Andy Lee has been left genuinely stunned after discovering that his New York City pub, Old Mates, has become an unexpected hotspot for American women hoping to meet and maybe marry an Australian man.
The bar, co‑owned by Eddy Buckingham, Nick Stone, Hamish Blake and Andy himself, was originally designed as a warm, nostalgic hangout for Aussie expats and tourists craving a slice of home in Manhattan. But just over a year since opening, Old Mates has taken on a surprising new identity.
Women across social media have begun sharing videos and posts revealing they now visit the pub specifically to find an Aussie partner. What started as a quirky observation has quickly turned into a trend, with some clips showing queues stretching out the door.
NYC local Bec posted a TikTok describing the scene as “wild,” saying she’d never seen such a concentrated group of “attractive men in one place.” Her video and others like it have helped fuel the bar’s growing reputation as the unofficial meeting ground for Americans hoping to snag a charming Australian.
For decades, bars and clubs have been natural places for couples to meet, but Old Mates appears to have tapped into something different: a mix of Aussie friendliness, laid‑back energy and novelty that’s drawing crowds far beyond the expat community it was built for.
Andy Lee, amused and slightly bewildered, says he never imagined the pub would become a matchmaking hub but he’s not complaining about the unexpected popularity.
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