Ben's Chicken Racing

🍗 Ben's Chicken Racing

When and where is Ben's Chicken Racing?

Ben's Chicken Racing is held 7 nights a week from April 1st to October 31st at 5:00 PM at The Royal Carrangarra Hotel in Tambo, Western Queensland. The show runs rain, hail, or shine, and will be moved indoors if it is too wet outside.

How does the racing and charity auction work?

Up to 10 real chickens are auctioned off each night to raise money for Little Windmills: The Country Kids Charity. The winning temporary owner gets 50% of the auction funds, and the charity receives the other 50%. You do not take the chickens home. If you arrive from 4:00 PM, you can get a ticket with every purchase to win our free Wild Card Chicken. Cash is easiest, but we do have EFTPOS and an ATM in the foyer.

Are the chickens well looked after?

Yes, they are! We love our ladies and they are very well cared for. They are never starved, and the process to colour them has been checked and approved by a vet. We explain the whole process during the show.

🚐 Free Courtesy Bus & Camping

Can I camp at the Royal Carrangarra Hotel?

We do not have camping directly at the pub, but there are excellent options nearby. You can stay at one of Tambo's caravan parks (Tambo Cabins and Caravan Park or Tambo Mill Motel and Caravan Park) or the self-contained free camp (Stubby Bend) located less than a kilometre away. We provide a free courtesy bus to get you to and from the pub safely.

How do I catch the free courtesy bus?

You do not need to book the courtesy bus; it does continuous rounds at allotted times. Keep an eye out for our white Hi-Ace mini bus. Pickups start at 4:15 PM driving around Stubby Bend (we stick to hard ground if it's wet), and from the Tambo Caravan Park & Cabins at 4:45 PM. We will do multiple trips to ensure everyone gets a ride, so you may need to split your group across runs.

What time does the bus drop off?

Drop-offs back to your camp run from 7:00 PM onwards. Just let the bar staff know when you are ready to head home. We do drop-offs all night until closing, so you are welcome to stick around for the live music and drinks! Please note where your van is parked, as Stubby Bend looks different in the dark and you will probably have a different driver.

🐶 Pet Policy

Is the Royal Carrangarra Hotel pet-friendly?

Yes, we are proudly pet-friendly! Dogs are allowed everywhere except the two internal dining rooms and staff areas. Leashed pets are also welcome to ride on the courtesy bus. There are other areas where you can eat and drink with pooch.

What are the rules for bringing my dog?

Visiting dogs must be kept on a leash and supervised by their owners at all times. We ask that you pick up after your dog (bags are available at the bar for number 2s, water for number 1s), prevent excessive barking, and do not let dogs eat off hotel plates. Please ask permission before patting other people's dogs.

Do you have pub dogs?

Yes, we have two large, friendly pub dogs that live here. Because this is their home, they will be off-leash to come say hello. Please do not feed our cute moochers!

🍽️ Meals & Dining

What time are meals served and do I need to book?

The kitchen is open 7 nights a week from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (8:30 PM on Fridays). You do not need to book a table—we have plenty of space for everyone to grab a seat! We start taking orders for the full menu immediately after the chicken racing finishes, just before 6:00 PM.

How do I order the daily specials?

Our daily specials are incredibly popular and often sell out! Because of this, we highly recommend pre-purchasing our specials before 5:00 PM. Please note that only the daily specials can be pre-purchased, and they cannot be altered or changed. The full standard menu cannot be ordered until after the races.

What if my group is ordering a mix of specials and the full menu?

If some people at your table are ordering pre-purchased specials and others are ordering off the standard menu, here is how we make sure you all eat together:

1. Pre-purchase your specials at the bar before 5:00 PM (you will be given a voucher).

2. Wait until the chicken racing finishes, then order the rest of your meals from the full menu.

3. Once the full menu meals are delivered to your table, bring your special voucher up to the bar and we will serve your hot specials up straight away!