It's a tough gig being a poker machine in Sydney. They have been uncool for years but now it seems even the steady revenue-raiser is so uncool some publicans won't touch them.

It's time to say vale pokie, we will now replace you with cowboy boots and a man DJing out of a suitcase. And no, this is not a frightening vision of the future but a scene the Crasher found herself in at the opening of a bar called Apothecary in what used to be the pokies room of World Bar in Kings Cross.

Out of fashion ... pokies. Credit:John Woudstra

The bar is going for a ''saloon-style speakeasy set amid a clutter of skulls, potions and various turn-of-the-century curios''-type vibe. Fifteen poker machines were harmed in the making. The only evidence they were ever there is a trickle of old-man stench and the refitted vintage gaming machine dolled up into a shiny donation box for The Wayside Chapel.

In their place are red-velvety curtains, dark mahogany booths, bottles of potion and mini pork-and-slaw buns going around.