I've done the math, and I think I have met three boyfriends at this pub.
Not at the same time, of course. But over the years. Let's see .... 2002, 2004 and 2011? Clearly this pub is doing something right. Or drastically wrong, depending on how you look at it.
The Clare bridges the divide between shabby student pub, and Aussie old man's pub. A little bit. It still has that grubby carpet, wonderful old pub tiles, random alcoholics wandering about, and an amazing set of bathroom graffiti (the women's mostly consisting of arguments about how to spell words, and whether Tim is a great lay) (He's totally a great lay.)
In recent years, the Clare has had unpredictable opening hours, probably due to all the construction nearby. But it's still going strong, some nights. They're still doing music trivia, but now I don't know any of the answers and feel horribly out of touch.
If the pub is busy and you can't find a seat on one of the grimy old comfy sofas ... check out the back room. This is essentially the pokies room, but more often than not, NO ONE is playing pokies, and there are plenty of seats and 1960s laminate tables to hang about at. Once you're seated in the pokies room, have a look around. Not at the pokies. Check out the ceiling. It's pretty awesome.
Oh, there's a smoking courtyard out the back. It's nothin' fancy. Milk crates and ciggie butts.
Oh, the Clare of my youth. What will happen to you with the Central Park development? Will you stay the same? Or will you start serving $18 cocktails? Please don't change. May you continue to be responsible for plenty of lost $2 coins in grubby sofa cracks and warm schooners of Carlton and drunken uni hookups. read more