News

The latest bar and bartender news.

Drinking ‘en plein air’ at Metro St James

The space behind St James station on Hyde Park, Sydney, is finally seeing some action. “The name is Metro St James,” said French owner Phillipe Valet (La Brasserie, Surry Hills). “I just want to start with a nice wine and aperitif bar and build it slowly,” he said of the open-air space, which can be enclosed by large, bi-fold doors.

Young Henry’s opening a new bar in the ‘Loo

Woolloomoo has a new bar brewing that’s a creative collaboration between Oscar McMahon from Newtown’s Young Henry’s brewery (pictured), Jack Brown (ex-owner Chingalings and hospitality business consultant), with Alex Watts and Nick Watney from Camperdown’s Runcible Spoon.

Bottleneck created outside Eau de Vie

This week sees the opening of a new bar in the Speakeasy group’s stable: Bottleneck. Located in the space that the now defunct Art Lounge occupied in the Kirketon Hotel (and practically on Eau de Vie’s doorstep) the new bar from Sven Almenning and company…

Kirribili welcomes its first small bar

The Honourable Julia Gillard MP finally has a local small bar and restaurant in which to drown her polling woes. The Botanist Kirribilli has just opened its doors in the old Milsons restaurant site thanks to owners Ben Carroll and Hamish Watts – the duo behind Bondi Hardware.

Black Pearl will stuff your stocking

If in the madness of the festive season you’ve neglected to find a gift for someone dear to you, give them the gift that gives all year round: the Black Pearl calendar.

OLGR clamps down on “irresponsible promotion” in Kings Cross

The NSW Office of Liquor (OLGR), Gaming and Racing has ordered Kings Cross bar, No Vacancy, to cancel an attempt at breaking the Guinnes world record for the most mojitos made in one hour. The event was scheduled to be held last Friday night.

Chalmers to Baxter Inn; McGoram goes to Reserve

Barry Chalmers, Reserve’s brand ambassador for New South Wales, has accepted a training role with the Swillhouse group, with Bartender’s Drinks Editor Simon McGoram replacing him.

Beers and boutique rooms next for Short

Fresh from his successful launch of The Morrison, Fraser Short is casting his eye towards Sydney’s eastern suburbs with the recent purchase of the Watsons Bay Hotel.

Bulletin Place taking shape

The new bar from Tim Phillips, Adi Ruiz, and Robb Sloan, Bulletin Place, is taking shape. A small, intimate 50-seat number, the boys are keen totake that approach to their drinks too, doing away with a traditional back bar.

Keystone looks skyward for new CBD bar

With Sydney’s CBD basements slowly fllling up it was only a matter of time before bar owners started to look up, as the team at Keystone have now done. “It’s called the Rook,” said group director Paul Schulte, “it means a playful bird that hangs out up high.”