Sydney’s pubs have been going through a long but necessary hiatus these past couple of months. The lockdown-induced draught drought has been tough on publicans and patrons alike, but now that pubs have been given the green light to reopen (with restrictions), taps are flowing once again.

Petersham’s Oxford Tavern is letting you and your friends take your pub abstinence to pint promiscuity: you can now book out its premises for a private session. Yep, the Tav is back in business – and it wants you to take it over.

The Take Over the Tav concept is simple: gather nine mates (or do a group of five and split the slot with another group of five for a maximum of 10 patrons); book in a session (90 minutes on weekdays, two hours on weekends); and go wild.

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The deal includes cocktails on arrival; unlimited tap beer, cider and spirits; one main meal per person (plus unlimited sides); and free reign over the playlist (Come on Eileen will be begging for a look-in). And the Tav’s ’90s-inspired video-game arcade will be open too, which means unrestricted access to Street Fighter, Daytona and Time Crisis. The pricing works out at $80 a head on weekdays and $100 a head on weekends.

The team behind the tav also run Darlinghurst’s beer-heavy pub the Taphouse, which is offering a similar deal. Like at the Oxford Tavern, punters will get 90 minutes on weekdays and two hours on weekends to down unlimited beer, cider and wine, as well as a free cocktail on arrival. They’ll also get to choose a main, side and dessert from the pub’s new English pub-style menu, which includes a Sunday roast seven days a week, chicken baps and cheese cauliflower. Plus, they will have private access to the pub's rooftop (with a bartender on hand) and full control of the playlist.

Spaces are limited and bookings are likely to go quickly. Check out the full details for Oxford Tavern here and the Taphouse here.