Birthday Party Venues in Forest Lodge

Choosing the Right Birthday Party Venue

Long-standing pubs carry Forest Lodge's birthday trade, and each hands over whole rooms to a group. The Harold on Ross Street has traded since 1888 beside the old Harold Park site, and the Forest Lodge Hotel on Arundel Street has been pouring beers since 1866.

The Harold's party room is The Saddlery, upstairs: a light space with a large private bar and bi-fold doors onto a wide wraparound balcony. The Forest Lodge Hotel spreads groups across its main bar, the Lodge Lounge, the pool room and the courtyard instead, with no charge for room hire.

Which Forest Lodge room for which birthday:

A 30th with a balcony: The Saddlery seats 56 or holds 120 cocktail style, with TVs and a sound system for the slideshow.
An outdoor party with the dog: The Harold's courtyard beer garden has a roof that opens and closes, room for 50 standing, and dogs are welcome.
A craft-beer birthday: the Forest Lodge Hotel pours from 20 rotating taps, alongside cocktails, wine and spirits.
A big crowd on a budget: the Forest Lodge Hotel takes 40 to 180 with complimentary room hire.
A sit-down birthday dinner: two courses start from $42 per person at the Forest Lodge Hotel and from $65 per person at The Harold.

Bar tabs at The Harold come with wristbands so your guests are easy to pick out, and a 25% deposit holds the date.

The Forest Lodge Hotel's canapés include smoked salmon crostini, beetroot arancini, lamb kofta skewers, tempura prawns and buffalo wings.
The Harold's food runs from canapé platters, grazing boards, noodle boxes and sushi to share-style roasts.
The Harold's three-course seated menu adds more choices, while the Forest Lodge Hotel's set menus need at least 20 guests.
Gluten-free dishes are marked on the Forest Lodge Hotel's menu.

Drinks, deposits and details

The Harold's standard and premium drinks packages run for 1.5, 3 or 4 hours.
At the Forest Lodge Hotel, drinks are talked through when you enquire.
The Harold's courtyard has its own TV and AV, handy for a toast outdoors.
The Forest Lodge Hotel's kitchen serves lunch and dinner every day, so a daytime birthday works too.

Common Questions About Venues for Birthday Parties

Which Forest Lodge pub has a private upstairs room for a birthday?

The Harold's Saddlery is on the upper level, with a large private bar and bi-fold doors onto a wraparound balcony. It seats 56 or holds 120 for a cocktail party.

Is room hire free for a birthday in Forest Lodge?

At the Forest Lodge Hotel, yes: room hire is complimentary for groups of 40 to 180. The Harold's seated dining starts from $65 per person.

Can dogs come to a birthday at The Harold?

Yes, in The Courtyard, the downstairs beer garden, which takes 40 seated or 50 standing.

How many guests do I need for a function at the Forest Lodge Hotel?

Functions there start at 40 guests and go up to 180, and the seated set menus need at least 20. The Harold's courtyard seats 40 and The Saddlery seats 56.