Upstairs at the Palace is our favourite pool bar. More favoured even than the Pool Table bloc of the Ancient Briton and the William, though of course more pricey. Unfortunately, no bar upstairs, so it's down the rickety staircase for more beer. Here you'll find an enormous amount of bar area squeezed into the tight wedge shape of the pub, a small Thai restaurant and a few tables in an unpretentious setting. Grab a Cooper's and head back up past a small dining room back to the pool rooms. The upstairs rooms really are our favourite part, with the great rickety looking walls, comfy seating if you want it, a pinball machine flashing away in the corner and of course, a game or two of stick. Or you can just stand at the Barrel and watch. You can hire out the room, and the Mardi Gras parties here are legendary, we're told, and it's on our shortlist for future parties for sure.
review by: Jason