Man Alive!!!! Its expensive in Perth for a beer where is the nearest Weatherspoons??

[prankmonkey]

Hi Everyone

First post so be gentle

Just moved to Perth from London to start a new life here.  Wife is from here originally and lucky to have load of family here to look after us until we get settled and try to explain just WTF is going on in AFL.  Been to Perth a couple of times before so came here with eyes wide open and always been fairly expensive but that was prior to the pound taking a huge nosedive following Brexit.  

I know there are no Weatherspoons over here but a couple of pints and a bit of food can set you back a small fortune and I am used to drinking in London so no stranger to pricey beers. Its more like drinking in Dubai the prices they charge here and alcohol is meant to be illegal over there  Does anyone have any tips or pointers for decent happy hours or anything like that they have found?  Maybe somewhere decent they have found that is good value for food or drinks.  Just trying to keep the costs down rather than walking back from the bar grimacing and worrying that I am going to get completely stung buying a huge round.  

I would use things like taste card back home and seen they have the entertainer book/app thing here but not sure that amazing also signed up with Groupon and Scoopon but they are a bit meh with their offers.    

Currently signing up with all the supermarkets, restaurants and shops reward schemes I can find so got more cards now than Clintons  If there any really good ones let me know.  I see that priceline give you $5 for signing up and then $5 for your birthday. 

So if anyone has any pointers or tips for a newbie feel free to ping them over as will be much appreciated.

All the best

[Collie]

Hey mate,

Welcome to Perth and yes it is outrageously expensive for leisure stuff (drinks & meals out etc), believe it or not it is about 20% more expensive than Sydney.  I think it has something to do with having no pokies in the pubs here (which is a good thing).

It is rare to pay <$10 a drink IME in anywhere half decent.  The cheapest place I found was a bowling club on a lawn bowls day out.  It was a pretty depressing place but great value booze so have a look around for your local one.  Some boozers/restaurants do good midweek meal deals, particularly Mon-Weds.  Sienna's in Mount Lawley and Leederville have a cheaper menu mid week and the Oxford does a $20 steak and drink on a Weds.

What part of Perth are you in?  The cabin in Mount Hawthorn is a really nice small bar and they do $12 cocktails on a Friday, I used to think what the hell is so special about $12 cocktails until I ventured out a bit more.

I find Freo a bit more reasonable (not much mind) for prices (& a lot nicer than Perth)

A lot of people in Perth do the home boozing and invite people around or visit other houses etc purely based on the cost of drinking out v in.

 

[AJ]

You get what you pay for though, no point comparing it with Wetherspoons crap!

[prankmonkey]

Thanks Collie,

 

Really helpful advice.  Not too far from Leederville so will defo check out Siennas and the cabin seems decent and not too far either.  We are currently staying in City Beach with the in laws which is an amazing area that we wont be able to afford to stay in when we leave them   We have relatives in Freemantle but not been down there yet but always like visiting there as feels a bit less like Milton Keynes/Croydon if that makes sense than Perth City centre.   A lot more like a sort of town feel to it where you can wander about more.

I think its a case of getting used to being a bit more savvy when it comes to special offers and keeping eyes peeled a lot more for good midweek deals and do the whole entertain at home thing. On the plus side of drinking at home I discovered a beer called "Perth Local" (ironically enough) made by Ferrel Brewery

Thanks again

 

[jonnyraceway]

Hey bud,

 

I'll try and give you a few pointers to save some hard-earned $$$

 

As you mentioned, look at getting the Entertainment Book (or App). We've saved $500-600 last couple of years without trying too hard or going too far out of our way. The app is handy as you can also share with 3 or 4 other devices and I find we use it a lot more than when we had the book.

 

WA Today - check out their website as they had a great article recently (in leisure section) of drink and dinner deals around Perth. Cheersy.com.au is a website that shows similar deals.

 

Dimmi website/app has a number of deals around the place, ranging from 20-50% off but these change weekly and you need to book in advance via their platform. Some fairly good venues can sometimes be found here.

 

As you mentioned, Groupon and Scoopon are worth keeping tabs on but I have found the quality of venue can vary.

 

And my favourite, Clipp app. Only a handful of venues are registered on Clipp but had some phenomenal savings from them during the week (I'm a shift worker so quite partial to a 'school day' drink). It's works on a tab system where you pay upfront via card and Clipp refunds what you haven't spent. No money transferred between you and the bar and all very legit.

