The harpoon has been jettisoned and the current iteration of Harry's now has a strong atmosphere of Old Havana in its warm, faux-faded fitout. The Castros would approve of the photography of revolution-era Cuba, and there are framed shots of Elvis, Sam Cooke and old-time bluesmen for good measure. The designers have collected some great vintage gear, including desk fans and radios straight out of a Raymond Chandler novel, and worked with the heritage pub's splendid bones, including tiled flooring and pressed metal ceiling. Upstairs is a stunning space packed with leather armchairs – you almost feel regretful you can't smoke a Cuban cigar up here.
Another thing you can't have is a Cuban sandwich, more's the pity, with the menu skewing Tex-Mex. But you can get an ace schnitty with fries and slaw (order it on a Monday and the paltry $15 price tage includes a drink). On tap there's Kosciusko, Voodoo Raider and Friendly Lager as well as usual suspects Heineken, Toohey's New and James Squire. A mid-week lunch here can seem like a weekend party, and that's a tribute to the Harry's crew ticking all the boxes you want ticked when it comes to a place to catch up with mates on the Surry side of the city. Settling in for the long haul? The Hotel Harry is still open for business.