The Lonsdale Tobacconist and Convenience

The Lonsdale Tobacconist & Convenience in Braddon, ACT, is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to what you might expect from your local smoke shop. The store’s got a decent range of tobacco products and smoking accessories, though some visitors reckon it’s more of a convenience store than a dedicated tobacconist. You’ll find your usual suspects here: cigarettes, rolling papers, and lighters, plus they’re apparently the only spot in central Canberra where you can grab lighter gas, which is pretty handy.

The store’s got reasonable operating hours, staying open from 7:30am to 10pm most days, with a bit of extra time on Thursday through Saturday when they close at 10:30pm. They take both card and cash payments, though keep in mind there’s a small EFTPOS fee (less than 1% we hear). There’s also an ATM on-site if you need it, but it’ll cost you $2.90 for the privilege.

When it comes to customer service, well, it’s been a bit hit and miss lately. Some regulars swear by the friendly staff and reckon they’re always up for giving you a little discount if you’re short of the EFTPOS fee. Others haven’t had such a ripper time, with a few complaints about unprofessional service floating around.

The shop’s got a neat little $2 bargain basket near the door that’s worth a squiz, and they’ve recently expanded into selling alcohol alongside their tobacco products. We’ve heard the prices are generally fair, and the store seems to be constantly adding new products to their inventory. It’s one of those places that’s handy for a quick pop-in when you need the basics, even if it mightn’t be the most specialized tobacconist in town.