Best pub tab Melbourne

[benhawk]

Hey punters,

What is the best pub tab in Melbourne, Moonee Ponds / Essendon / ascot Vale area or anywhere in western suburbs.

Cheers

 

[RichieRich]

Hey punters,

What is the best pub tab in Melbourne, Moonee Ponds / Essendon / ascot Vale area or anywhere in western suburbs.

Cheers

Only one I can think of is Windy Hill (Essendon Footy Club) - they have a good tab there, etc

 

[mi_hrvati]

the royal, the linc, the one right across from the valley and as mentioned windy hill

 

[standingroomonly]

Haven't punted much there myself since i live in the inner eastern suburbs but The Kealba in Sunshine is a pretty massive tote, usually in the top 2 or 3 for sales in the state so they must be doing something right out there.

 

[banana_bus]

If youre ever on the other side of town, The Manhattan on Canterbury Rd near Eastlink has a mammoth sportsbar.

 

[Daytripper]

Best 3 are Windy Hill, Moonee Valley Tabaret and The Cross Keys.

The Royal used to be okay but they've sectioned it off now and its gone downhill in my opinion.
The Link is good for a quiet weekday but gets too crowded on a weekend.
Don't like The Junction Tabaret.
The Laurel isn't bad.
Don't mind the Union Hotel and its quite roomy plus it doesn't get overcrowded.
Prince of Wales is pretty ordinary but haven't been there for ages.
The Waterloo is too small (the TAB part anyway).

I think thats it (for the Essendon/Moonee Ponds area anyway).

In Melbourne, my favourite would be the Royal Oak in Carlton. Not too crowded, great service and good clientele.

 

[Coach Bombay]

THE LINC. My local. Love it. Never too busy but busy enough.

 

[blue_bhoy]

Haven't punted much there myself since i live in the inner eastern suburbs but The Kealba in Sunshine is a pretty massive tote, usually in the top 2 or 3 for sales in the state so they must be doing something right out there.

massive upgrade around a year ago. huge main screen (along with about 8 or so other screens also broadcasting the races) and plenty of room, even in peak times

 

[Jan Juc]

Of those mentioned, I'd go Junction then Linc - if you want to keep going on that tram line Skyways at Airport West Shoppingtown isn;t the worst either.

One that is huge and looks like it's had a refurb is the downstairs section of on of the pubs near Watergardens shopping centre (not sure, maybe Taylors Lakes Hotel?).

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Not in the West but I think Century City is pretty good in Glen Waverley.

Plenty of screens and room to see the action
Tipping Comp attracts about 40 entries at $10 a pop. Winner takes all.
FREE sausages in bread with onion and tomato sauce!

 

[footyman]

The one at Highpoint Shopping Centre isn't too bad either, it's a little dark and dingy but roomy enough. Plenty of screens and form boards.

The Waterloo is alright, and the MV Tabaret goes ok as well - provided you dont mind those Read Technology odds screens as opposed to the normal teletext ones.

 

[youngsaint]

Yeah don't mind the one at highpoint, waterloo is average some real dicks hang around there as well..

Newmarket Tavern is pretty decent. Cheap meals there all the time as well.

 

[Dan Moody]

THE LINC. My local. Love it. Never too busy but busy enough.

used to frequent the Linc before and after every Valley meeting, and we live down the Peninsula. You're right about it being not too busy but busy enough, always enough room to get around and not too many dicks get down there, a good way to wind down the day.

 

[standingroomonly]

I've moved from Richmond to Elwood and there seems to be some decent tote's around.

The Post Office Hotel:

Pretty standard TAB but Roy Higgins pretty much lives in the place (has his own table reserved for him and his mates) if you're keen of having a chat and a beer with a racing legend it's not a bad place to go and have a cheap counter lunch and a bet.

The Village Belle:

This place shits me, usually only 1 staff member on out the back for the TAB and the gaming room combined so usually nobody at the counter and only 2 EBT's which usually has at least one with some twat putting on a $3 10 leg baseball/NFL/soccer/NBA multi on for half an hour. There is a EBT in the front bar as well but no sound on the single sky TV and no teletext screns out there but usually no line. Pretty high dero factor sometimes as well, comes with the area.

Positives are it's right in the heart of St Kilda and not bad for watching sport and having a quick bet, plus there is a fair bit of backpacker talent about, haha. Oh and $10 magners pint bottles isn't the worst either.

The Elsternwick Hotel:

My pick personally, far enough away from St Kilda that there isn't too many idiots about but it is still really busy on the couple of saturdays i've been in. 3 EBT's plus a counter that is always staffed so no trouble getting on, staff don't mind verbal bets either. There was a big young bloke behind the jump the other day that knew his stuff. Heaps of TV's and the form/papers/tips are usually displayed really well. It's a big sports pub, every game of most codes are televised, just need to ask sometimes as otherwise they'll just put the AFL on every tv. I think it's an ALH pub so they always have a cheap drink special and they do a decent parma.

Downsides are they tend to have a few regular things on at night time that get in the way of the TAB, monday nights trivia, tuesdays poker (maybe finished up now though?) and some saturday nights the band goes in the TAB area so it gets cut down to a tiny part for the punters, usually no sound either for those nights. Also some of the bar girls, while decent looking don't have much idea with the tote except for taking cash and paying tickets so usually have to wait for a manager or one of the senior tab guys to answer any questions.


There is a few others about like the Rosstown in Carnegie (Huge TAB, pretty awesome actually but a little far away unless i'm making a day of it.),the Inkerman (don't rate it), and the Barkly Hotel has just got a TAB Kiosk installed apparently but i haven't checked that out yet.

 

[Childish Gambino]

Haven't punted much there myself since i live in the inner eastern suburbs but The Kealba in Sunshine is a pretty massive tote, usually in the top 2 or 3 for sales in the state so they must be doing something right out there.

That was my late grandpas local. Great place .

Does anyone have any recommendations in the Preston/Reservoir area?

 

[Selective Retention]

The Rosstown is good. It's a bit of a pokies palace which makes it hard to get a park sometimes but the TAB, the pokies, the restaurant and the second bar out the front are all well partitioned off so you don't get your space encroached by nuffies.

 

[Jan Juc]

That was my late grandpas local. Great place .

Does anyone have any recommendations in the Preston/Reservoir area?

Lock your car doors when you stop at traffic lights.

Actually, scratch that, don't stop at traffic lights in these areas.

 

[Childish Gambino]

Lock your car doors when you stop at traffic lights.

Actually, scratch that, don't stop at traffic lights in these areas.

Funny guy....

The area isn't really that bad!

 

[the_fresh]

who really uses the PubTABs these days?
Its cheaper to bet from home with more options and drinks bought take away.
Plus you won't get any idiots yelling during the race.

I have a pretty good set up. Foxtel HD, a imac with a 24'' screen hooked up to it & betfair & TAB websites running.