Corner of Federal and Elizabeth Street, North Hobart

Sometimes an outing doesn’t have to be anything other than sat­isfying a craving: a beer, some fried chicken, and a game of pool with a mate. A recent visit to The Winston after an overwhelm­ing week of work during Dark Mofo was needed to fill that beer and chicken sized cup again. While my body was probably in need of vegetables (I’m not sure if celery sticks on the side of fried chicken counts), my stomach and head were begging for an easy night of snacks and a wee little beer. We started the night perched at the bar where friendly bartenders had me sorted with a German-style lager from Western Australia quick smart. With my thirst eased, we soon followed with chippies topped with chilli (the meat kind, $9) and a basket of southern fried chicken wings (10 for $14). Our fried snacks were fresh from the fryer, well seasoned and salty, complete with a good number of those little crunchy, oily fries that everyone silently loves to search for: textbook snacks to snavel while our game of pool got underway. The Winston is very much a local watering hole during the week, plenty of young crowds conversing over a pint around the bar or fire, and always a coin on the pool table. Previous visits have seen young families having an easy night out (no cutlery needed!) and couples on a date night, it really is a pub for everyone. There’s plenty to look at inside, with a considerable amount of dog pictures pasted up the walls, different currencies lining the bar and a wall of number plates from around the world, not forgetting the arcade games to keep the little, and big ones entertained. Whilst I sadly fell at the last hurdle and lost the game. I like to think my lucky shots were fuelled from our snacks and I slept that night like someone with a belly full of fries and hops…very well.

Open 7 days from 4pm, kitchen from 5.