It always makes a difference when a bookstore chooses its stock with care, and Ariel has been a Paddington landmark since 1985 thanks to their knowledgeable staff and superb selection of quality titles.
This was the year Sydney expanded the definition of a pub. In addition to your classic boozer upholding the four pillars of pubdom – beers, footy, steak, trivia – the meaning has grown to include refurbished venues that are seriously raising the bar for what we call a counter meal. Some pubs look more like country clubs, or whisky bars. Some have retained their sturdy permenance – fads be damned. But whatever the trappings, at its essence the recipe for a good pub is a simple one. We want a space where we feel comfortable; where we can drink with our friends, cheer on our teams, quell hunger pangs and be entertained. There is no longer just one kind of pub, and that’s A-OK, because there’s not just one kind of person in Sydney – but they’re all thirsty.
-Emily Lloyd-Tait, Guide Editor
