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Rothwell’s Bar & Grill Brings Back Old School, Sophisticated Bistro Dining Vibe

In the middle of the busiest area in the city is Rothwell’s Bar & Grill, the latest restaurant to make an impression among Brisbane’s culinary cliques. This restaurant calls to mind visions of sophisticated bistro dining popular in London or New York.

Dan Clark of 1889 Enoteca in Woolloongabba opened Rothwell’s Bar & Grill as an homage to egalitarian dining but with a more accessible and cosy vibe. During his travels abroad, Dan could never forget his dining experience at The Savoy Grill in London or Balthazar in New York City and considered bringing a similar concept in Brisbane.

But he needed the right place to bring his idea to life, as well as the right chef who will create a European menu focused on French cooking techniques. After securing the space inside the heritage-listed Rothwell’s building on Edward Street and partnering with head chef Ben Russel, the Rothwell’s team got to work and opened in November 2021.

The restaurant’s fit-out has been extensively overhauled to the perfect detail, resulting in a foyer bar with 40 seats, a dining space with 90 seats, and a downstairs private dining area with 50 seats. Leather, timber, copper, marble and brass make up the interior’s palette, creating a sense of class and glamour, which has been accented with luminous chandeliers from the ceiling.

In the kitchen, Ben, one of the most notable chefs in Australia delivers the ideal bistro fare with dishes like tagliarini with sea urchin, caviar, butter and chives or a chicken liver parfait with cornichons and toasted brioche. Its signature dish is the beef Wellington for sharing, highly recommended for pairing with red wine.

Rothwell’s Bar & Grill has a well-curated drink list from its bottle cellar, ranging from budget-friendly to premium quality bottles sources from Europe. The bar’s cocktails are strictly classic mixes.

Check out the restaurant’s current menu on its official site and follow Rothwell’s on Instagram for updates. Table bookings can be easily filled out online as well.

“From the moment you walk in you feel as though you’ve been transported into a completely different dining experience. What Ben , Luca and the rest of the team have done is amazing. The vibe – think New York ,think leather smells deep rich wood , think classic dishes that are accessible to anyone that just hit the spot. If I was you I would be booking my next meal here. The service was outstanding quality of the food – phenomenal; I can’t wait for my next dining experience. They have also paid homage to the history of the building and its shows from the uniforms right through to the decor. Thank you to the team for a lovely experience.”
Pedzi

“This place blew my mind. I was NOT expecting the experience I had. The atmosphere, the ambience, the leather (booths and menu’s), the staff, the welcome and…. THE FOOD!!!! Oh my goodness, The. Food. Every course, every dish we had was spectacular. Honestly, it is only Day 3 of opening and they did not miss a beat. I’ve had lunch and dinner in Cities like, Sophia, London, Los Angeles, Adelaide (yes, their food is amazing), New York, Athens, Stockholm and more – Rothwell’s rivals them all. Great job by the owners. We met two of the three owners, Luca & Ben. Outstanding restaurant gentlemen. Pure Brilliance. Thank you for setting up such a place in Brisbane.”
George

Fabulous meal. Everything was absolutely first class. Service, ambiance, food. My husband and I shared the Beef Wellington (this was quite possibly the most delicious thing we have had in a while. The beef was cooked perfectly). The wait staff were very attentive and kept our glasses full during the meal – Try the Martini. We cannot wait to come back and try other items on the menu, and to have a little bit of luxury in the Brisbane CBD.
Ambrozi

Coles Local Milton Village: Why Some Locals Are Not Excited About It

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Milton could soon be having its own Coles Local at Milton Village on Baroona Road but some local residents aren’t particularly excited about the proposal.

Coles Group Property Developments Limited has sought approval to upgrade and extend Milton Village Shopping Centre to accommodate the establishment of a Coles Local and a Liquorland bottle shop. The proposed development at 36 Baroona Road will be three storeys high with a maximum height of around 11.7 metres.

Site plan | Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Coles Local is the ‘mini’ version of the Coles supermarket which adopts the local store concept and tailor fits its offerings according to the needs of the community that it serves.

Milton Village from Baroona Road | Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Artist impression | Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

IGA out, Coles Local in

If approved, the development will replace some of the existing tenancies, including IGA Supermarket, to make way for the supermarket extension. Also, the car parking areas located along Baroona Road and within the rear service area will have their capacity reduced to 43 (from the existing 58 spaces) and 8 (from 17 spaces), respectively.

