Bison and Bird Australia Day celebrations, Clapham
Deep in the south London heartland, the Bird and Bison kicks off its Australia Day celebrations with a range of enticing drinks promotions (think £2.95 Snakebites, and Bundies and cokes).
To counteract the carnage, there are Aussie pies and burgers on hand to soak it all up, as well as live music and DJs and Triple J’s Hottest 100. Party on.
Jan 26, noon to 1am, Free
182-184 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UG
bisonandbird.com
Tube: Clapham Common
Vinopolis Australia Day Wine Tour, Bankside
A range of special guest producers give this wine-tasting tour an Aussie slant for Australia Day, with Grant Burge Wines offering top tastings from an array of drops.
For those for who guzzling a skinful of vino on an empty stomach doesn’t sound like a top start to the evening, a seasonal Australian menu is on offer for the day too, with all the wines available for purchase.
Jan 26, 2pm-10pm, £22
No. 1 Bank End, SE1 9BU
vinopolis.co.uk/specialevents/australia_day
Tube: London Bridge
The StrongRoom, Shoreditch
Get your skinny jeans out ‘cos east London’s not missing out on the Australia Day celebrations.
The famed Strongroom leads the charge in Australia Day celebrations with, of course, drinks promos on Aussie beers and wines.
January 26, ’til 1am, Free
120-124 Curtain Road, EC2A 3SQ
Free
strongroombar.com
Tube: Old Street
Gigalum Australia Day Party, Clapham
This Clapham hotspot, nestled on the side of the common, hosts its very own Australia Day bash.
There’ll be DJs on hand spinning the hottest tunes, the Triple J 100 as well, not to mention all manner of Aussie beers to quench your thirst as well as barbecue-ing goings on a-happening too. And for those who get there before 9pm, and who mention your very own fave mag, TNT, there’s a free shot to get the party started.
Jan 27, 7pm-midnight, Free
7-8 Cavendish Place, SW4 9DW
gigalum.com
Tube: Acton Town
Wine-tasting Dating, Clapham
Cupid sometimes takes his time between strikes, so there’s no harm in engineering a perfect match yourself.
Antipodate, a dating service for strapping southern hemispherians (the clue’s in the name), is promoting
a wine-tasting dating evening at Flame Bar.
The Salubrious VIP venue, within Infernos, includes its own bar, DJ, sofas (for snuggling) and dancefloor. This is a great opportunity to learn how to enjoy a good wine, then sip seductively in the company of other singletons.
There’ll be nibbles, a wine quiz to get all giggly over, and dancing til the wee hours. Who needs Cupid?
Jan 27, 7.30pm, £35
Flame Bar, Infernos, 146 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UH
antipodate.co.uk
Tube: Clapham Common
The Underdog Bar Australia Day Party, Clapham
There aren’t too many places you can go for a drink and learn to surf – or learn how not to be hurled off a surf simulator.
The Underdog is your spot. Just make sure you tuck into the Pukka Pies, and go mad on the drink specials, after you give it a burl.
Jan 26, 5pm-12am, Free
8-10 Northcote Road, SW11 1NT
theunderdogbar.co.uk
Tube: Clapham Junction
Jumbuck’s Cafe, Shepherd’s Bush
Specialising in the iconic Jaffle Pie, this chain has stores across London and 10 pies to choose from, including the Aussie Rules and Bushranger Deluxe.
Every day, £2+
W12 8PH
jumbucks.com
Tube: Acton Town
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Redback Tavern, Acton
The Reddie, London’s top venue for Australian live music, has something very special in store for Australia Day in
the shape of Brisbane covers band Platform Six, who are in town to soundtrack the evening.
A hit on the party scene from Melbourne to the Northern Territory for six years, the Six specialise in covers of pretty much everything: rock, old and new; disco; funk; classics; electric and acoustic, from the Seventies and beyond.
With a repertoire of more 100 songs, they’re sure to smash any request you’ve got (onstage from 11pm).
Also, on tap are plenty of brews from Down Under, and a custom-built beer garden to spill out on to.
Jan 26, 8pm-2am, Free
264 Acton High Street, W3 9BH
redbacktavern.com
Tube: Acton Town
Aussie Quiz at The Barossa, Parsons Green
If you know the name of Jo Mangle’s dog in Neighbours, then knock your socks off at this Australia Day trivia night.
