1852 Pub & Kitchen

About 1852 Pub & Kitchen

1852 Bar & Restaurant sits on Cleveland Street in Brooklyn, Wellington, built around a simple aim: to bring back good old Kiwi hospitality. The venue offers a hearty menu, a range of beverages, weekly entertainment, and plenty of live sport and gaming, aiming to please everyone from family groups to hardened sports fans.

The team describes themselves as all about local hospitality — supporting local initiatives, engaging in friendly banter, and providing the neighbourhood with great food, beverages, entertainment, and warm, professional service. The all-day menu spans starters, brunch, a pizza range named after US presidents, mains, kids meals, and desserts, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options clearly marked and allergy substitutions available.

Beyond the everyday menu, 1852 runs a full week of daily deals, offers free venue hire for functions of any size, and supports local schools and community organisations through fundraiser quiz nights that have helped raise over $1.41 million for local causes over time.

1852 Bar & Restaurant: Brooklyn's Local Spot for Good Old Kiwi Hospitality

Tucked into Cleveland Street in Brooklyn, Wellington, 1852 Bar & Restaurant leans into a simple identity: good old Kiwi hospitality, delivered with a hearty menu, a solid drinks range, weekly entertainment, and plenty of live sport and gaming on the screens. The owner's aim, by their own description, is to please everyone from a family group at brunch to the hardened sports fan settling in for the game.

Local at Heart

1852 frames itself as being all about local hospitality — supporting local initiatives, engaging in friendly banter with regulars, and providing the neighbourhood and visitors alike with great food, beverages, entertainment, and warm, professional service. As the venue puts it: "some things never change."

A Menu Built for All-Day Eating

The kitchen runs starters and mains available all day, brunch until 3pm, a dedicated pizza menu named after U.S. presidents (from the bacon-and-pineapple Calvin Coolidge to the prawn-and-chilli Herbert Hoover), a kids menu, and desserts. Standout mains include the Polhill Pork Ribs (1kg of pork ribs slow-cooked in-house BBQ sauce), Larry the Lamb Shank Pie, and Seager's Hill Sirloin, available in 200g or 400g cuts. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are clearly marked throughout, and fries can be substituted with salad greens for those with food allergies.

A Week Full of Daily Deals

1852 keeps a packed weekly deals calendar. Monday brings Two-for-One Mains from 5pm. Tuesday is "O for Awesome" Quiz Night, with free entry, food and beverage vouchers up for grabs, a pre-quiz dinner and drinks option, and a 7pm kick-off (bookings recommended). Wednesday is Midweek Steakout — a 400g sirloin with chips, slaw, garlic butter, an egg, and any tap beer for $35. Thursday is Tightarse Thursday, with $29 main meals from 5pm. Friday brings 241 Pizzas from 5pm (buy one, get one of equal or lesser value free, one per person seated), and Mates Rates — up to 25% off tap beer and wine by the glass — runs from 3-5pm. A Weekend Roast is available Friday through Sunday from 5pm for $27.50, until sold out. None of these deals apply on public holidays, though there's no public holiday surcharge either.

Functions and Fundraisers

1852 offers free venue hire for functions of any size, with enquiries handled by email or phone. The venue also supports local schools and community organisations through fundraising quiz nights — a tradition that started at sister venue 1841 and has helped raise over $1.41 million for local schools, sports groups, and community organisations over time. For these events, 1852 provides free venue hire, a free quiz package, and a quiz master, and can help arrange extras like raffles and auctions to boost funds raised.

Booking a Table

Bookings are advised, and can be made by calling (04) 801 9544. Outside of trading hours, the venue asks that enquiries go by email to [email protected], including your name, contact number, and number of guests (including children). The venue notes it has both low and high tables, so anyone who can't sit at a high table is asked to mention this in their booking email. Highchairs are available on request for families with young children.

