Live music, free events, and succulent seafood: this inner north venue is a must-visit destination for December

Posted on 5 December, 2024

Live music, succulent seafood, cocktails and free events the whole family will enjoy – it’s the things that summer dreams are made of.

And we’ve found one inner-north venue offering all this and more.

Helping you celebrate the beginning of summer and the end of 2024 with a bang, The Tradies Dickson is offering a cracker line-up of offerings this December.

They had us at ‘buy one Espresso Martini and get the second for just $1.’

You read that right. Your silly season just became more enjoyable for less!

Running every Friday until 20 December from 7 pm until 8 pm, you’ll be able to get your hands on two glasses of the sweet, caffeinated combination of vodka, freshly brewed espresso, Kahlua, and a touch of sugar syrup for just $14 (members) and $16.60 (non-members).

And if that’s not enough inspiration to book your next catch-up at The Tradies, on Fridays and Saturdays there will also be a Cocktail Happy Hour running from 8 pm until 10 pm so you can indulge in a drink or two without breaking the bank. Add in the fact that from 5 pm every Friday there will be live music late into the night, and you can thank us later.

A cold drink on a hot night with live music playing? We told you it’s what summer dreams are made of.

But what’s a drink without a nosh? With the recent refurbishment of the Essence Restaurant, The Tradies isn’t just a spot for a good tipple.

Updating their menu with a drool-worthy selection of starters and shared items as well as a slow-cooked section and a selection of seafood – we’ll come back to that – you can indulge in everything from Peking Duck Spring Rolls to a Traditional Roast. You know what that means, don’t you? You can bring everyone from your little ones to your grandparents and happily know there will be something they’ll love on the menu.

But with a special Christmas Roast available for December only (hello roast ham and turkey), all we can say is consider your end-of-year family catch-up sorted. Just make sure to book a table in advance!

Onto the seafood – because that truly is the taste of summer. From Garlic Prawns slathered in a rich sauce and served over basmati rice to classic beer-battered flathead served with crispy chips, and a refreshing 200g grilled salmon, you won’t need to drive to the coast for your seafood hit. And it’s all best washed down with local tap pours from $5.50 and Canberra Region Wines by the glass from $7.50 (when purchased between 4 pm and 6 pm, Monday to Friday).

And if you’re not overwhelmed with things to do yet (because eating and drinking are both important and time-consuming), hold onto your hats because to top it all off, The Tradies will also be hosting a range of free events throughout the month. Think: free trivia every Thursday from 10.30 am until 11.30 am (excluding 26 December and 2 January), and a free Stretch Session on Saturdays (excluding 28 December and 4 January).

If that’s not enough, every Sunday from 10 am until 12 pm, they’ll also be hosting live music, perfect for getting you onto the dance floor.

Finally – to end the month with a bang – they’ll be holding a massive New Year’s Eve bash, with DJ Sue playing bangers long into the night to ring in 2025.

We told you that it’s a must-visit venue for December – and there’s a reason it’s been a Canberra institution for 60 years.

For more information about the event schedule or to book a table at Essence Restaurant call 02 6162 5656.

Photography: Ben Calvert Photo.