Is the Old Pub on the Corner Still Bexley North's Best Kept Secret?

If you have ever driven past Slade Rd and spotted a flat-brick building that has a beer garden nestled within its back, you have passed by one of the best-preserved pubs in Sydney’s southern region. Locals refer to it as “the corner pub,” while everyone else refers to it as the Bexley North Hotel. The debate about whether or not it remains a hidden treasure is certainly something to consider.

A Pub With More History Than Most Sydney Suburbs

The bexley north hotel first opened its doors back in 1959, which makes it older than most of the housing stock around it.Unlike in the 60s, 70s and 80s, where this used to be a real destination for the touring bands, it was simply a watering place. This pub hosted such bands as AC/DC, Cold Chisel, The Cure, INXS, Mental as Anything, Skyhooks and the Easybeats, among many others. All this before it was developed into what it is today in Bexley North.

That kind of pedigree usually gets lost when a pub changes hands a few times. This one didn't. It remained a family-owned Bexley pub through all of it, which is a big part of why it still feels like a proper local rather than a chain venue with a generic fit-out.

What's Changed Since Then

A multi-million dollar renovation in 2009 brought the venue into the present without stripping out what made it worth visiting in the first place. Today, the Bexley hotel includes:

• Designer beer garden equally suitable for a peaceful afternoon as well as a meeting with friends

• Fully licensed bar serving Keno for people who want to gamble along with having their schooner

• Twenty hotel rooms that can serve customers on a long-term basis

• Bistro serving changing menus according to seasons instead of the same laminated menu all year round

• Recognition as an AHA (Australian Hotels Association) award finalist this says a lot in an industry where many pubs.

• None of this is flashy in the way a CBD rooftop bar is flashy. It's more the kind of place that quietly does its job well, week after week, which is exactly why regulars tend to stay regulars.

So Best Kept Secret, or Not Anymore?

Here's the honest answer: it's somewhere in between. Ask someone two suburbs away if they've heard of the Bexley North Hotel and there's a decent chance they haven't. Asking one who resides near will probably give an answer regarding the place he celebrated his 21st or his work Christmas party. It is precisely this kind of place that makes this type of bar exciting since it is famous enough to have many loyal followers but at the same time is not that well known to surprise the visitor with how lively the place can be.

Quick Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Established	1959
Address	187 Slade Rd, Bexley North, NSW 2207
Ownership	Family-owned
Renovated	2009 (multi-million dollar upgrade)
Notable past performers	AC/DC, Cold Chisel, The Cure, INXS, Mental as Anything, Skyhooks, Easybeats
Facilities	Beer garden, full bar with Keno, bistro, 20 motel rooms
Recognition	AHA multi-award finalist
Trading hours	Mon–Thurs 10am–4am, Fri–Sat 10am–5am, Sun 10am–12am

Does Its History Make It a Hidden Gem?

Calling any established venue a "hidden gem" is subjective. What feels undiscovered to someone visiting the area for the first time may be an institution to someone who has lived nearby for years.

That is the most interesting thing about the Bexley North Hotel. Its history is well established, but the venue continues to operate as a local gathering place rather than relying on its past. The music stories add character, while the renovated facilities, beer garden, bistro and accommodation give people reasons to visit today.

It is more like one of those longstanding local places that can remain surprisingly unfamiliar to people outside the immediate area.

The Verdict

As to whether it could be considered a "secret" or not, it would depend on whose side of Bexley North you happen to stand at the time. What is not up for question is that this is definitely one of the rare pubs in the south of Sydney that has real rock 'n' roll history, a committed family behind it for many years, and a restaurant with a beer garden that continues to attract visitors till today.

More details on current opening hours, the bistro menu and upcoming events can be found on the Bexley North Hotel website.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What suburb is the Bexley North Hotel in?

 It's located at 187 Slade Rd, Bexley North, in Sydney's St George region, NSW 2207.

2. Is the Bexley North Hotel family-owned?

Yes. The Bexley North Hotel's current website states that it remains a family-owned business and has continued to serve the local community since opening in 1959.

3. Does the pub have accommodation? 

It comprises 20 motel rooms designed to cater for those who intend to stay in the motel on a long-term basis.

4. What bands have played at the Bexley North Hotel? 

It was used for many years by various touring bands including AC/DC, Cold Chisel, The Cure, INXS, Mental As Anything, Skyhooks, and the Easybeats.

5. What are the trading hours of visiting the location? 

Monday through Thursday from 10am until 4am, Friday and Saturday from 10am until 5am, and Sunday from 10am until midnight.