Visiting 1852

1852 is open from 12pm daily — Monday to Thursday until 10pm, Friday and Saturday until late, and Sunday until 9pm. It's located at 55 Cleveland St, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021. Selected menu items are also available as takeaway with a 15% discount, though some dishes — particularly ones best enjoyed fresh, like the chowder or garlic loaf — are dine-in only. With its busy kitchen, the venue asks that guests avoid requesting substitutions outside of the noted allergy accommodations.

Signature items

• Polhill Pork Ribs
• The Triple Double Burger
• Larry the Lamb Shank Pie
• Seager's Hill Sirloin
• George Washington Pizza
• Weekend Roast

Menu

Mains

• Vegetarian Lasagne (v) — Fresh rocket, house-made Napoli sauce, parmesan
• Roast Vegetable Salad (v,gf,df,vg) — Rustic roast vegetables, Chef's salad mix, pumpkin seeds, nuts, kumara shavings, balsamic
• The Vogelmorn Burger (v) — Crispy plant-based chicken & vegetarian patties, cheese, salad greens, chipotle aioli, fries
• Fish & Chips — Beer battered fresh fish, rustic cut chips, 1852 slaw (N/A takeaway)
• Owhiro Salmon (gf) — Mash, water cress, pesto, hollandaise
• Fettuccine — Chicken, bacon, mushroom, parmesan
• Brooklyn Breast (gf) — 350g skin-on chicken breast oven roasted, grilled to finish, baby potatoes, 1852 slaw, creamy cajun sauce
• Larry the Lamb Shank Pie — Slow cooked lamb shank, carrot, beans, kumara, onion, mint sauce, rustic cut chips, 1852 slaw (N/A takeaway)
• Brickworks Bangers (gf) — Pork sausages, mash, peas, caramelised onions, egg, gravy
• Central Park Pork (gf) — 300g crispy pork belly, mash, 1852 slaw, gravy, apple sauce
• Polhill Pork Ribs — 1kg pork ribs slow cooked in house BBQ sauce, rustic cut chips, 1852 slaw, sesame seeds
• The Triple Double Burger — Smashed double beef patties, double bacon, double cheese, onion rings, salad greens, pickle, rib sauce, chips
• Seared Beef Salad — 200g seared beef, Chef's salad mix, fried shallots, garlic, chilli & lime dressing, crispy noodles
• Seager's Hill Sirloin — Char-grilled prime sirloin, rustic cut chips, 1852 slaw, garlic butter, fried egg (200g/400g)

Pizza

• Calvin Coolidge — Bacon, pineapple, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce
• Thomas Jefferson (v) — Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce, fresh basil
• Grover Cleveland — Chicken, cranberry, brie, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce
• George Washington — Pulled pork, bacon, salami, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce, house-made BBQ sauce
• William McKinley (v) — Mushrooms, capsicum, olives, onion, corn, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce, basil pesto
• James Garfield — Chicken, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce, buffalo sauce
• Abraham Lincoln — Sirloin strips, caramelised onion, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce, bearnaise
• W.H Taft — Pepperoni, chilli flakes, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce
• Herbert Hoover — Prawns, capsicum, chilli flakes, rocket, mozzarella, 1852 special sauce
• William Harrison (v) — Mozzarella, brie, parmesan, 1852 special sauce

Brunch

• 1852 Breakfast — Poached eggs, bacon, pork sausage, tomato, hash browns, ciabatta
• The Works — Double poached eggs, double bacon, double pork sausage, double tomato, mushrooms, chilli beans, rustic cut chips, ciabatta
• Veg Brekkie (v) — Poached eggs, mushrooms, tomato, hash browns, chilli beans, spinach, ciabatta
• Bubble n' Squeak — Pan fried veggies, bacon, poached egg, potato rosti, hollandaise
• Eggs Benedict — Poached eggs, bacon, spinach, potato rosti, hollandaise
• Fish — Fresh fish lightly battered, fries, salad garnish (N/A takeaway)
• Steak Sammie — Char-grilled sirloin steak, medium-rare, salad greens, caramelised onions, bearnaise, fries
• Caesar — Chicken, bacon, poached egg, croutons, parmesan, house-made aioli