The space currently occupied by IGA will be extended and will involve the centre’s Ground Level and Level 1. The Level 1 extension will contain the mezzanine section for Coles and additional spaces intended for new commercial tenancies.

The mezzanine, which can be accessed by an internal stairwell, will be reserved for the store employees where there will be amenities, office space, food preparation areas, cold rooms and storage areas.

A majority of the existing shopping centre’s built form and specialty tenancies, as well vehicle access from Baroona Road and Wight Street will remain. The developer also does not propose changes to the access or configuration of the servicing bay, instead, a dock hoist is proposed to be installed to make servicing and delivery activities easier and efficient.

Do Milton residents want a Coles Local?

Council has already received quite a number of submissions regarding the lodged application. Whilst few residents welcome the idea of Coles in the area, an overwhelming majority of submissions reflect the locals’ opposition to the proposal.

Many of the submissions say that other nearby Coles supermarkets already exist, hence, a Milton location is not needed. To most, the current IGA already offers a great variety of goods and its longer operating hours provide better shopping convenience.

Others also raised concerns about the reduced parking spaces, traffic and pedestrian safety, the bulk and scale of the development and its impact on the existing small businesses and shopping diversity in the area.

“I do not believe this new development will service the needs of the local community, IGA and the other businesses provide local products and services with extended opening hours that can not be met by a mega corporation.” – Anonymous

“The proposal height is not sympathetic to the local area. Whilst I appreciate that developments are inevitable there is no reason it can’t be in keeping with the local area. There are so many larger alternatives to Coles nearby, eg. Coles at Toowong, Woolworths at Paddington, Coles at the Barracks. With these options there is no need for a larger grocery option at Milton Village.” – Anonymous

“The intersection at Baroona and Milton roads is poorly designed, and will become increasingly unsafe for pedestrians as traffic increases. There is no safe crossings for pedestrians to cross Baroona to the other side of the road.” – Anonymous

“Reducing the available parking and increasing the size of the shop will make this already congested and at times dangerous area worse.” – Anonymous

“The replacing of the current IGA with a Coles contributes to the lack of shopping diversity for Milton Village. Coles is proposing to increase its footprint and develop a larger section of the Village than currently the IGA occupies. This will naturally result in many small businesses in the Village leaving. This will result in people in the local area having to travel further for these services.” – Anonymous

Meanwhile, the Urbis assessment report, underscored the following key points of the proposal:

The proposed centre upgrades provide a positive contribution to the Milton neighbourhood and wider Brisbane area through improvements to Milton Village.
The proposed development represents a contemporary architectural design that will improve activation and surveillance of Baroona Road.
The proposed changes to the car parking areas and vehicle access arrangements will significantly enhance safety for vehicles and pedestrians.
The upgrades and enhancements to the existing service arrangements, including the addition of screen planting in the road reserve will significantly enhance the presentation of the development from Wight Street.
The development does not result in any impacts that will significant or undue adverse impacts on surrounding land uses or the envisaged street environment. The design of the proposal has been tailored to its location and is of a built form and scale appropriate to the surroundings and which is not likely to impact adversely on surrounds.

Beloved Independent Bookstore Re-Opens in New Milton Location

Did you know that Mary Ryan, the popular independent bookstore in Milton, has re-opened a few doors up from the Park Road location they had occupied for the last two decades?

Owner Bill Concannon said that they were able to secure a more affordable rent than their last site. The high cost of rent was the main reason why they had to temporarily shut down in mid-2021.

After many questions and much anticipation from its loyal customers, the beloved bookstore finally revealed its new location to be the former BWS outlet on the same road.

Since its re-opening, Mary Ryan has also announced that their stocks are still limited because of the supply chains disruption due to the pandemic.

Books arriving by trucks from NSW take three weeks because of the quarantines. Several of the drivers are also hesistant to be on the road since they are independent business operators/owners.

pic.twitter.com/fQO3RuZVfH
— Mary Ryan’s Milton (@MaryRyansMilton) September 1, 2021

Meanwhile, the fitout of the store’s al fresco dining area at the back is not yet finished. However, they have provided a coffee cart serving a limited range of drinks.

The independent bookstore is has been been the go-to place for books, magazines, newspapers, and DVDs and CDs for Milton locals and residents nearby.

Pressed for Time? A Christmas Pop-up at the Milton Markets Has Got You Covered

Photo credit: Milton Markets / Facebook

Milton Markets will have a Christmas Pop-up on the 23rd of December 2021 to help you with your last-minute Christmas stock up.