 

Finally (and to state the obvious), once you're earning AUD and eventually stop subconsciously converting into £££, you'll find the prices a little easier to swallow. There are some decent little places here, enjoy [emoji1303]

 

 

[Guest]

Fwiw the entertainment book pays for itself for us in money saves on cinema tickets and a few meals out. Anything else we use it for after that is a saving  Handy for trips out, meals, kids parties and more. 

[ali]

A lot of places will have specials on during the week.  Our local tavern is really reasonable for food and drinks (typical bar food), first time we went in after renovations, we thought that they hadn't charged us for part of the drinks order as it was much lower than what we were used to.

Had some great meals with groupon/Scoopon and use the entertainment book

 

[Guest263228]

There are specials during the week due to few going out. Perth being rather much a Friday/Saturday night outgoing place. Never quite sure how many places sustain their business with prices charged and numbers of customers during week nights. Those that offer something generally appear to be rewarded. I actually prefer going out during the week for such reasons.

 

[benj1980]

I much prefer to have a beer watching the sun go down, it's pretty cheap in comparison!

[s713]

Beer prices are off the scale in Perth, ridiculous.

Although, don't bring Wetherspoons into the discussion, those places are awful.

[benj1980]

I don't drink in Perth very often it's expensive enough an hour south!

[Guest263228]

1 hour ago, benj1980 said:

I don't drink in Perth very often it's expensive enough an hour south!

Which confirms the point being made. That being most any form of social engagement in WA , involving alcohol, outside of Happy Hours and special deals is a right royal rip off. Which further explains the lack of people socialising outside on a regular basis.

Hence stay at home or at best home entertaining (which seems to have dropped of in itself in recent years) being the name of the game. That hardly leaves itself open for non invited, unknown newcomers.

[Guest263228]

11 hours ago, benj1980 said:

I much prefer to have a beer watching the sun go down, it's pretty cheap in comparison!

Cheap indeed. But worth the effort to move twelve thousand miles to watch a sun go down in place of a social life, may prove too much of an encumbrance, not to say dull for others, more used to an active social life with things happening. 

[benj1980]

2 hours ago, Pura Vida said:

Which confirms the point being made. That being most any form of social engagement in WA , involving alcohol, outside of Happy Hours and special deals is a right royal rip off. Which further explains the lack of people socialising outside on a regular basis.

Hence stay at home or at best home entertaining (which seems to have dropped of in itself in recent years) being the name of the game. That hardly leaves itself open for non invited, unknown newcomers.

I could afford to go out in Perth if I wanted to but I have better things to spend my money on like my children! Most of our entertaining and entertainment is centred by like minded families and we have a great time socialising. I'm not suggesting going out here isn't a rip off but comparing most things to the UK is also a rip off, but since I get paid the equivalent of double I don't feel the need to complain about this. It's a relative I guess?

Oh and you're absolutely right I only invite people that I know into my house...

[Guest263228]

Which leads one to wonder I suppose if earning double the money, outside of mercenary instincts, is really worth the effort? Well if one wishes a social life with a little vigour at any rate.

[VXRHSV]

Start by earning dollars and not spending sterling..

Then find a bottleshop.

Either drink with your family or friends or go the beach and get a free barbecue.

If you want Wetherspoons your in the wrong place..

[VXRHSV]

Most people are on twenty five dollars an hour half of that is a beer..

Most people inthe uk are on eight quid an hour half of that is a beer..

Not much difference..

[Perthbum]

On 06/09/2017 at 08:25, AJ said:

You get what you pay for though, no point comparing it with Wetherspoons crap!

spoons stock the best real ales and craft ales, what are you on about? the big breweries in oz produce really nasty tasting lagers and beers.

[newjez]

4 hours ago, Perthbum said:

spoons stock the best real ales and craft ales, what are you on about? the big breweries in oz produce really nasty tasting lagers and beers.

You do have to drink with Simmo and his mates though, so there is a downside.

[prankmonkey]

On 07/09/2017 at 13:40, jonnyraceway said:

Hey bud,

 

I'll try and give you a few pointers to save some hard-earned $$$

 

As you mentioned, look at getting the Entertainment Book (or App). We've saved $500-600 last couple of years without trying too hard or going too far out of our way. The app is handy as you can also share with 3 or 4 other devices and I find we use it a lot more than when we had the book.

