The Sporting Club Hotel in Brunswick has quietly become a destination for pub food that balances nostalgia with modern technique. This profile breaks down its current menu, reviews, specials, and happy hour status using official documents, editorial coverage, and crowd-sourced listings.
Last checked: 2026-08-12
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Name: Sporting Club Hotel · Address: 27 Weston St, Brunswick VIC 3056 · Cuisine: Pub fare, cocktails, gluten-free options, Sunday roast · Price range: $40 and under
Methodology: This article is compiled from publicly available sources including the hotel’s official website, the 2024 Functions Pack PDF, editorial reviews from Broadsheet, Sydney Morning Herald Good Food, 3AW, and The Age, user reviews on Tripadvisor, a vegetarian blog, and listings on OpenTable and Time Out. No on-site visit or staff interview was conducted.
Sporting Club Hotel at a Glance
- Name: Sporting Club Hotel – Official site
- Address: 27 Weston Street, Brunswick VIC 3056 – official site
- Phone: +61 3 9996 1869 – official site
- Cuisine: Pub fare, cocktails, gluten-free options, Sunday roast, dog-friendly – Broadsheet
- Notable: No TAB, no pokies – 3AW
Key Facts: Menu & Pricing
| Item | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Canapé menu (per person) | A$40 | 2024 Functions Pack |
| Set menu (per person) | A$75 | 2024 Functions Pack |
| Family Sunday set menu (per person) | A$75 | 2024 Functions Pack |
| Ploughman’s Platter (min. 20 people) | A$30 per person | 2024 Functions Pack |
| Chicken schnitzel | A$28 | 3AW |
| Cheeseburger | A$29 | 3AW |
| Coconut & turmeric fish curry | A$38 | 3AW |
| “Pasta Fazool” casarecce | A$30 | 3AW |
| Hot‑smoked trout hash brown (per piece) | A$8 | 3AW |
| Weekday three‑tier club sandwich (lunch) | A$25 | Good Food |
| Carlton Draught (pot) | A$7 | 3AW |
What Is on the Menu at the Sporting Club Hotel in Brunswick?
The kitchen, led by executive chef Scott Stevenson and head chef Cian Fenaughty, produces a menu described by Broadsheet as “nostalgic and retro while avoiding kitsch.” Snacks include baked Pacific oysters, a prawn cocktail‑inspired roll, and a hot‑smoked trout hash brown. The Good Food review adds cauliflower Kyiv, savoury wagyu doughnuts, mussels in vadouvan butter, grilled quail with Caesar‑style cos lettuce, and spaghetti with pipis. A 2024 functions pack outlines a canapé menu (A$40 per person) with items such as duck liver parfait tartlet, prawn cocktail lettuce cup, and shiitake tofu and sesame toast. The set menu (A$75 per person) offers starters like tomato and bread salad with nectarine and squacquerone cheese, followed by mains that change seasonally. Vegetarian options are clearly marked; Here’s The Veg notes fried Brussels sprouts on cheddar sauce, lasagne alla norma (A$32), and a vegetarian pasta fazool (A$30) without pancetta. The official website confirms gluten‑free and dog‑friendly options, and a full bar is available.
What Do Reviews Say About the Sporting Club Hotel?
3AW’s “Pub of the Week” awarded a score of 14.6 out of 20, praising crispy crumbed prawn cutlets with soy chilli mayo (A$24) as one of the best dishes tried that year. The review also highlights a roast of the day rolled lamb with Yorkshire pudding at A$35 and notes that no surcharges appeared on the bill. Broadsheet calls the fit‑out comfortable and the food “retro without kitsch.” A Tripadvisor user from October 2023 describes a “delicious slow cooked lamb shoulder in sugo” and a “nice new fit out.” The vegetarian blog Here’s The Veg comments that the revamped courtyard initially felt “uniform and sterile” but acknowledges the clear labelling of dietary options. The Good Food review, written shortly after opening, describes a menu that includes a weekday club sandwich for A$25, a nod to affordable lunch specials.
Specials and Deals
The 2024 functions pack reveals a family Sunday set menu at A$75 per person featuring a weekly rotational Sunday roast or a lentil, barley and almond loaf, served with Yorkshire puddings, chips, gravy, mustard leaf salad and green beans with pesto. The Good Food article mentions a weekday three‑tier club sandwich available for A$25 during lunch. The hotel’s website and Instagram (not independently verified here) are cited as channels for current specials. While no formal happy hour programme is advertised, the 3AW review lists a Carlton Draught pot at A$7, indicating mid‑range drinks pricing rather than steep discounts.
When Is Happy Hour at the Sporting Club Hotel?
Based on publicly available sources, no structured happy hour with published times or discounted drink prices exists for the Sporting Club Hotel. The official website and the 2024 functions pack do not mention a dedicated happy hour programme. The hotel’s social media accounts may occasionally offer drink deals, but no consistent schedule was found in the reviewed materials.
Pricing Band
According to OpenTable, the average spend is “A$40 and under.” Individual mains range from A$25 (weekday club sandwich) to A$38 (fish curry), with snacks and canapés starting at A$8 per piece. The set menu is A$75 per person. This places the Sporting Club Hotel in the affordable‑to‑mid market for Brunswick pub dining.
Location and Getting There
Sporting Club Hotel is at 27 Weston Street, Brunswick, Victoria 3056. The venue is a short walk from Sydney Road and is served by tram routes 19 and 56. Street parking is available but limited. The hotel is open daily from 12 pm until close, with Tripadvisor reporting 12:00–23:00 Sunday–Thursday and 12:00–01:00 Friday–Saturday (though Broadsheet lists a 10 pm close, so call ahead to confirm kitchen hours).
Alternatives in Brunswick
If you’re exploring other options in the area, several nearby pubs offer similar menus. The Sporting Club Hotel distinguishes itself through its no‑pokies, no‑TAB atmosphere and a considered wine list that includes boutique labels such as Defialy ‘Not Quite White’ Vermentino/Falanghina (A$14 per glass, per 3AW). For budget‑conscious diners, the weekday club sandwich at A$25 provides a solid value lunch option.
Our Pick
For a balanced pub dining experience that combines nostalgic snacks, hearty mains, and a well‑curated drinks list without gambling distractions, the Sporting Club Hotel is a strong choice in Brunswick. The 2024 function pack’s canapé menu and set meal options make it equally suitable for groups and couples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Sporting Club Hotel have gluten‑free options?
Yes, gluten‑free options are available, as listed on OpenTable.
What is the price range?
The average spend is A$40 and under per person, according to OpenTable.
Is the hotel dog‑friendly?
Yes, it is listed as Dog Friendly on OpenTable.
What are the opening hours?
Open daily from 12 pm until close (official website). Tripadvisor adds Sunday–Thursday 12 pm–11 pm, Friday–Saturday 12 pm–1 am.
Does the menu include a Sunday roast?
Yes, a Sunday roast is featured on the family Sunday set menu (A$75 per person) and is also listed on OpenTable.
Is there a full bar?
Yes, Full Bar is listed as a cuisine option on OpenTable.
Can I book a table?
Yes, via OpenTable or the hotel’s own booking page.
What snacks are available?
Items include baked Pacific oysters, a prawn cocktail‑inspired roll, and hot‑smoked‑trout hash brown, as reported by Broadsheet.