A week ago, the who’s who of Campbelltown were given the opportunity to be the first to check out The Sherwood.
We were there, and to say that the multi-million dollar transformation of Campbelltown tennis club packs a lot of wow factor would be the understatement of the year.
Anyone who use to pop down to the old tennis club for a meal or just a beer and walks into The Sherwood for the first time will know what I mean.
Just about everyone I asked last Monday night what they thought responded with “wow’’.
The Sherwood just oozes class – so much so that after a while you feel like it could be located anywhere.
Not that there’s anything wrong with where it is, alongside Campbelltown Sports Stadium, and a few more metres to the right the iconic Wests Leagues club.
The Sherwood is different, that is for certain, what with its large courtyard with lush greenery, alfresco dining, and live entertainment on a huge screen.
It’s an ambience that no other place has in all of South Western Sydney – it’s that good.
So, just like that, the tennis club is gone (the courts are still there, by the way) and has been replaced with what will no doubt become the region’s most popular pub, if we can call it that.
The other things I loved about The Sherwood is how owners Wests Group Macarthur have immersed a fair bit of Campbelltown history into their latest venue.
There’s the name, to start with, a clear reference to the suburb formerly known as Sherwood Hills, which was incorporated into Bradbury almost 50 years ago.
And the second is how the carpet weaved around the main bar – which is also a thing of retro beauty – features a map of Campbelltown.
Check it out when you get there, see if you can find your street. Or you can check out the map of Campbelltown that’s on a large steel panel on the side of the building.
“The Sherwood is bringing the local community a new style of venue to create a world-class sports and entertainment precinct right in our own backyard,’’ says Wests Group Macarthur chief executive Daniel Perkiss.
“Our team has achieved a tavern style open plan feel, complemented by an enormous four and half-metre by two and a half-metre outdoor screen to deliver optimum sports viewing and on trend dining in a package not-traditionally seen by club operators,” Mr Perkiss said.
It goes without saying that this amazing venue is not just about beer and skittles: indeed the food experience really is something else, going by some of the fare we were offered last Monday night.
There’s an entire menu section dedicated to hand-smashed burgers, local beef pounded with a retro burger press and slathered with chef Kurtis’ homemade signature sauce.
Share style dishes feature prominently, including my favourite, delicious pork belly tossed in Korean barbecue sauce with mayo.
As if that’s not enough, an impressive signature cocktail menu is just one more wow factor at The Sherwood.
There will also be a wide selection of tap beers including rotating taps dedicated to partnerships with local brewers.
The Sherwood officially opened its doors to the public last Wednesday, so don’t take our word for it: get down there to see for yourself what a sensational new venue we have in our midst.
