Sydney's best Clubs & RSLs
Ravenous for roasts? Need bingo and meat tray raffles bad? Course you do! The RSL is back big time, reports Myffy Rigby
North Sydney Leagues Club offers a little al fresco action
Blacktown RSL
This is one of the biggest - and busiest - clubs in town. There are bands on constantly and the buffet selection is huge. It may not be picturesque but it's certainly action packed. They also run regular tours for their travel club as well as Christmas in July.
Second Ave Blacktown, 2148. (02 9622 5222).
Roast: Every day of the week, from $9.50 to $11.50 for non-club members
Bingo: Monday-Friday at 11am and Lucky Dip bingo on Monday and Friday at 7pm
Meat Trays: Every Wednesday night after 8.30, tickets $1 each.
Family Friendly: Yes
Bondi Icebergs Club
Upstairs may be a fancy restaurant/bar where you'd expect to see just about anyone who's frequented the social pages but downstairs is where the real action is. Live bands happen regularly and there's no better place to feel the sea breeze on your face with a schooner in hand.
Bondi Icebergs Club Level 2, 1 Notts Ave. Bondi Beach 2026. (02 9130 3120).
Roast: No, but there's pasta night on Tuesday and $9.90 steaks on Wednesday.
Bingo: Every Wednesday night.
Meat Trays: No, but head over on a Sunday after the swimming races and go in the draw for a Coopers surfboard.
Family Friendly: Yes.
Brighton le Sands RSL
It's right across the road from the beach, you've a choice between classic Aussie or Asian cuisine and there are $5 cocktails on Friday nights plus day trips to places like the Blue Mountains and Berowra Waters.
351 Bay St Brighton le Sands. 2216 (02 9567 5157).
Roast: Daily roast, $12
Bingo: Wednesday and Friday 10am-12noon.
Meat Trays: Wednesday from 5.30pm, Friday from 12noon and Sunday from 2pm.
Family Friendly: Yes
Castle Hill RSL
The day has come. Fitness has hit the RSL so you can combine the daily roast and schooner with a spin class. They may not have Elvis, but they've got the Big O. (Well, a Roy Orbison impersonator, at any rate). And if you're up for a laff, the Melbourne Comedy festival swings by 22 June.
77 Castle St, Castle Hill 2154. (02 8858 4800).
Roast: No, but there's ribs. Ribs!
Bingo: Monday and Tuesday from 10.30am, Thursdays 10am.
Meat Trays: Wednesday from 6pm, Saturday from 4pm.
Family Friendly: Yes
Club Willoughby
Get your brain on with Tuesday trivia or free competitions for just about anything you can lay your hands on. There's barefoot bowls for a tenner a game and you can learn to play poker with the pros.
26 Crabbes Ave, Willoughby, 2068. (02 94115333).
Roast: No
Bingo: No, but there are poker tournaments on Sundays at 2pm and Thursday evenings from 6pm.
Meat Trays: Yes, every Friday at 8pm
Family Friendly: Yes
Cronulla RSL
From the dining room, you'll be looking straight over the beach with natural rock pools and swimming holes dotted all the way down. It's about as close to the subject of a Ken Done as you're going to get without being covered in paint as you eat your steak.
38 Gerrale St, Cronulla 2230. (029523 6833).
Roast: Your choice of beef, lamb, chicken or pork and all the trimmings (peas and roast taties!) for $10 on Sundays.
Bingo: Wednesday from 7.30pm - 20 games for $5.
Meat Trays: Thursday from 5.30pm for meat trays and a Saturday afternoon seafood raffle from 5.30pm.
Family Friendly: Yes
Fox Hill Golf Club
It's golf, golf and more golf but there's also trivia and free rock n roll dancing on Fridays. They do a big trade in weddings but it's also a picturesque spot for a drink and a snack.
55 Fox Hills Crescent Prospect 2148. (02 9631 3390)
Roast: Roast of the day, $10.
Bingo: No, but there's trivia on Thursdays.
Meat Trays: Every Friday from 6pm.
Family Friendly: Yes, there's even a kids' game room with pinnies.
Petersham RSL
The next best thing to Vegas, you've got the chance to see Elvis impersonators, not to mention a Vegas tribute to "Mr. Magic Hands", Liberace. And if you've got your agro on, take part in a bit of amateur boxing.
7 Regent St Petersham 2047. (02 9560 8355).
Roast: No, but you'll find a noodle and laksa house where you can order a baked pork chop with tomato and fried rice from around $9.
Bingo: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.45am.
Meat Trays: Reef and Beef raffle is drawn at 1.30pm every Friday.
Family Friendly: Yes
North Sydney Leagues Club
Try Rock n Bowl- full bar and music turned to 11. You'll learn how to bowl and best of all, you can do it all to AcaDaca with an umbrella drink in hand. And you thought it was just a jock's club.
12 Abbott St Cammeray, 2062. (02 9466 8888).
Roast: Roast of the day might be beef pork or lamb for $10.50 or downsize - the mini roast is $8.50.
Bingo: There's regular bingo Monday to Friday at 11am but there's also super bingo on Mondays at 7.30pm.
Meat Trays: It's a monster meat raffle - 90-odd trays to be won on Sundays and Tuesdays.
Family Friendly: Yes
Rooty Hill RSL
This place is so big, Boney M got lost in it and re-appeared in 2008. Dude, Pseudo Echo are playing this month, not to mention Chopper Read. So self-contained you need never leave.
55 Sherbrooke St Rooty Hill, 2766. (02 9625 5500).
Roast: Roast of the Day $12 with baked potatoes, pumpkin, peas and gravy.
Bingo: Monday, 11am and 7pm, Tuesday 11am and 7pm and Wednesday 11am.
Meat Trays: Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5pm.
Family Friendly: Yes.