There’ll be banter aplenty, true-blue tunes, and a kitchen full of chicken parma.
Of course, the bar will be loaded up with Aussie grog, too.
Jan 26, 8pm, £10
277 New King’s Road, SW6 4RD
thebarossa.co.uk
Tube: Parsons Green
Walkabout Aussiefest, Various locations
Determined to stretch out Australia Day for every bit of carousing it’s worth, the Walkabout has planned five weeks of events, including Aussie-themed party nights; Aussie karaoke; crocodile wrestling; bikini-babe competitions; and all things green, gold and doggone cringeworthy about the land Down Under.
You’ll need to check the website of your favourite Walkabout (Temple has just been refurbished) to see what’s on when, but you can be certain their bars will be fully equipped to quench the thirst of an army of raving Aussies.
Also, get 10 stamps in your Walkabout ‘passport’ by purchasing food and drinks, and you can win a trip to Australia.
Jan 26-Feb 29
walkabout.eu.com
TNT Macbackpackers Aus Day Party, Clapham
Right then, cobbers. Get your thongs on, tattoo-up your faces, and trim the mullet: this is going to be bonza.
TNT has lined up gorgeous Aussie songstress Brooke Supple and funk/metal/rock outfit Melic for live tunes, plus the Bogan Bingo boys will host an epic air guitar challenge. There’ll be pies, Aussie tunes, best-dressed prizes and sticky floors, too. Pre-register for guaranteed entry before noon.
Jan 22, 10am-midnight, Free
Infernos, 146 Clapham High St, SW4 7UH
tntmagazine.com/london/tnt-events/tnt-australia-day-party-2012
Tube: Clapham Common
Australia Shop, Covent Garden
Staying in and kicking the party off at home? Look no further than this shop, which has the largest range of Aussie drinks and foodstuffs outside the homeland.
It has all your party needs: nibbles, booze, music and games.
Open every day, £1+
27 Maiden Lane, WC2 E7JS
australiashop.co.uk
Fire and Stone Aussie Pizzas, Various locations
Try the Melbourne (brie, butternut squash, roasted red onions, toasted pumpkin seeds), Byron Bay (pesto, field mushrooms, cumin roasted sweet potato, macademia nuts) and many more awesome toppings.
Every day, £8.75+
fireandstone.com
Oi, Oi, Oi, Camden
Here’s a venue going all out for their Aussie punters, promising more Aussie rock and live music than you can smother Vegemite on.
Appropriately, the venue is using Australia Day to showcase some great bands, including Bonfire Nights, Horse Fight, and Chris Brady.
You can whet your whistle with two-for-one beers and cocktails, and when the bands aren’t playing, expect AC/DC, Wolfmother, INXS, Tame Impala, Powderfinger, Nick Cave, etc. to be blasting from the speakers.
Jan 26, 7pm-1am, Free
20 Inverness Street, NW1 7HJ
undersolo.co.uk
Tube: Camden Town
Generator Hostel Party Weekend, Russell Square
Hostels are not just for sleeping, you know, and these guys are up for the whole weekend.
The celebrations kick off on Australia Day with Disco Karaoke, then run into Friday’s ‘Hardman’ competition.
On Saturday, celebrations reach a crescendo with beer pong and boat racing, then Sunday’s for winding down – depending on what your take on a ‘barbecue and entertainment’ is.
Jan 26-29, 6pm-3am
37 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9SE
generatorhostels.com
Tube: Russell Square
Jetlag Australia Day, Fitzrovia
This sports bar is going to amp up its usual Thursday night revelry by giving an Australian slant to proceedings.
Its menu will feature familiar tastes from home, with a surf ‘n’ turf dish of kangaroo steak and jumbo king prawns, plus there’s burgers and a sweet and fruity pavlova with fresh berries, just like Mum used to make.
Thirsty little troopers will be taken care of, with Aussie beers and lagers, including Little Creatures pale ale and Tasmania’s finest, James Boag’s. Jetlag’s mixologists have also created a ‘Gold Coaster’ cocktail, with vodka, triple sec and guava juice. There’s live electronica being played all night, too.
Jan 26, 4pm-3am
25 Cleveland Street, W1T 6QB
jetlagbar.com
Tube: Warren Street