Perth is now home to Australia's biggest pub, the
Camfield, which is located right outside of Optus Stadium. Despite its capacity of 2,500 people, you'll still need to get there early on AFL game days to snare a table (and hopefully, some chairs to accompany said table.)
The Camfield has opened just outside Optus Stadium.
My husband and I paid a visit to the Camfield on the day of the first Western Derby at Optus Stadium. If you're not familiar with AFL, the Western Derby is a twice-yearly game between the two WA-based AFL teams and not surprisingly, there were a few people headed to the stadium for the game. 58,000-plus, in fact.
There are lots of tables but on AFL game day you will have to get in early to grab one!
The Camfield isn't bound by Optus Stadium events and opens every day at 11am. By 11:30am on Derby Day, however, it was already packed and tables were in high demand. After catching the train to the Optus Stadium station, we arrived at the Camfield with plenty of time before the game was due to begin, but clearly not enough time to find a spot to sit. We managed to find a small table … with no chairs.
This pub has 175 beer taps!
Now, this table with no chairs may not sound like a big deal, but considering you need a table to be able to order food (or be sat at the bar) it was a BIG DEAL! We even had people asking us if we were leaving soon so they could have the table. Err, no.
The open pizza kitchen.
My husband and I took turns to guard our precious little table while ordering at the bar. There are a whopping 175 beer taps to cope with the Optus Stadium crowds, along with a large selection of wines. The husband opted for a beer (too early for me) while I chose a cup of coffee. Eventually, after standing at our table for a while, a staff member very kindly asked if we would like some chairs and went and found us some. Hurrah!
Mmmm....chips!
It was my turn for the bar, so I ordered some chilli mozzarella arancini before the game. You also need to know your table number when ordering at the bar, or you'll be sent back to find it out. You can order a variety of share plates from the
menu such as buffalo wings, salt and pepper squid, octopus or beef sliders.
There are mains that include fish and chips, Angus beef burger and steak sandwich, plus pork ribs and steaks. They also serve a range of pizzas and have an open pizza kitchen out in the restaurant.
Chilli mozzarella arancini balls.
I had barely returned from the bar when the arancini arrived. I can't ever recall getting my meal so quickly, but I wasn't about to complain. I can't say how long the other patrons had to wait for their meals given how busy it was, but I was eating and that's all that mattered.
The Camfield has a great selection of white and red wine.
I'm a bit of a chilli wimp, so was a bit hesitant in ordering anything with chilli in it, but this arancini was absolutely delicious. It was chilli, it was cheesy and it was tomato-ey with a hit of basil. Delightful! Even though it was listed as 'to share' I didn't share with anyone and it was enough to keep me going until dinner time.
The Camfield is a very short walk from the stadium and it also has the added bonus of the Chevron Parklands also just a few minutes walk away, which is a large, nature-based playground that is great for the kids. There is also lots of grassed areas outside for the kids to run around – but beware – if you do visit on a big event day and leave the pub, you will have to line up at the front with everyone else.
Optus Stadium is a very short walk away.
There is public parking available (apart from on stadium event and AFL game days.) On event days, public transport is the easiest option.
Unless you're going to the game or another big event at the Camfield and are prepared to roll with the crowds, perhaps pay a visit when it's not so busy. It is a fantastic, state of the art venue with lots of beer taps and a trendy menu that is worth a look – even just so you can say you've been to Australia's biggest pub.