 

WA Today - check out their website as they had a great article recently (in leisure section) of drink and dinner deals around Perth. Cheersy.com.au is a website that shows similar deals.

 

Dimmi website/app has a number of deals around the place, ranging from 20-50% off but these change weekly and you need to book in advance via their platform. Some fairly good venues can sometimes be found here.

 

As you mentioned, Groupon and Scoopon are worth keeping tabs on but I have found the quality of venue can vary.

 

And my favourite, Clipp app. Only a handful of venues are registered on Clipp but had some phenomenal savings from them during the week (I'm a shift worker so quite partial to a 'school day' drink). It's works on a tab system where you pay upfront via card and Clipp refunds what you haven't spent. No money transferred between you and the bar and all very legit.

 

Finally (and to state the obvious), once you're earning AUD and eventually stop subconsciously converting into £££, you'll find the prices a little easier to swallow. There are some decent little places here, enjoy

 

 

Thanks Johnny and sorry for the delay in getting back to you buddy.  Didnt know about Clipp so got it downloaded now on the phone and look forward to mucking about with it same too with the Dimmi app

Thanks again 

 

K

  

[prankmonkey]

On 07/09/2017 at 13:45, snifter said:

Fwiw the entertainment book pays for itself for us in money saves on cinema tickets and a few meals out. Anything else we use it for after that is a saving  Handy for trips out, meals, kids parties and more. 

Thats great  thanks Snifter my sister in law is coming round later so can go through the entertainment book.  I used to use it in UAE and had some cracking deals on it.

 

Cheers

 

K

[prankmonkey]

On 13/09/2017 at 12:38, s713 said:

Beer prices are off the scale in Perth, ridiculous.

Although, don't bring Wetherspoons into the discussion, those places are awful.

ha ha just to clarify I was trying to be funny with the whole weatherspoons comment but obviously failing  the thought of coming over here and looking for a pub full of chavs/bogans waiting to stab/murder/steal or even worse tell your their life story and old boys reading the racing post getting smashed at 9am fills me waiting for curry club with dread and I am from Luton originally so know what I am talking about here   

[prankmonkey]

On 12/09/2017 at 20:18, Pura Vida said:

There are specials during the week due to few going out. Perth being rather much a Friday/Saturday night outgoing place. Never quite sure how many places sustain their business with prices charged and numbers of customers during week nights. Those that offer something generally appear to be rewarded. I actually prefer going out during the week for such reasons.

 

Thanks Pura,

I noticed that with Perth being very quiet during the mid week just kind of after work crowd but getting a bit long in the tooth to be stood 5 deep at a bar waiting to get served.

Having lived in Battersea for many years we took full of advantage of it.  My wife worked for MTV so we did well with stuff on that and also so many other ways in London to keep the costs down.  I had a hook up with ticket guy that used to provide us with seat filler tickets as they didn't want the theatre to be half empty.  So basically charge you an admin fee of less than a fiver per ticket and you have a night at comedy or theatre.  Don't get me wrong we weren't going to see the book or mormons or shows like that but still was a right touch.  I know Perth is no London been over here a few times before we made the leap but its only by asking about you find there is whole hidden world of being able to have a good time on the cheap and good offers and deals etc  

K

 

[benj1980]

14 minutes ago, prankmonkey said:

ha ha just to clarify I was trying to be funny with the whole weatherspoons comment but obviously failing  the thought of coming over here and looking for a pub full of chavs/bogans waiting to stab/murder/steal or even worse tell your their life story and old boys reading the racing post getting smashed at 9am fills me waiting for curry club with dread and I am from Luton originally so know what I am talking about here   

Weatherspoon was always a quick couple of beers and go somewhere nice type of place for me!

[Guest263228]

19 hours ago, VXRHSV said:

Most people are on twenty five dollars an hour half of that is a beer..

Most people inthe uk are on eight quid an hour half of that is a beer..

Not much difference..

But this was not always the case. Britain has long been poorly paid, with many struggling. Socialising outside and including booze  was cheap here at one time and a night out not costing an arm and leg. Little difference now but that doesn't mean it is right nor we should cease to complain.