The impromptu mini pub crawl in Gosford (Oct 19)

I never get tired of the view. :)

So the first Mariners home match for the new season is over for the afternoon and they've won in an extraordinary fashion against their local rivals the Jets. A few celebratory drinks are in order. Why not a mini pub crawl? We'll start at the leagues club and work our way down to the station where we can catch the #37 bus home.
Of course, at some point, we're going to need something to eat. Leagues Club? Nope, currently too busy. Gosford Hotel? We'll be there Tuesday for trivia. Railway Hotel? We haven't eaten there yet, so why not?
I have been there a couple of times before, the more recent visit was the night of the home grand final against Melbourne Victory in May 2024. It was absolutely packed. This time it's around 7pm on a Sunday so it's considerably quieter. When I first went there I felt I was walking into the set of a noir film, right when a deal was being made between rival cartels and just before a badge gets flashed and all hell breaks loose. Gees my imagination gets the best of me sometimes... lol It's right in the centre of the Gosford CBD at the bottom of one of the more recent tower additions, right where Dutton's Tavern used to be.
But it's rather nice. Cosy even. Though it is primarily a steakhouse, there are plenty of other options on the menu. One goes for the steak and guiness pie, another for the classic chicken schnitzel, and seeing I'm in the mood for a burger, I take the crispy chicken option. All are served with chips with an option for salad, gravy and sauce. All items are over $25, which is pretty much par for the course in pubs and clubs these days around here.

It's worth it though. We didn't have too long to wait and during that time we chat and watch one of the many screens displaying a live sport fixture. The food is very good. I'm not too keen on chili sauce on a burger and due to my finicky nature I don't like cucumber either. However, after having consumed a few alcoholic beverages I don't care and finish the lot. In fact, all three of us pretty much lick our plates clean. We're all very satisfied and stay for another drink before moving on for our last port of call.
It was a short but good evening out. Most importantly, we started the new season with a win. Cheers!

All pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.

All links correct at the time of posting.

A Night at the Footy (February 11)

There hasn't been that much in the way of opportunities for me to go out and have a bite to eat around here recently. I had felt that I could start comparing Chinese takeaways for their Singapore Noodles (seeing I had sampled several places recently for that particular dish) but last night I finally managed to do one that I should've done a long time ago, considering how many times I've been there.
Yesterday I once again found myself at the Central Coast Stadium right on the edge of the Brisbane Water. It's well over 250 visits to the stadium for three football codes since 2000 and I've never gotten tired of the view. Unlike the previous post, which was a rather wet day for the opening matches of the 2024-25 A-League season (womens then mens), here I was at what was going to be the last home match of the Mariners' Champions League Elite 2024-25 campaign against the ten time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Drul Ta'zim. It was a reasonable night weatherwise, a little balmy but otherwise fine.

One cheeseburger a la mode in Bay 27.
Carefully balanced on my knee for the shot.

On the menu tonight, well, the only thing I really could rate was the cheeseburger meal. Honestly, there's not much to a cheeseburger meal so you'd have to do something really bad to stuff it up. With a 600ml drink and a large bucket of chips, you're looking at $26 all up. To be honest, the burger wasn't that great. It was a simple, slightly thick meat pattie, combined with a small dollop of sauce, a slice of cheese and a couple of slivers of gherkin inside a plain white bun. Oddly enough, it was very similar in taste and content to the cheeseburger you could get across the road at the Central Coast Leagues Club. The drink's producer was covered by a sticky white label (no doubt for sponsorship purposes) with the chips being quite tasty with a hint of being beer battered. By themselves you're looking at $8 for the (slightly) bigger bucket. There are other options on the menu, like fish and chips, hot dogs, sausage rolls and pies. I've pretty much tried everything else and to be honest you're better off bringing your own food in (which a mate of mine does whenever he visits), maybe your own non-alcoholic drinks as well. Still, it's okay once in a while, which I'll have to adhere to. Last Friday (8 Feb) I ventured into the city to see Kate Miller-Heidke at the Recital Hall in Wynard and forked out $16 for a can of cider and a packet of potato crisps. No sandwiches on offer, at best a selection of cheese and crackers, though I bought cheaper ones at the kiosk at Central Station on the way back home. It really is hardly worth buying food or drink at the venue these days.
Anyway, I can take or leave the stadium burger and chips. I'd suggest eating at the club first before attending a match but seeing it gets quite busy over there before the game you'll have to get there at least an hour before the gates open, or take your chances elsewhere, depending what day the match is on and what time the game starts and finish. Friday and Saturday nights aren't too bad, with several dining places of various sorts open in the main street, including the Hotel Gosford, which I reviewed on 2 November 2024, where I've been going once a month for the Tuesday night trivia.
By the way, in what was a busy night for officials with a send off, yellow cards, players being stretchered off and plenty of referrals to the VAR, the visitors won 2-1. The Mariners' final match in this campaign will be overseas on Feb 18. My next game there could well be the women's fixture against the Wanderers on Feb 22, though there will be a couple of rugby league trials there this month as well.
Cheers!

Like I said, never get tired of the view. :)

Updated 12 April, 2025.

All links correct at time of posting.

Photographs taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.