COUGAR'S VENUE REVIEW- WILLASTON HOTEL

[The Cougar]

The WILLASTON HOTEL- Area Gawler/ Barossa
Location : 33 Main North Road
Willaston, SA 5118

Contact : (08) 8522 1021

Wednesdays and Sundays - 7.00pm for 8.00pm

The following rules apply.

Only venues where I have played poker, had a meal and purchased drinks will be reviewed- NO HEARSAY.

I will not carp any venue just because I had a bad night at cards or the TD kept putting me in the blinds every time I changed tables.

I will be fair in my review- I am not paid by any venue or anyone to give good or bad reviews= No cash for comments.

I will not reply to personal mail from now on- good or bad.

You have the right to agree or disagree with my assessment, but comments must only address my assessments. Keep to the topic and don't highjack the forum.

CARPARKING: The carparking is great. Plenty of spots- park anywhere. Access via the main road from Gawler on right hand side.

THE BUILDING: Nifty. Smoking area front and back of venue. The decor is about what you would expect from a pub built in 1792. There is a good kitchen, TAB & Keno, Gaming, Bistro and front bar. The seats are quite good for a poker venue- you don't get up feeling you have just driven to Perth non stop. The poker room is well lit and is very clean and tidy. Dunnies are OK but a little small for country folk if you know what I mean.

THE FOOD: The food is good and the service snappy. The Pub Grub menu is typical, snitties, Roast du jour, pasta but even better than the price, is the taste. No short stacks here. The bistro meals are dearer but everyone was a happy camper while I was there. Meat and poultry are the go- Tops.
Overall- Good to very good. Stamping up is on the generous side.
A meal and a drink results in a full book- both cards stamped.

THE DRINKS: The Willaston is a pub. You get pub drinks. Pub prices. The real value is in the stamping policy. Two stamps for your first pint, but if the staff reckon you look like you'll spend a buck- they stamp up the rest of your cards- NOT FORCING PATRONS TO SCULL FOUR PINTS or BOURBANS IN AN HOUR to chip up. There is always something on special for $4- $6.

THE SERVICE: Good. No-one's ever going to die of a heart attack but that's not a bad thing at a country pub.

THE POKER CROWD: I was a bit shocked by the behaviour of this crowd. A champion bunch of blokes and blokettes. Not often you hear a limper say sorry after hitting four spades to the flush and busting top two pair on the board after the flop (twice in three hands!!!). Good manners are the norm. No bad language. Numbers are around between 30- 40. IT'S QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

IN CONCLUSION: What the heck. If you're up that way on a Sunday or Wednesday do you yourself a favour and get to the Willaston. Cougar recommends this venue 7.75 out of 10.
Special mention: First time I've met Test Umpire Matt Norwood (TD), ALL CLASS- ALL THE TIME. I know what keeps the crowds going back.

[David]

GREAT Work Paul!!

[mr_niceguy_1979]

Nice revue!

[bennymacca]

did u go last sunday cougar?

if so, then we had poker in the bar for the first time in ages, because of mother's day, the usual function room where we play was booked out.

usually get 45 on a sunday, 55 on a wed, but numbers were down a bit because of mothers day.

i really should take some pics of the usual room, poker in the bar doesnt do the willo justice at all.

the usual room is an outdoor area (well used to be but they enclosed it), with paved floor. the side wall has a massive water feature complete with tropical plants etc. they also have the gas heaters on the wall so that its not cold either.

[bennymacca]

Okay, this is benny the cunt's review. not that cougar did a bad job, its just that i am a regular poker player there (if that means i have rose coloured glasses, then so be it)

The WILLASTON HOTEL- Area Gawler/ Barossa
Location : 33 Main North Road
Willaston, SA 5118

Contact : (08) 8522 1021

Wednesdays and Sundays - 7.00pm for 8.00pm

CARPARKING: The carparking is great. Plenty of spots- park anywhere. Access via the main road from Gawler on right hand side.

