The Lord Dudley Hotel

The Lord Dudley Hotel is a slice of Old Blighty, a mock Tudor-like building situated on Jersey Road — on the corner of a dead end street that leads to the Paddo Bowling Club and the rainforest bowels that rim Trumper Park.

Locally known as The Dudders, it is certainly a village drinking hole, located away from the high street bustle of Queen Street and the crisp shirt air of the Woollahra Hotel. And that's not to say you won't find plenty of loafers lined up at the bar of the Dudley, but the point is, it's relaxed. It's the home of the quiet pint. The catch-up. Where conversation is key.

Inside The Lord Dudley, a rabbit warren of adjoining rooms awaits. The maroon carpeted floors sink in all the right places, historied hollows ploughed by a steady stream of drinkers. A circular bar connects the main bar to two smaller service areas, including a separate nook for darts. At the rear a lamp-lit, timber-paneled lounge is furnished with booth-style tables, each with seating for four.

Australian Modern or English Gastro, the bar fare is somewhere in between. A wide range of light snacks are available together with a choice between a handful of mains.

The menu changes regularly although one is mostly guaranteed a sirloin, a salmon or a pie. It's quality food without the fuss and perfect for a hearty Sunday night meal.

Appears in: 

The Best Pubs in Sydney