5 minute read
luck of the irish
AS THE ONLY IRISH PUB IN THE GONG, DICEY RILEY’S HAS BECOME AN INSTITUTION AND MUCH-LOVED WATERING HOLE
Words Emma Smith Images Tom Opie @t_opie
Dicey Riley’s Hotel is the only traditional Irish pub in the heart of Wollongong. First built in 1890, the hotel has endured four name changes, been burnt down, and undergone multiple facelifts – but 131 years later, the hotel’s unique character and charm has transcended time.
Originally known as theTerminus Hotel as it was close to the train station and located in a very busy precinct, the pub then burnt down and was later renamed theTattersalls Hotel. In 1985, the hotel was finally rebranded as Dicey Riley’s – named after a famous Dublin woman ‘Dicey Riley’, who was a well-known alcoholic and likely an Irish prostitute.
Hotel publican, George Poulos, is a part owner with his uncle, Nick Peters, and has been operating Dicey Riley’s since 2014. He says it was always their mission to retain the Irish concept of the pub and respect the hotel’s character without changing it too much. “It has a beautiful old-school character – its brickwork, its woodwork, the style of the pub. It’s kind of a unique character,” says George.“It’s different to other places and people feel very comfortable here for that reason.”
Dicey Riley’s stands on valuable real estate in Wollongong CBD and is located in a prime position to capitalise on the gentrification of the west end of the city. However, when George first took over in 2014, things were quite mean on Crown Street. It was considered the tough end of town.The licensees pride themselves on how hard they’ve worked to re-write that narrative.
“We’ve built a special understanding with our wider patronage, where there is a mutual respect, based on empathy,” says George.“I’m quite proud that we have been able to be there for people at times in a broader sense of humanity and care.That has been special.”
Being a public house, there is no such thing as a typical drinker at Dicey’s. Beers are poured for uni students, workers who are in the area cheffing or bartending and older people who have drank at the hotel for years. George says this is a testament to the friendly and welcoming nature of the pub.
Live music has always been a big part of Dicey Riley’s, too, with traditional rock on Friday nights, indie bands on Saturday nights and the after-party DJ sessions on Sunday nights. In recent years, management has focused on guiding the hotel further into the live music scene by partnering withYours & Owls.After hitting it off with the Y&O boys, who were regular patrons of the pub, George asked them to book bands, and says it’s been a huge success. On a busy night, the pub can boast a capacity of up to 500 keen groovers.
“It feels right. It reminds me of a Newtown pub – slightly grungy and homely, not trendy but just a real silent character,” says George. “The young crowd loves the place, because it’s got a good vibe.”
Dicey Riley’s offers more than just great live music.There’s karaoke, free pool and $5 schooners of Reschs on Wednesday nights. Thursday nights are for trivia and they have recently introduced aThursday night ping pong competition where if you beat the publican, you get a free beer.
“It’s been wonderful to interact with patrons. I’ve had to really sharpen my ping pong skills up. But it’s all in good humour and it’s going down well,” laughs George.
Patrick’s Day event! Dicey Riley’s felt the luck of the Irish on March 17 this year, as the NSW Government eased restrictions the morning of St Patrick’s Day, allowing people to stand and freely mingle inside venues. A fantastic festival of the Irish ensued – featuring a traditional breakfast at 7am, Irish music all day from 11am, and live bands and Irish dancers from 3pm. People dressed up in a sea of green and patrons demolished 25 kegs of Guinness on the day – nearly five times the amount the hotel goes through in one week.
“It was a true festival of Irish for St Patrick’s Day, especially when you consider the Northern Hemisphere and Ireland is closed down at the moment. So we were the only ones flying the banner in the Southern Hemisphere, which was quite poignant and didn’t go unnoticed. The people in the hotel really appreciated that,” George says.
When asked to reflect on the most memorable St Patrick’s Day performance, George didn’t hesitate and was quick to nominate the Go Set’s gig in 2017.
“It was incredible because at the end of the night they brought out the accordion box and played A Long Way to the Top by AC/DC,” George recalls. “They also had the bagpipes going and the place was just jumping! People got up on stage and started dancing. It was unforgettable!”
So what’s the secret to running a successful pub that can stand the test of time? George says it’s recognising what is special about the place and appreciating that.When he first bought the venue, he considered removing the big bulkhead above the bar to open up the space more. He soon realised it was an iconic feature, as one section of that bar is famously known as the ‘beer and bulllshit corner.’
“It’s like the parliament of Wollongong. So much gets talked about there.The people that love sitting there and discussing things, they cherish that small real estate of the pub,” George laughs. “It’s a special part of Dicey’s. Some cracking conversations happen there – as the Irish say,‘take the crack,’ it usually ends up in raucous laughter.”
With over 130 years of history and a loyal patronage who appreciate the space as it is – unpretentious, humble and warm – Dicey Riley’s deserves its title as one of Wollongong’s last ‘real pubs’.
George says it best:“Dicey’s is a circuit breaker – a place where people can switch off from their problems, come in and have a couple of beers, a nice meal or catch-up and feel better for it. We’ve created a welcoming environment where people want to be. Everyone who drops by always says,‘Hello George’… and now on top of that they want to challenge me in ping pong!”