THE BUILDING: Nifty. Smoking area front and back of venue. The decor is about what you would expect from a pub built in 1792. There is a good kitchen, TAB & Keno, Gaming, Bistro and front bar. The seats are quite good for a poker venue- you don't get up feeling you have just driven to Perth non stop. The poker room is well lit and is very clean and tidy. Dunnies are OK but a little small for country folk if you know what I mean.

this pub really isn't your classic "front bar" country pub. the main trade here is in the bistro, which regularly does 100+ meals a night i reckon, even on a weeknight.

the usual room is an outdoor area (well used to be but they enclosed it), with paved floor. the side wall has a massive water feature complete with tropical plants etc. they also have the gas heaters on the wall so that its not cold either.

this room also doubles as their function room, which is probably the only downside to the willaston - sometimes poker starts late because there is a function in there, or sometimes (like last sunday) we get moved into the tiny front bar. so sometimes we dont start till around 830, which makes it a little late for a sunday night, but thats only a minor gripe. the main poker area is excellent.

THE FOOD: The food is good and the service snappy. The Pub Grub menu is typical, snitties, Roast du jour, pasta but even better than the price, is the taste. No short stacks here. The bistro meals are dearer but everyone was a happy camper while I was there. Meat and poultry are the go- Tops.
Overall- Good to very good. Stamping up is on the generous side.
A meal and a drink results in a full book- both cards stamped.

once again cougar, i think you missed out by not having your meal in the bistro. they are slightly dearer, prolly about 3 bucks dearer for the schnitty, but the best thing is the extras you get with that. when you buy a mean, there is free soup, salad/vegie bars, and in addition free soft serve icecream for dessert.

the meals are typical pub food, but it has the reputation in gawler of being the best value for money around.

THE DRINKS: The Willaston is a pub. You get pub drinks. Pub prices. The real value is in the stamping policy. Two stamps for your first pint, but if the staff reckon you look like you'll spend a buck- they stamp up the rest of your cards- NOT FORCING PATRONS TO SCULL FOUR PINTS or BOURBANS IN AN HOUR to chip up. There is always something on special for $4- $6.

this is pretty much on the mark cougar.

but an added bonus is that there is free tea/coffee/hot chocolate near the pokies room (which is near the usual poker venue).

this is excellent, especially on a winters night - also means people are more likely to drink responsibly

THE SERVICE: Good. No-one's ever going to die of a heart attack but that's not a bad thing at a country pub.

pretty much, good pub service.

THE POKER CROWD: I was a bit shocked by the behaviour of this crowd. A champion bunch of blokes and blokettes. Not often you hear a limper say sorry after hitting four spades to the flush and busting top two pair on the board after the flop (twice in three hands!!!). Good manners are the norm. No bad language. Numbers are around between 30- 40. IT'S QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

the crowd at the willaston, especially on a sunday night, is pretty tough, and pretty quiet, but it makes for some pretty decent poker.
case in point is that i am currently 13th there, but there are 6 people above me that are top 5 somewhere else. it seems to be most people's second venue.

IN CONCLUSION: What the heck. If you're up that way on a Sunday or Wednesday do you yourself a favour and get to the Willaston. Cougar recommends this venue 7.75 out of 10.
Special mention: First time I've met Test Umpire Matt Norwood (TD), ALL CLASS- ALL THE TIME. I know what keeps the crowds going back.

agreed cougar, top class venue, with top class td's. (darren mostly does the willo, with matty and others filling in occasionally)

I would go so far as to rate it as the best venue in the B&G, and give it a 9/10 - the only gripe i have is that sometimes they have a function booked in the poker room, and the tourney might not start till 830, but as i said, this is only minor.

[rcon]

Both great reviews.

Makes me feel a little guilty for my crap effort

[AceLosesKing]

benny the cunt I was going to review the Willo but you beat me to it

I don't think I can pick a favourite/best venue in Gawler. They're all great - I can't think of any negatives.

[xtal]

Both great reviews.

Makes me feel a little guilty for my crap effort

LMAO @ rcon ... ...way to let us down maffayous
and A BIG thank you The Cougar i do enjoy your reviews on pubs

love from crystal rose

[Chelsea4thewin]

this is cougars review not benny the cunt macca's

[Origami]

Comments on Cougars Review....thats why I play there !!!

bennymacca and AK comments confirm what makes the venue an attraction for the Region

---the fact those that are in the top five at their regular venue chose to play at the Williaston confirms for me ' one of the best'...quality not quantity.