Located on the Hawkesbury Valley Way, the Clarendon Tavern is well known to locals and regulars alike for good food, good drink and all-around good vibes — any day and time of the week.
Boasting 58 taps, a seasonal menu with daily specials, courtyard seating and an upstairs function centre, not to mention trivia, bingo and karaoke nights, it’s a venue with something for everyone including man’s best friend (the front patio is dog friendly).
“I think, most of all, the focus is always on the customer experience; that they have a consistent and enjoyable experience every time that they come here,” says Emma, assistant venue manager at the Clarendon Tavern. “And that can vary, whether it’s a week night or a lazy Sunday afternoon. During the week we’re very family friendly, with a lot of family-focused promotions and activities.”
Emma has worked in hospitality since her teens and is equally at home making a latte as she is pouring a beer. “It’s a very different environment serving people what I like to call their ‘PM beverages’; their beer and wines over dinner as opposed to coffee,” she observes. “We’re a very old man, old-school Carlton Dry or Great Northern Original kind of pub, but we do explore other options on the taps.”
The majority of those 58 taps can be found downstairs, with four in the upstairs bar as part of the newly renovated function room which seats 100 but can host more for less formal engagements; the Clarendon Tavern’s bistro can provide buffets, sit-down meals or finger food depending on the type of event.
For regular patrons, the bistro menu is all about value for money, including a ’14 choices for $14′ selection. “There are also $14 specials each week night. For example, Monday is a burger, Tuesday is a schnitty, and Wednesday is $1 wings,” explains Jo, the Clarendon Tavern’s general manager. “We also have a rack of ribs for $25 and you can add a protein to that for $10 — that’s very popular! And Thursday night is Classics, where you get a choice of four dishes and a beer, wine or soft drink to go with it.”
Lunch service at Clarendon Tavern is 12-3pm with dinner service starting at 5pm, ending 9pm Sunday-Thursday and 10pm Friday and Saturday. “And on the weekends between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, the kitchen is open but it’s pizzas only,” Jo asserts.
Speaking of weekends, if you choose to let your hair down with friends while dining out or watching the footy, there’s a courtesy bus which operates Friday and Saturday nights from 5.30pm until 1.30am and covers a 5-kilometre radius ‘as the crow flies’. “We don’t go over the Windsor Bridge and we don’t go over the North Richmond Bridge,” Jo states.
If the Clarendon Tavern isn’t already your local, maybe you should think about changing that — or at least venturing out that way for a satisfying day trip.
244 Hawkesbury Valley Way, Clarendon, NSW 2756
Website: clarendontavern.com
Email: functions@clarendontavern.com
