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Nightlife From Wednesday to Saturday, there is no shortage of night-time hotspots to visit in Perth – although occasionally it can seem as if there are more venues than punters. The larger dance clubs are concentrated in Northbridge, Subiaco and Fremantle and are friendlier epicentres for the over-30 crowd. Perth is home to a healthy indie rock scene and the ‘craic’ is good at several Irish pubs. Some venues demand a smart standard of dress and some have a cover charge, usually around A$10. Pubs tend to be licensed 1000-2400 Monday to Thursday, 1000-0100 Friday and Saturday and 1200-2200 Sunday. Bars and nightclubs have longer hours and are licensed for the entire time that they are open. Most clubs stay open until 0500 or later/earlier on Friday and Saturday. The minimum legal drinking age is 18 years. A spirit or premium beer costs in the region of A$5.50. Free entertainment weekly XPress (website: www.xpressmag.com.au) is the best resource when planning a night on the town, while Teknoscape (website: www.teknoscape.com.au) is a useful clubbing guide. Bars: ‘Lounge bars’ have taken off in Perth, with hip venues such as The Jazz Room, 677 Beauford Street, Mount Lawley. The polished wooden floorboards of the Varga Lounge, 169 James Street, Northbridge, continue to attract sophisticated drinkers, while The Moon & Sixpence British Pub, Murray Street, is a kitsch but popular hangout serving a wide range of Australian and international beers. The Duxton Bar, 1 St George’s Terrace, offers civilised surroundings for a quiet cocktail. A crawl of Fremantle pubs, such as The Bog, 189 High Street, and Benny’s, 10 South Terrace, is de rigueur when visiting this port town. Casinos: Located a short distance east of the city, the pyramid-shaped Burswood International Resort Casino, Great Eastern Highway (website: www.burswood.com.au) has over 140 gaming tables, offering blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette and the classic Australian game of two-up. The complex also contains nine restaurants, six bars, free nightly entertainment, a five-star luxury hotel and an 18-hole golf course. Normal casino dress standards apply, persons under 18 are not admitted and a passport is required. A free shuttle bus conveys visitors between Burswood station (Armadale Line) and the casino. Clubs: Seemingly in an effort to please everyone, Perth nightlife has lately crystallised into a number of ‘entertainment complexes’ combining discos, bars and live music venues. The Globe, 393 Murray Street, unites a pumping techno area with a late-night bar featuring live bands. The Deen, 84 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge, boasts no less than six zones and four DJs, every night except Monday. When not featuring major international touring bands, Metropolis Fremantle, 58 South Terrace, is a multi-level dance club. The Rosemount Hotel, 458 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth, has DJs from Wednesday to Saturday, playing Hard House, NRG and freeform. Rise, corner of Lake Street and James Street, Northbridge, is serious about dancing, with a massive dancefloor and state-of-the-art sound system. But gay perennial Connections, 81 James Street, Northbridge – 26 years young in 2002 – still offers the best music and light shows in town and everyone, no matter what their orientation, seems to end up here. Comedy: Perth has nurtured some of Australia’s finest comedians. The Brass Monkey, corner of William Street and James Street, Northbridge, features comedy on Wednesday nights. Werzel’s Comedy Lounge at the Hyde Park Hotel, corner of Bulwer Street and Fitzgerald Street, features comedy on Thursday nights. The Fremantle Hotel, corner of High Street and Cliff Street, is the venue for stand-up every Friday. Burswood Casino, Great Eastern Highway, hosts international touring acts. Live music: The Universal Bar, 221 William Street, Northbridge, has live soul, funk or rock every night, as well as a suitably cool ambience. The Subiaco Hotel, 465 Hay Street, hosts jazz on Wednesday and Saturday night; patrons can listen while enjoying bistro meals. Local rock bands perform Wednesday to Sunday at The Grosvenor, corner of Hill Street and Hay Street, while a large ‘surfie’ crowd converges on The Lookout, The Esplanade, Scarborough Beach, for bigger Australian acts and rowdy good times. The American-themed Mustang Bar, 46 Lake Street, Northbridge, offers country and western, rockabilly and big-band swing, while Freo’s Orient Hotel, 39 High Street, provides a salsa band on Sunday nights. The Perth Entertainment Centre, Wellington Street, is Perth’s main venue for major rock groups and blockbuster shows. |
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