Valley’s M & J Becker – or a Bloody Mary.

To finish, the fanciest neenish tart we’ve seen joins a “homage to Macca’s apple pie”. Yes, it’s deep fried, and it comes with custard.

“[The Bat & Ball] feels like the natural progression – the big fish,” Paul says. “If you’re not opening a pub, what are you doing? This is the ultimate goal, we all love pubs.”

“The original idea was creating a pub that all of us would want to visit ourselves,” Godbolt says. “And it’s absolutely been nailed.”

Watch: Five Mates (and Well-Seasoned Hospo Guns) Revamp The Bat & Ball
You can tell people are keen to get back into The Bat & Ball from all the nosey smudges on the wraparound windows. The sporty Cleveland Street stalwart in Sydney reopens this week, but we caught up with the team half-way through their massive renovation of the pub with “icon status”.

The Bat & Ball opens on Thursday August 15, and bookings are open now.

The Bat & Ball
495 Cleveland Street, Redfern

Hours:
Tue to Thu 3pm–midnight
Fri 3pm–2am
Sat midday–2am
Sun midday–10pm

batandballhotel.com
@thebatandballhotel