Charlton’s Entertainment Complex

Went to Charltons recently late-​ish on a Friday night and ws extremely dissapointed.
Being a Karaōke lover, I didnt appreciate that I had to wait about 2 hours to get a chance to sing. And that was after my friend went and showed a bit of cleavage! The Karaōke guy was wasted… apparantly thats what it takes?
It would not have been so long if the actual Karaōke DJ would not play regular music all the time. If people want to dance there are many dance clubs, let people sing. Eg — he would let 2 people sing, then put on 5 music tracks, so it took forever to get a turn.
Ended up playing pool a bit… drink service was fairly quick and resonable prices so cant complain there however if I they are meant to be an actual Karaōke bar please let people actually sing!

This is a dive pool hall if ever there was one, but that’s not all it is. It’s also a great little karaōke bar if you don’t mind singing in front of strangers (it’s not one of those karaōke places with private rooms).
Luckily with all the booze readily available at the bar, which is conveniently placed right next to the karaōke area, all inhibitions of performing in front of strangers are too easily shed. There’s no shame in not partaking though, Charlton’s isn’t judgmental at all — you can just sit back and enjoy the show. There are actually a string of regulars who really know how to hold a tune so you could almost view a night out in the Charlton’s karaōke room as going to a gig. Almost.

Charlton’s has the most Melbourne entrance in the whole of the city. You go down an alley (past a sex shop, from memory), you go in a dirty, dingy lobby, get in a decrepit old elevator, wait as it trundles up a few stories and, voila, you’re in Charlton’s
Which, to be honest, is just as dingy as the lobby below. Charlton’s has many fine points, but cleanliness isn’t one of them.
Actually, Charlton’s really only has three fine points to recommend it. Pool tables, Daytona, and serious karaōke. Unlike other karaōke places, Charlton will have a DJ on the table, who will sing along with you if you start to get a bit lost. It’s a bit intimidating actually — I like to fail at karaōke at my own pace. But there’s a good chance that some of the people in the room actually will be able to sing, and will be a pleasure to watch.

Charlton’s is an exceedingly daggy karaōke bar, that for some reason I find to be strangely endearing. It’s certainly not for the quality music, or the high class patronage, that’s for sure.
What Charleton’s does have going for it is the fact that it’s so daggy, that there’s the sense that anything goes, and you won’t be judged. Thus, I’ve found myself on more than one occasion, on stage, sharing a microphone with a sloppy group of friends in the early hours of the morning, singing the likes of Jojo or Martika.
Charlton’s also has a room full of pool tables, for the uptight boyfriends who can’t handle the heat of a sweaty rendition of «Remix to Ignition».

Karaōke? Tick!
Pool tables? Tick!
Booze? Tick!
Hilarity? Tick! Tick!
Hidden down Coverlid place, around the corner and an elevator ride away is the Melbourne-​famous Charlton’s, or as I affectionately call it; «that place I get drunk and embarrass myself.»
Charlton’s gets BUSY late on Saturday night when everyone thinks it’s a good idea to sing Beyonce to a bunch of strangers, but is also what I believe to be the best place to be in the city.
No fighting, no egos and a great atmosphere.
Jackie’s Advice: Never plan to go to Charlton’s, it should always be spontaneous.