Why you goThe Feinster Arms, the 150-year-old pub in a Collingwood backstreet that once counted Chopper Read as a regular, has been transformed into Goldy’s! Tavern. It’s a textbook example of how to modernise an old-school backstreet pub without losing any of its old-school backstreet charm. Goldy’s! offers the classic joys of beer, parma and beer garden, but has updated the quality of the ingredients and the labels to suit a neighbourhood filled with locals who know their saisons from their IPAs and might be particular about the brand of gin in their G&T. The approach appeals to a wide range of demographics, from families having an early dinner, the offspring tucking into chicken and chips or tomato pasta from the kids’ menu while the parents wash down cheeseburgers (regular or vegan) with a pint of local craft beer or a glass of natural pinot grigio to young folk shooting pool in the front bar over cocktails. Meanwhile, groups of friends gather in the beer garden out the back or take advantage of the spacious street-side seating that runs along both sides of the corner pub. Goldy’s! is off all of the main Collingwood drags too so it has a peaceful vibe, conducive to long, winding conversations about how good old school pubs can be.
