We list every working pub with rooms, and we don't take a cut.
Pub Bookings is a directory of 82+ publican-run accommodation pubs across regional Australia and New Zealand. Travellers book direct with the pub. Listing is free for publicans and we never take a commission. The middleman doesn't get a slice.
0%
commission to the pub. You book, they pay nothing.
Why we exist
The original Australian roadside hotel.
Before motels, before Airbnb, every country town had a pub with rooms upstairs. Built by law: the publican kept beds for travellers, the bar served the locals, and the verandah belonged to whoever turned up first.
Most of those pubs are still there. Many still rent rooms. The problem is finding them — booking sites bury them under franchised hotels, and the pubs themselves rarely have the budget to compete on Google.
That's the gap Pub Bookings fills.
What we believe
Four principles, no exceptions.
Publican-owned only
Every property on Pub Bookings is a working pub run by its publican. No serviced apartments, no Airbnbs, no franchised hotel chains.
No commission, ever
Listing is free for the publican, and we don't take a cut of any booking. Your enquiry goes straight to the pub, and the rate you're quoted is the rate you pay.
Real photography
We use the publican's own photos and Google Places imagery, not stylised marketing shots. What you see is what shows up at the bar.
SEO-first directory
We're built to be found by Google — long-form region guides, structured data, real geo-coordinates — so the pubs we list rank for the searches travellers actually do.
FAQ
Common questions
Honest answers about staying in pubs across Australia & New Zealand. Got more? Get in touch →
A pub stay is accommodation upstairs from — or attached to — a working public bar. You get a real bed, a private or shared bathroom depending on the pub, and a downstairs that's already serving cold beer and a counter meal by the time you arrive. Most pubs across regional Australia and New Zealand were built with rooms above the bar by law; many of them still operate exactly that way.
Less than most people expect. Pub rooms are usually among the most affordable accommodation in town, because you're paying for a clean room in a good location rather than a lobby and a minibar. Rates vary by pub, room type and season, and many publicans quote directly rather than publishing prices online. Where a pub has given us its rates you'll see a 'from' price on the listing; otherwise, send an enquiry with your dates and the publican will come back with a price.
Usually, yes. If you want cheap accommodation that isn't a hostel or a highway motel, a pub room is the classic Australian answer: a simple, comfortable room at a budget-friendly rate, with a bar and a meal downstairs. And because you enquire with the publican directly on Pub Bookings, there's no booking fee or commission added on top. It's always worth asking about midweek and longer-stay rates — many publicans offer them.
Simple, good value, and upstairs. A traditional pub has its rooms above the bar, usually right on the main street. Some rooms have an ensuite; others share a bathroom down the hall, the way pub rooms always have. Expect stairs rather than a lift in older buildings, and a livelier downstairs on Friday and Saturday nights — if you're a light sleeper, ask for a quiet room. Each listing says what's included, and the publican will tell you exactly what you're getting.
No. Pub Bookings doesn't take bookings or payments — you send an enquiry and deal with the publican directly. There's no booking fee, no service charge and no commission added to your rate, and listing is free for the pub as well.
Every property on Pub Bookings is a publican-owned-and-run pub. We don't list short-term rentals, hostels, or franchised hotels. Enquiries and bookings go straight to the pub — no commission, no middleman tacking on fees, no surprises at check-in.
Some are — it's the publican's call, and it's more common at country pubs than city ones. Where a pub has told us it welcomes pets, you'll see it in the amenities on its listing. Otherwise, ask when you enquire: mention your dog's size, and check whether pets are allowed in the room, the beer garden or the bar, and whether there's an extra charge. Publicans are usually happy to give you a straight answer.
Yes. You're enquiring about a room — meals are optional, and dinner is simply whatever's on at the bar or bistro downstairs. Breakfast varies: some pubs include it, many don't, so ask the publican when you enquire. If a pub is running a package or special, you'll see it on its listing and on the Deals page.
Each pub sets its own. You arrange your stay directly with the publican, so it's their policy that applies, not ours. Ask about cancellation terms and any deposit when you enquire, and have them confirmed in writing — a reply email is fine — before you pay anything. Expect stricter terms around busy periods like school holidays and big local events.
Click 'List your pub' at the top of any page. Listing is free and stays free — no annual fee and no per-booking commission, ever. We'll build the listing for you and enquiries go straight to your inbox. If you later want help with online bookings, rates, photography or marketing, we offer those as paid services — but they're entirely optional.