Sydney metro connects city drinkers to cheaper western suburbs
The new metro enables pub crawls across Sydney, from north to west, making distant neighbourhoods suddenly accessible.
A Sydney Morning Herald columnist tested the new metro by pub crawling from Victoria Cross in the north to Hurlstone Park and Lakemba in the west. Bars like HP Bowlo and the Lakemba Hotel suddenly became easy to reach without long car trips.
Prices are much cheaper. Drinks and food cost roughly half what they do in North Sydney.
The metro replaced a bus route that struggled to attract people. Venues without kitchens now draw crowds from the city.
Nearby pizza and kebab shops are accessible on the same line.
- $13
- Price of VB in North Sydney
- Roughly half
- Price ratio west to north
- SW1 rail bus
- Route replaced by metro
- 19 years old
- Barman age at HP Bowlo
Why it mattersThe metro enables leisure travel across class lines, connecting city workers to affordable neighbourhood venues previously isolated by distance.
AustraliaSydney residents now have quick, affordable access to pubs and food across neighbourhoods, potentially reviving venues outside the expensive inner east.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
