Redfern seems to like bars that are big on fun rather than fuss. The Bearded Tit showcases local art (and knitted penises when the mood takes them), sea shanties get sung at the Dock and Hustle and Flow brings hip hop vibes. The Angry Pirate, meanwhile, dropped anchor in the 2016 with a cargo of punny nautical-themed cocktails and late-night pizzas.
Inside the dark bar, a Sea Shepard flag hangs proudly on the wall and there’s plenty of rope, weathered floorboards and low hanging light bulbs to set the scene. We also spot some random t-shirts, undies and stray socks hanging from the ceiling above the bar.
The bartenders roll with it, each decked out in stripes, and they're also more happy than angry first mates. The booze offerings play with house-made ingredients – pirate bitters, an ominous spirit called ‘grog’, zombie mix, and pirate spice mix – in rum-laden, tiki drinks. The Manzana should be a fruity riff on a mojito with rum, mint, vanilla sugar and green apple juice but instead is a saccharine, frothy, short drink. We suggest you keep things simple – opt for a ripper Bloody Mary, which comes with a slice of melted cheese over the top. It’s a first, we’ll grant you that. If dairy and booze don’t mix for you, the Earthworks shiraz is a safe port.
Pizzas are simple but tasty numbers – so much so that we spot locals ducking in to pick up orders. Seeing as there’s not a whole lot of takeaway in this neck of the woods, it’s a good idea they double as a pizza joint. The community vibe continue midweek with trivia Tuesdays, music bingo on Wednesdays and – on Tuesdays and Wednesdays – a special that sees you getting a bottle of vino and a pizza for $30.
Turns out a pirate’s life isn’t all pillaging the seven seas. There’s a whole lot of slinging pizzas and booze to local landlubbers in Redfern that doesn’t make it into the song, and we’ll drink up, me ‘earties to that.