Royal Hotel Manildra

Editor’s Note: the posts for the next leg of the Royal Tour, starting with the Royal Hotel Manildra will be written my John Weekes. The opinions expressed are his own and not (necessarily reflective) of those held by the editor. Please direct all disapproval to him personally. I will however, still accept all credit for any component of this or any other post deemed praise-worthy.

The next leg of the Royal Tour started with some ups and downs. Cory driving two hours to Canberra to pick me up, and with me trying to keep two nurofens and a 500ml of V down (breakfast of champions, Christmas party the night before). Add to that that somehow Cory had been ripped off by a 16 year old McDonalds employee on the drive, and things were not starting as we had planned. However, like the famous explorers before us, we struggled on, knowing that we had to rise above our difficulties. It was time to go to the Royal. Again.

Our first stop was only 45 mins away at the Yass Royal. And by the time we arrived, I felt like I could actually stomach a beer. And I knew (hoped) a hair of the dog would put the spring back in my step. We had also stopped at McDonalds on the way and now Cory was a respectable 1 from 2 as far as getting the order that he paid for from a fast food joint. So things were looking up.

Then they weren’t. The Yass Royal was closed. Shut. Permanently it seemed. And by the looks of it, had shut very, very recently. After pressing our faces up against the glass to confirm that Yass had one less open pub than we used to, we trudged back to the car, no doubt confusing some locals as to why we were so upset at not having an 11:30am beer from the closed pub, when several others were open. But we didn’t want any old beer from any old pub. We wanted a royal beer.

This place is stupid.

We left. 

A two and a half hour drive later, one which was mostly filled with conversation about how we were totally over the fact Yass had shut it’s Royal, we arrived at the Royal Hotel Manildra.

The Royal Hotel Manildra is just across from the train tracks in the centre of a tiny town and was no doubt once the life of the place. A great looking building, ice cold beer and a older barmaid who would know everyone’s order, tell when it’s time to go home, remind you where that is, and make sure you’d get there safely.

It’s what Cory and I describe as a Ye Olde Royal. A big Tooheys on Tap sign painted into the brickwork outside, and a bar and bistro sign are always welcome site for hardworking men and women out in the country. And it’s a pretty decent sign for us two as well.

The Manildra Royal set itself apart with all the local Rugby League and local cricket memorabilia on the walls. Photos of the Manildra footy team from the 1920’s up to the 2000’s were on the walls. The champion Manildra cricket team from 1985/6 was on there as well. The local vibe is reinforced when you read the last names in the photos. From Coaches, players, to ballboys the same few surnames keep popping up.  (Manildra produced the 1942 Captain Coach of the St George Dragons Len Kelly by the way).

There’s also a cricket bat on the wall from the 1993-94 grand final when Manildra beat Cudal, a game I’m sure most of our readers would remember. The bat is signed by all the Manildra side and also has ‘We kicked Cudal’s ass’ written on it as well.

Manildra is a nice little spot with a great friendly little Royal and one we are very glad to have gotten to visit. Would go again.

Royal Stats

• Town/Suburb: Manildra
• Population: 822
• Date Visited: Saturday, November 26, 2022
• Visited By: Cory & John
• Beer Sponsorship on Sign: Toohey’s (Old Style)
• Beer Consumed at Pub: Toohey’s New
• Price of Schooner of Said Beer: $7.20
• Unique Award: Royal That Most Celebrates the Local Sporting Teams
• Tour Progress: 8.82% (12/136)