CBC Old Boys Club Pretoria is one of Groenkloof’s best-kept secrets — a fully licensed sports village and multi-purpose event venue at 78 George Storrar Drive that has served as the beating heart of this leafy, central Pretoria suburb for decades. The CBC Old Boys Memorial Club hosts active sporting clubs in bowls, cricket, football, squash, and running; operates a pub and restaurant; maintains well-tended grounds and facilities; and opens its doors to the broader Pretoria community for night markets, private parties, team-building events, conferences, and celebrations of every kind. Accessible from both the N1 and R21 highways, and within minutes of Brooklyn Mall, the University of Pretoria’s Groenkloof Campus, and the Pretoria embassy district, the club combines genuine heritage character with practical modern flexibility.

Steeped in Legacy: Irish Roots and Memorial Heritage

The CBC Old Boys Memorial Club carries its name with purpose. It was originally established as a memorial club — a space created specifically to honour community, camaraderie, and the bonds formed at CBC (Christian Brothers’ College, now St Alban’s College). Its character draws on Irish heritage, and that spirit of warmth, conviviality, and belonging still defines the club’s atmosphere today. The classic architecture and cosy interior spaces nod to this founding identity, and a planned revamp promises to weave these Irish roots even more deliberately into a heritage-forward aesthetic that blends the club’s past with stylish modern updates.

The result is a venue that feels genuinely lived-in and loved — not a blank corporate space, but a place with stories, traditions, and a community that has gathered here for generations. One long-time visitor described it as “the best cricket club in Pretoria,” with a well-equipped restaurant and bar area and clean facilities. Another regular calls the bowling greens “fantastic — well maintained and good running greens, always feel welcomed, great spirit.”

Sports at CBC: Five Active Clubs on One Property

The sporting life of CBC Old Boys Memorial Club is its foundation and its identity. Five active sporting codes operate from the Groenkloof grounds:

Bowls — CBC’s bowling greens are among the finest in Pretoria, with well-maintained, true-running surfaces that attract competitive players and social bowlers alike. The Bowls Club is a popular gathering point for members and visiting clubs, with a strong social programme alongside competitive fixtures.

Cricket — CBC runs one of Pretoria’s most active cricket clubs, with fixtures in the relevant leagues and a genuine club culture around the game. The cricket grounds are well tended, and the proximity of the pavilion pub and restaurant makes match days a social occasion as much as a sporting one. A major upgrade to the cricket facilities was undertaken ahead of the 2024–25 season.

Football — a football club operates from the well-maintained football grounds at CBC, contributing to the club’s reputation as a genuine multi-sport destination within the Groenkloof community.

Squash — CBC hosts one of Pretoria’s leading squash clubs, with courts bookable online via pretoria-squash.co.za. The squash programme includes league play, coaching, and a social membership structure. Key contacts include Pierre Mornet (084 903 2400), Amy Farrell (082 414 9228), Johan Grobler, Sandra Engelbrecht, Kelvin Ndhlovu, Ducky Marshall, and Vincent van Vollenstee.

Running — the Nedbank Running Club operates from CBC, providing a structured running community for Pretoria-based runners of all abilities in partnership with the broader Nedbank running programme.

The Pavilion Pub and Bar

The club’s fully licensed Pavilion Pub is the social centre of CBC’s sporting life — a place to gather before and after matches, watch sport, catch up with teammates, and enjoy a well-priced drink in a genuine club atmosphere. The barman has been specifically praised by regulars for his friendliness and attentiveness: one Toastmasters Club member noted that the barman “put glasses and jugs of water out for us before we even arrived.” The bar is reasonably priced and comfortable, with a warm community atmosphere that makes it suitable for birthday functions, casual gatherings, and post-sporting-event socials. The pub’s trading hours extend through Easter and public holidays.

Italian Restaurant and On-Site Dining

CBC Old Boys Club is home to an on-site Italian restaurant — a dining option that elevates the post-match or post-event experience well beyond typical sports club fare. Reviewers specifically call out the Italian restaurant as a reason to visit the club even outside of sporting events, describing it as a great place to grab a drink, have a bite, and watch club cricket. The kitchen also supports in-house catering for events, with a fully equipped commercial kitchen available to external caterers for self-catering functions.

Venue Hire: Parties, Conferences, Team Building and More

CBC Old Boys Memorial Club actively markets its facilities for private and corporate hire, with event coordination managed by Cheyna (info@shescheyna.co.za / 074 802 1990), who handles all venue bookings, planning, designing, and coordination services in-house. Whether clients want full event management or simply space hire with access to the club’s infrastructure, the CBC team can accommodate both approaches.

The venue’s event offering covers:

Parties and Private Functions — Birthday parties, braai celebrations, anniversary dinners, and milestone events are hosted in the club’s versatile spaces. The venue offers a reasonably priced bar, clean and well-maintained facilities, and the ability to accommodate groups of varying sizes across the indoor and outdoor areas.

Team Building — The club’s semi-covered braai area, fully equipped with braais, is the centrepiece of CBC’s team-building offering. The braai area is designed for “Braai Master” competitions, bring-and-braai functions, casual celebrations, and sundowner sessions following a conference or team-building programme. The outdoor sports grounds, including the bowling greens, also lend themselves to structured team-building activities.

Conferencing — CBC provides a conference venue with in-house AV equipment, seating for corporate groups, and full backup power for load-shedding-free events. All conference packages include audio-visual equipment and access to catering services.

Night Markets — One of CBC’s most distinctive community offerings is its regular night market, described by one enthusiastic attendee as “one of the coolest night markets I’ve been to in Pretoria to date.” The market features a wide array of stalls selling crystals, gym gear, candy, candles, cake, hot food, and crafts, alongside a large 5-counter bar and live music performances — including a noted appearance by Zebra, described as “an upcoming all-South African cultural rock music band.” Importantly, the night market is pet-friendly and picnic-blanket-friendly, making it a genuine community evening event. Markets are typically held on the first Friday evening of each month.

Vintage Flea Markets — CBC has also hosted vintage and antique flea markets, drawing a different crowd of buyers and sellers to the grounds and reinforcing the venue’s role as a community gathering space across multiple formats.

Location and Getting There

CBC Old Boys Memorial Club is at 78 George Storrar Drive, Groenkloof, Pretoria, Gauteng, 0181 — in the leafy suburb of Groenkloof on Pretoria’s southern flank. The N1 and R21 highways provide easy access from Johannesburg, Centurion, and the greater Pretoria area. Brooklyn Mall is a short drive north; the University of Pretoria’s Groenkloof Campus is nearby; and a Virgin Active gym is situated at the club entrance.

Tel / WhatsApp: 084 582 1801
Email: admin@cbcoldboysclub.co.za
Venue Bookings (Cheyna): info@shescheyna.co.za | 074 802 1990
Squash Bookings: pretoria-squash.co.za | 084 903 2400
Office Hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–16:00

For upcoming events, sports club information, and venue hire enquiries, visit CBC Old Boys Memorial Club’s official website.

Explore more sports clubs and event venues in Pretoria through our Pretoria event venues directory, or browse all Gauteng event venue listings for venues across the province.