About This Guide
Cup Day falls on Tuesday 3 November 2026 and the six Geelong-area pubs below all take Spring Carnival bookings — Cup Day, Derby Day and Stakes Day. Each one has live race coverage on TAB and big screens, function-room or group-booking capacity, and a kitchen that runs through the entire Cup card. Menus and prices for 2026 lock in over September, so phone the venue direct from early September to confirm the package, deposit and dress code.
Geelong Spring Carnival Venues at a Glance
| Venue | Suburb | Best For | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cremorne Hotel | Newtown | Pakington Street race day, three spaces | 03 5221 2702 |
| Centra | Geelong CBD | CBD office groups, walk to train | 03 5224 1515 |
| The Norlane Hotel | Norlane | Early-card 9am start on the highway | 03 5278 2423 |
| Torquay Hotel | Torquay | Surf Coast overnighter, rooms upstairs | 03 5261 2001 |
| The Telegraph Hotel | Geelong West | Fashion-on-the-field, rooftop terrace | 03 5222 2471 |
| Belmont Hotel | Belmont | Big groups, function room to 120 | 03 5243 2802 |
The Cremorne Hotel — Newtown
The strongest Pakington Street race-day pick. Cremorne runs three distinct spaces — a full bistro dining room, a public bar with beer garden carrying TAB, Sky Racing and Fox Sports, and a modern lounge that doubles as a function room for Cup Day groups. The kitchen runs 11:30am–10pm seven days, so the food window covers the entire Cup card. Phone 03 5221 2702 from early September to lock the 2026 set menu, pricing and function-room deposit.
Centra — Geelong CBD
The CBD pick — formerly the Carrington Hotel, trading as Centra after the rebrand. Bistro, pokies, TAB, sports screens and live music cover the "lunch with a punt in the CBD" brief that office Cup Day groups need. Open 10am–late seven days, which comfortably covers a 12:30pm sit-down through to the post-Cup race-five finish, and it is walkable to the train station for Melbourne commuters. Centra has run packaged Cup Day lunches in past years — phone 03 5224 1515 from early September to confirm the 2026 menu.
The Norlane Hotel — Norlane
The early-start pick on the northern approach. Norlane opens at 9am every day, which makes it one of the few Geelong-area pubs trading early enough for the morning international and early-card AEDT races during Spring Carnival. The Princes Highway venue carries bistro, TAB, sports screens, an Entertainment Lounge for pokies and a bottle shop. Day-of bookings typically run through the bistro rather than a fixed Spring Carnival package — phone 03 5278 2423 in early September to confirm whether 2026 runs a la carte or banquet.
Torquay Hotel — Torquay
The Surf Coast pick — and the only one on this list with rooms upstairs. Bistro, sports bar with multiple large screens, a separate gaming lounge with pokies and TAB, and on-site accommodation make Torquay Hotel the answer for a Cup Day lunch followed by an overnight stay. Open 10am–late seven days, minutes from the beach. Cup weekend rooms book out months ahead — phone 03 5261 2001 by 1 September to lock in both the lunch package and accommodation.
The Telegraph Hotel — Geelong West
The fashion-on-the-field pick. The art-deco facade at the bottom of Pakington Street and the award-winning rooftop terrace give the photo backdrops the frock-and-fascinator crowd want, and the venue splits into a restaurant, bar, upstairs alfresco and rooftop for different group sizes. Modern Australian menu with Asian and Mediterranean influences, function rooms available for group bookings. Standard trading is Wednesday to Sunday 11:30am–11pm (closed Mon/Tue), so the single most important phone call is confirming Cup Day Tuesday 3 November 2026 trading hours — phone 03 5222 2471 from early September.
Belmont Hotel — Belmont
The big-group pick on the southern side of the river. The restored 1920s art-deco building carries function rooms catering for up to 120 guests — the largest function capacity of the six venues on this list, and the answer for corporate Cup Day bookings or extended family groups. Rooftop beer garden, bistro with gluten-free options, DJs on weekends. Closed Mondays but open Tuesdays from 12pm, which covers Cup Day — phone 03 5243 2802 from early September to confirm the 2026 function package, deposit and whether the rooftop is included in room hire.
Plan Your Cup Day
Match the venue to the group. CBD office crew on a half-day finish — Centra on Yarra Street, walkable to the train station. Corporate booking or extended family table over twenty — Belmont, with function capacity for up to 120. Frock-and-fascinator photo brief — Telegraph for the art-deco facade and rooftop terrace (and confirm Cup Day trading first, the pub is normally closed Tuesdays). Pakington Street race-day with TAB, Sky Racing and Fox Sports across three spaces — Cremorne. Surf Coast overnighter with rooms upstairs — Torquay Hotel, booked by 1 September at the latest. Early-card AEDT international races from 9am — Norlane Hotel on the Princes Highway.
Phone every venue from early September. Cup Day menus and prices for 2026 are not published until the venue locks them in over September, and deposits are usually required to hold the booking.