A new bar in Brisbane’s CBD

Open Arms Hospitality, which has operated a string of places, bars and hotels in Victoria and NSW, is moving into Brisbane with a new riverside bar and beer garden.

Riverside, the group’s first Brisbane venture, will be in the outside space at the rear of Emirates House at 167 Eagle St boasting Brisbane’s biggest river frontage.

Construction is now underway with a view to having a spring launch.

The plan is to have a venue offering a new all-day drinking spot with a stellar vantage.

Add to that the five street kitchens.

Constructed out of two 12-metre containers, there will be a permanent island bar serving beer and ciders.

And it will be a big range too of domestic, international, craft and micro-brewed. The big focus will be on local breweries.

In addition to that, there will be three other six-metre shipping containers which will be converted into space housing one regular and four rotating food vendors.

It’s basically a large beer garden with street food located on Brisbane’s great river.

The site will have a sub-tropical feel with existing trees on the site being retained.

Architecture firm Burton & Carter will be doing the design. To keep that unique feel about the place, there will be a blend of timber and greenery combined in an arbour entryway. 

All of this is aimed to create a place that will be there for entertainment, with a slate of acoustic performances and DJs.

The proprietors aim to create a welcoming river-adjacent hangout.

"It's all about the location," part owner and venue manager Gerard Coakley told Concrete Playground.

 "The focus at all times is the Brisbane River.”

The Riverside will be drawing its inspiration from other venues around the world such as the Brooklyn Bridge Beer Garden and Arbory Bar & Eatery in Melbourne.

by Leon Gettler, July 17^th 2017