Grab a cheapie beer and throw yourself into the friendly mix of young local regulars who consider this place their round-the-corner hang-out.
Up until the mid-'90s, the only people to frequent this Surry Hills local were grumpy old men, your friendly neighbourhood alkie and cockroaches galore. Of course, this has changed more recently. The local young folks now realise that this longstanding corner pub is actually a fine little establishment.
The interior has been tastefully upgraded, though thankfully not enough to turn the Cricketers into another run-of-the-mill Surry Hills yuppie den. There's still enough scunge and kooky statues present to make it appealing to the slightly left-of-centre style cats that visit this fun pub.
The enclosed beer garden found at the rear is definitely a favourite local feature. Fitted out with plenty of picnic tables, mismatched mirrors and built-in flower boxes, this space will probably make you feel like you're hanging out in your best mate's terrace garden with 40 of your favourite friends, some of whom you've never met before.
Securing a table after 8pm can often prove challenging, but the folks who frequent The Cricketers are generally friendly and not averse to sliding down and sharing their section.
Kat Hartmann
