Dee Why RSL: new bar helps club reinvent itself to cater for modern patrons

An 84-year-old RSL club has reinvented itself for modern patrons with funky bars and DJs while still remaining true to its community service roots.

The classic image of the local RSL club as the daggy place to go for cheaper beers, a slap on the pokies and a meat raffle, has been turned on its head on the northern beaches.

Dee Why RSL, which first opened its doors in 1937, reckons it’s “reinvented the modern RSL”.

It says it’s attracting people of all ages to its Pittwater Rd premises, while still respecting the traditions of supporting war vets and their families and providing value for money entertainment for the community.

The club reckons its new “architecture with open spaces and international style” will make it even more popular with a new generation of club goers.

It has just opened its newest swanky bar, Courtyard, as part of a recent two-year, $100 million makeover. Management is promoting the bar as a “playground of cocktails, sweet tunes and delectable eats all surrounded by lush greenery”.

Its joins the funky Battery House sports bar, built on the former site of a tram depot, which opened last year.

Now the quirky decor of Courtyard, which includes indoor and outdoor areas, is attracting with its classic five-tier chandelier and live plants. It even has a statue of a monkey holding a light fixture.

It has DJs playing on Thursday and Friday at 6pm until late and from 3pm at weekends.

The bar even had its own gin created — Courtyard Kiss.

Courtyard manager Zanthony Borula says “there is nothing like it on the northern beaches”.

“There are so many areas for people to relax and unwind and enjoy the atmosphere.”

It has two open air courtyards, around a large central bar.

Dee Why RSL CEO Grant Easterby said feedback to a survey of its members in 2017 showed that the club needed more places to eat, drink, dance and park.

“So we looked at what our current offerings were and how we could evolve, and from that created Battery House, the largest sports bar on the northern beaches, Courtyard our expansive new bar, and re-imagined our beloved Flame restaurant for modern dining.,” Mr Easterby said.

Battery House at Dee Why RSL. Picture: John Appleyard

“We also made a really conscious decision to still have spaces for people to have a coffee and cake with their friends, a place for people to sit and read the paper, and somewhere to enjoy a roast dinner while waiting for their numbers to be called out in the meat raffle.

“Dee Why RSL is a services club, it always has been and always will be about people and our local community.

“While we now have these amazing spaces, we still pause every night at 6:00pm to remember the fallen. Everyone has their own reasons for coming to Dee Why RSL and we respect them all.”