Parkway Hotel

I can only speak to the bar and pub food, as I’ve never seen the rooms. The beef nachos are a solid choice, though not spicy, and the fish tacos are tasty. The pizzas are simple but nice, and they have James Squire 150 Lashes on tap. It’s quite out of the way unless you’re working on the hospital or road construction, so it’s usually not full. The amenities aren’t in the best condition, and I’ve seen a rough crowd there, but I’ve never personally had any trouble.

The bedding and linen were very clean, the breakfast box was a nice touch, and the staff were pleasant and helpful when I needed a late checkout. The venue, though, is aging and badly needs repair and renovation. A bungalow and motel stuck behind a pub would set expectations better. The ceiling was held together with gaff tape, the louvre windows were stuck open, and the bathroom floor and fixtures had water damage. The so-called heating and cooling was an old quartz bar heater fixed to the wall and a desk fan on top of a cupboard. TV cables were strewn across the room, alongside smashed fixtures and broken switches. If all you need is a cheap bed, it has one. For anything else, you may want to give it a miss. I don’t usually write negative reviews, but this is my first one-star rating.

The $2 toasties are great, and the bar staff were really good. I went to the Parkway on a Thursday night in the middle of winter; it was pretty quiet, with plenty of sport on the TVs. There are pool tables, though I didn’t use them. The seating is worn, and there are a few holes in the walls near the tables. It’s not a bad venue, but it’s clearly seen better days. I wouldn’t go often, but it’s a good spot to have a beer with a mate and talk s**t.

My friend stayed here, though I only came by to drop her off and pick her up the next day. The room I saw was clean, simple and welcoming, and she had nothing to complain about except wishing she could have stayed longer. From what I could see, it was a positive stay, and I didn’t notice anything worth faulting.