Hero of Waterloo

“Shanghaied aboard a clipper.” These are words you don’t often hear, but back in colonial days it was apparently something that often went down at the Hero of Waterloo. According to legend, the Hero was a regular spot for the “involuntary recruitment of sailors”, who, after one-too-many were dropped through the pub’s trap door into the cellar and dragged along underground tunnels to find themselves next morning on a boat at sea. Today you can still see the trap door but the bartender assures us there’s nothing to worry about. Built in 1843, the Hero is a true old-school Sydney pub. Exposed sandstone, no-frills drink offerings and a bistro serving pies, bangers and mash, lamb shanks and burgers is not necessarily something you’d write to the mother country about, but this convict-built pub is worthy of a visit. While the ambience could be enhanced with louder music on week day nights, the Hero gets pumping when the band rocks out on the weekend, attracting plenty of merrymakers eager for a refreshing pint of James Squire.