Dessert

• Ice Cream Sundae (gf) — Vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, wafer - choice of topping (N/A takeaway)
• Rocky Road Pizza — Snack size, Whittaker's chocolate, toasted marshmallows, berry coulis, Nutella
• Double Chocolate Brownie (gf) — Served warm, vanilla ice cream
• Sticky Date Pudding — Served warm, salted butterscotch sauce, ice cream
• Cheesecake — House-made, vanilla ice cream, berry coulis
• Lemon Meringue Tart — House-made, vanilla ice cream, berry coulis

Starters

• Rustic Cut Chips (df) — Cooked in beef fat, house-made aioli
• Fries (v,df) — House-made aioli
• Corn Chips (v,vg,gf,df) — House-made salsa
• Cheerios (df,gf) — A Kiwi classic served with tomato sauce
• Garlic Loaf (v) — Lashings of garlic butter (N/A takeaway)
• Wedges — Cheese, bacon, sweet chilli, sour cream
• Prawn Twisters (df) — Half a dozen, house-made aioli
• Cajun Calamari (df) — House-made aioli
• Nachos (v,gf) — Pulled pork or spiced jackfruit, chilli beans, cheese, jalapenos, sweet chilli, sour cream
• Cook Straight Chowder — Prawns, mussels, fish, squid, garlic toast (N/A takeaway)
• Spicy Wings (gf) — Spicy Buffalo wings, house-made blue cheese sauce
• Local Platter — Mini spring rolls, samosas, cheerios, chicken tenders, battered fish, prawn twisters, fries, wedges, dipping sauces. Serves 4-6 (N/A takeaway)

Kids Menu

• Battered Fish — With fries. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack
• Cheerios (gf,df) — With fries. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack
• Creamy Pasta — Creamy cheese and bacon. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack
• Chicken Nuggets — With fries. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack

Frequently asked questions

What are 1852's opening hours?

Open from 12pm daily: Monday to Thursday until 10pm, Friday and Saturday until late, and Sunday until 9pm.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes, kids meals are $15 and include a main, drink, dessert, and a kids pack.

What daily deals does 1852 offer?

Monday has two-for-one mains, Tuesday is Quiz Night, Wednesday is a $35 Midweek Steakout, Thursday is $29 Tightarse Thursday mains, Friday has 241 Pizzas, and a $27.50 Weekend Roast runs Friday to Sunday from 5pm.

Is takeaway available?

Yes, selected menu items are available for takeaway with a 15% discount, though some dishes are dine-in only.

Does 1852 host functions?

Yes, they offer free venue hire for functions of any size — contact via [email protected] or phone.

Do they support community fundraising?

Yes, 1852 provides free venue hire, a free quiz package, and a quiz master for local schools and community organisations running fundraiser quiz nights.

Are food allergies accommodated?

Yes, fries can be substituted with salad greens, and the menu clearly marks vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options.

Tips

• {"body":"Tuesday's \"O for Awesome\" Quiz Night has a 7pm kick-off and bookings are recommended.","title":"Book ahead for quiz night"}
• {"body":"Wednesday's $35 Midweek Steakout and Friday's 241 Pizzas are among the best value nights on the weekly calendar.","title":"Time your visit for the best deals"}
• {"body":"If you can't sit at a high table, note this in your reservation email since the venue has both low and high tables.","title":"Mention seating needs when booking"}
• {"body":"If you need to make a booking outside opening hours, email [email protected] with your name, contact number and guest count.","title":"Email outside trading hours"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Welcomes family groups; kids menu with meal, drink, dessert and pack; highchairs available on request","dietary":"Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options marked; fries can be swapped for salad greens for allergies","accessibility":"Both low and high tables available — mention in your booking email if you can't sit at a high table"}