‘Tis that time of the year again and as Christmas draws near, many will find themselves stressed out over some last-minute shopping. No need to worry because Milton Markets has got you covered so you can enjoy some stress-free last minute Christmas shopping.

It’s going to be an early morning shopping you shouldn’t miss this coming Thursday 23 December at the corner of Cribb Street and Little Cribb Street. From 7am until 12 noon, you’ll have a few hours for your last-minute gifts at the Christmas Stock Up Market.

Check out your favourite farmers, artisans, and bakers that offer the freshest farm produce, seasonal produce, highest quality meats and seafood, and unique handmade gifts.

There won’t be a boring moment with dozens of stalls coming together along with live music entertainment and fun activities to bring you the best shopping experience this joyous season.

Christmas Pop-up at the Milton Markets is free to the public and there’s plenty of parking available too. So be sure to drop by for your final stock up for the holidays.

What: Milton Markets Christmas Pop-Up

When: 23rd December

Time: 7am – 12pm

Where: Corner of Cribb Street and Little Cribb Street

Milton Markets | Corner of Cribb Street and Little Cribb St, Milton QLD 4064

Folio Books, Brisbane’s Iconic Bookstore, Turns the Final Page After 41 Years

After 41 years, Folio Books, the iconic bookstore that has welcomed generations of booklovers in Brisbane, has turned the final page and announced its permanent closure.

In a message to its customers, owners Angelos, Jenny and Alexis Kakoulidis said that they’ve made the firm decision not to reopen following the demolition of its last site on Mary Street early this year.

Folio Books was supposed to relocate in autumn to a new home after its lease on Mary Street ended. Since the building owner filed a development application to turn the old site into a new office tower with food and drink outlets, the bookstore owners’ original plan was to transition into a new location.

Yes as the Kakoulidis siblings said that whilst they’ve weathered through floods, two relocations, the Global Financial Crisis, the rise of international online book retailers, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest strain in their business has made them rethink their priorities as a family.

“For us, it has been an incredible journey to this point, and it has been a pleasure to have shared our passion of books with you all – we take away so many wonderful memories and experiences, and for that we thank you,” the owners said.

“We hope that we created a unique experience for you when visiting our bookstore – a haven away from the busyness of life, where you could be inspired, excited or challenged by what lies between the front and back cover of a book. Being with books daily, and talking about books with our customers, has been an extraordinary experience which we will greatly miss.”

The beloved bookstore, which was first located on Elizabeth Street in the CBD, was known for its unique, offbeat titles across genres, from philosophy to architecture. Since it opened in 1979, Folio Books stuck with its business model for the next four decades as the only bookstore in Brisbane that doesn’t sell notepads, cards, stationery, or office and school items — just books.

Score Unique Gifts at the Milton Christmas Twilight Markets

Prepare your Christmas shopping list and get ready to uncover unique items for gifting friends and family at the exciting Christmas Twilight Markets in Milton!

Set for Saturday 27 November, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Cribb Street, the Milton Christmas Twilight Markets will feature a superb premium pop-up “Brewdolph” bar with live music, foodie delights, and heaps of artisan pieces from creative and unique designers.

Get your mittens on award-winning chutneys and sauces from Stone & Lea; handworked timber homewares or ceramics from local artisans, locally designed fashions from Destii, Miles Away Company and more, freshly shucked oysters from Island Oyster Bar, or a fragrant Eritrean curry from West End icon and social enterprise Mu’ooz.

The Milton Christmas Twilight Markets highlights include:

Artisan Handmade Gifts
Countless Gourmet Eats and Drinks
Spectacular Christmas Cheer and Decorations
Amazing Live Entertainment
Snaps with Santa
Pop-Up Bar
Kids Activities and Entertainment

Don’t miss the fun! Please take note that a $2 entry fee will be collected and parking is also available for $2.

American spirits take center stage in the “Thanksgiving Hour”

‘Happy Hour’ will turn into ‘Thanksgiving Hour’ as The Gresham joins some of Australia’s leading bars to celebrate the end of lockdown with “Cheers! Spirits from the USA.”

As people go out to celebrate the easing of lockdown and restrictions in the final weeks of 2021, bars and restaurants are making the most of the influx of customers eager to celebrate their newfound freedom.

