P J O'Briens

P J O'Brien's

Key - Summary Information - Bar

Name: P J O'Brien's
Address: 87 Lake Street, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
Phone: +61-7-4031 5333
Cuisine Type: Pub Style
Price Range: No Cocktails, no wine list (Jacobs Creek range)
Beers: Good range including Guinness and Kilkenny on tap.
EftPos/Credit Cards: Yes, all accepted
Parking: Nil - street parking only
Disabled Access: Two stairs at main entrance, only visible access.
Deals: None known
Dress Code: None known.
Smoking: Yes.
Overall Rating 6 out of 10
Drinks: 6 out of 10
Service: 5 out of 10
Ambience: 6 out of 10
Value for Money: 5 out of 10
Recommended: Yes. It’s a pub, take your mates.

No web presence.

Review:

One of several proud Irish bars in central Cairns, PJ’s as it is known to the locals is an interesting eclectic blend of Irish and the antipodean. The bar itself is decked out in the traditional Irish bar manner for the antipodes, featuring glass enclosed bookshelves stocked with old style bound literature, newspaper headlines feature around the bar, and there is of course the old style machinery and other trinkets in pride of place on the wall. The bar is not air conditioned, in keeping with this style, and is a fairly dark affair providing anonymity and a good place to have a few quiets.

PJ’s also features sports and there are plenty of television sets throughout the bar. PJ’s has a central bar that is circular in shape and patrons are able to order from anywhere around the bar.
PJ’s features a number of unique items that we haven't ever seen in other Irish bars. Most notable were the 'Coyote Girls' and the 'Pole Idol' competition. We were at PJ’s on a Saturday and the Coyote girls were allegedly there, performing. However, we must have missed the show, if there was one. The only girls remotely resembling ‘Coyote Girls’ were five young women in matching short skirts and leather boots wandering the bar in a pack talking with some of the customers.

A rugby league game was being screened the night of the review. This may why the Coyote Girls weren't drawing more attention to themselves, or frolicking on the bar wasting alcohol left, right, and centre. Nevertheless, unless you're looking for this style of entertainment, you might be better going elsewhere, or avoiding Coyote night. The Coyote girls are allegedly about on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

Still on the entertainment theme, PJ’s run a pole idol night where the local talent gets up on stage and struts their pole dancing stuff to win cash prizes. No doubt this was developed for the backpacker and younger locals market, and it seems to pull in quite a few punters. Pole Idol nights are on Tuesdays, and unless you're into that sort of thing you might want to avoid it. Watch out for the ads on television and you'll know when to go, or when not to, depending on what you're after.

There is the usual range of Irish beer available on tap, along with the local drops as well. Guinness, Kilkenny, VB, Carlton Draught, and Stella Artois are all available on tap. In addition, PJs has a well stocked fridge with plenty of bottled beer on offer. There are no cocktails, nor was there a wine list available. We were told that PJ’s has the Jacobs Creek range of wines, and it appeared that there were one or two others available as well. However, if you're looking for a place for a quiet wine, then PJs isn't what you’re looking for. This is a beer and spirits bar. A Kilkenny, accompanied by a double spirits will set you back around $12.50 which isn't bad.

PJ’s also has the Guinness 100 pints club, where you get your name on an honour board when you have consumed 100 pints of Guinness from the establishment. We didn't make any enquiries as we weren't interested in doing the 100 pints again, but this is a loyalty scheme offered by Guinness in a number of bars over the world. It commits you to drinking Guinness for quite a while, but making your mark on bar, other than contributing to the profits, is a nice additional extra for a pub to have. If you might be into this, make sure that you approach the bar staff before beginning your 100 so that all Guinness you consume is counted towards your total.

Staple bar food is available at the rear of PJ’s. There is no table service of food and instead you are handed a 'Guest Pager' gizmo when ordering. This is a beacon about the size of a saucer and it flashes when your food is ready to be collected from the kitchen. When the beacon flashes, off you go to get your own food from the kitchen. The bar food comes in generous sized portions and is pretty good value for money, and of a passable standard. During the day, and early evenings, PJ’s has tables outside that patrons are able to sit at, however you still need to order inside at the bar and collect your own food. It can be nice sitting outside having a few quiet ales in the sun in the early evening. PJ’s also has pool tables at the rear near the kitchen for those that want a game.
Overall we enjoyed our night at PJ’s, cold beer in pints, and it's good for what it is.

There was a good crowd and the atmosphere was friendly. In terms of music PJ’s was essentially a rock venue, with music videos by the Red Hot Chill Peppers, U2, Midnight Oil, and a few other classics being played at random. While the sport was shown, it didn't overwhelm everything else and there was plenty of fun to be had. Recommended so long as you know what you might come across when venturing to PJ’s! Take your mates is our verdict.