Queensland / Cairns / Cairns CBD / The Jack
Pub & live music venue
The Jack
A big pub and beer garden at 52 Spence Street, on the Sheridan Street corner. The bar trades until 2am.
About The Jack
The Jack, formally the Union Jack Hotel, is a large pub in the Cairns CBD with a main bar, back bar, beer garden, bistro and gaming room, plus a hotel and backpacker accommodation on site. Its sale listing gave a patron capacity of 800.
It hosts live music, touring acts and party nights, including a 2000s and 2010s party on Friday 21 August 2026 and a San Cisco show listed for 21 November 2026. The building dates from 1926 as the Commercial Hotel, and it was sold in late 2024 with staged renovations planned.
Written by LateOne.au, checked 13 October 2026. Sources: thehotelconversation.com.au, musick.com.au, tixel.com. Hours and door policies change, so check with the venue.
- Area
- Cairns CBD
- Music
- Touring bands, themed DJ parties, sport on the screens
- Best nights
- Check the program
- Address
- 52-60 Spence Street (corner Sheridan Street), Cairns City QLD 4870
- Capacity
- 800 patrons (per 2024 sale listing)
- Open since
- 1926, as the Commercial Hotel
Check the venue’s own listings for tonight’s program, hours and door policy.
Map & Street View
Pin from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Street View opens the nearest street photo; entrances can be round the corner, so check the venue’s own directions.
Around The Jack
Within a ten-minute walk: Gilligan’s (2 min, backpacker bar & clubs), P.J. O’Brien’s (4 min, irish pub & live music), The Woolshed (6 min, backpacker bar & club) and Rattle n Hum (9 min, pub & live music).
Walking times are estimates from the map, not routes.
More in Cairns CBD
- Backpacker bar & clubs · Cairns CBDGilligan’sDJs in the club, live bands on the back deck, guest DJs at Sunday pool parties · Best: Saturday (The Attic from 9pm); Sunday pool party from midday
- Backpacker bar & club · Cairns CBDThe WoolshedParty DJs and themed nights · Best: Check the program
- Irish pub & live music · Cairns CBDP.J. O’Brien’sLive bands and covers; karaoke on Wednesdays · Best: Thursday to Sunday live music
- Live music venue · Cairns CBDElixir Music HouseLocal and touring original bands, folk to metalcore · Best: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 7pm
Checked 13 October 2026 against venue sites, Visit Brisbane, Destination Gold Coast, Townsville, Whitsunday and Tropical North Queensland tourism, 2026 gig listings, TransLink and Business Queensland. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.