Grab a cheapie beer and throw yourself into the friendly mix of young, trendy regulars who consider this place their round-the-corner hangout.
Up until the mid-'90s, the only people to frequent this Surry Hills local were grumpy old men and cockroaches galore. Of course, those times are long gone. The trendy local youngsters 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. Another plus is the eclectic, indie-leaning soundtrack resonating from the sound system - usually the bar staff's personal playlists from the looks of it and a refreshing change from top-40 ditties, daggy jukebox numbers or the irritating melody of poker machines.
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