From November 22 to 28, Australians will be treated to a week-long ‘Thanksgiving Hour’ promotion. Sponsoring the “‘Cheers! Spirits from the USA” campaign in Australia is the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S (DISCUS).

Spirits enthusiasts will get to enjoy a range of American spirits in Thanksgiving-themed cocktails at special prices.

Some of Australia’s iconic venues participating in the event include The Gresham in Brisbane; Maybe Sammy, Kittyhawk, Burdekin Hotel, Grain Bar, Nola Smokehouse and Bar, The Swinging Car and Burrow Bar in Sydney; The Everleigh, The Elysian Whisky Bar, The Catfish and Que Club in Melbourne; and Maybe Mae in Adelaide.

During ‘Thanksgiving Hour,’ expect a slew of cocktail offerings that will showcase American spirits, such as Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Bulleit Bourbon, KOVAL, Old Forester, St George Gin, Wild Turkey, Westland, and Westward American Single Malt Whiskey.

“After a difficult year, we’re looking forward to partnering with some of the nation’s leading venues to celebrate Thanksgiving. The country is known for having some of the most knowledgeable and innovative bartenders, so we’re looking forward to Australians being able to experience new and delicious cocktails using some of America’s finest spirits, whilst supporting much loved bars and giving thanks,” Charles McEntee of DISCUS said.

More details will be announced as the event approaches, so be sure to follow these socials to get the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/americanspiritsinaus/ and https://www.facebook.com/AmericanSpiritsinAus.

Please drink responsibly, and always eat food while drinking to ensure safe consumption.

North Quay Office Tower May Soon Be the New Workplace for Services Australia

A $600-million office tower in Brisbane’s CBD is primed for development as a potential, new workplace for over 4,000 public servants.

Developed jointly by Cbus Property and Nielson Properties, the development dubbed ‘205 North Quay’ is designed to become a “new benchmark for workplace well-being.”

Cbus Property and Nielson Properties, alongside the Raniga family, have been finalising a deal to secure Services Australia, which handles Medicare, Centrelink, and Child Support Agency, as its tenant.

*Photo Credit: Development Application/BCC*

205 North Quay is expected to deliver cutting-edge design from acclaimed architecture firms Hassell, New York-based REX, and Brisbane’s Richards & Spence.

As a world-class commercial space, this tower will include a wellness centre on one floor, a lap pool, childcare facilities, cafes and restaurants, an auditorium, facilities for events and celebrations, communal rooftop space, and outdoor terraces on every level.

Photo Credit: Artist’s Impression/Development Application/BCC

“The proposal will promote the clustering of business uses and promote an increase in the intensity of uses within the CBD. Furthermore, the development effectively promotes Brisbane’s vision as a new world city by providing a unique and noteworthy addition to the city’s skyline and specifically seeking to achieve the outcomes of the Buildings that Breathe Design Guideline,” the planner, Urbis, stated in the development application (DA A005493795).

“The development offers a mix of uses and diversifies the offering of services within the CBD which also supports the intent and purpose of the Principal Centre Zone and city centre area.”

“To assert both the subtropicality and wellbeing focus for 205 North Quay, a full tower floor will be dedicated to wellness, which will be inclusive of an extensive end-of-trip offering, exercise studios, healthy eating offerings, consultation suites and a 25-metre lap pool overlooking the Brisbane River,” Nielson Properties’ Director, Ross Nielson, said.

The new building is also aiming to achieve 6 Green Star rating and 5.5 Star NABERS Energy rating as the designers have incorporated efficient use of natural light, compounded by LED lights and sensors, to reduce energy costs.

Cbus Property’s Chief Executive Officer Adrian Pozzo said that this is a “unique opportunity” to create a trailblazing office tower with the workers’ health and wellbeing in mind because of the impact of COVID-19 on working spaces.

The developers have submitted DA A005493795 in 2020. The application is currently under appeal, pending minor changes.

Why This Milton Property Attracts Multiple Offers On Auction

A block along Milton Road recently went on an auction and has drawn huge interest from locals because of its unusual feature: it comes with a telco tower that will give the new owner an opportunity to earn as much as $50k a year.

Read: Polonia in Milton Secures Loan & Donations to Keep Historic Landmark

It was the first time in 47 years that the property, located at 278 Milton Road was listed on the market. Agents handling the sale of the property described it as an “outstanding investment opportunity,” as it has a Telstra lease which increases each year until the lease expires in 2033.

LJ Hooker Brisbane City and Colliers Brisbane revealed it was the first time they sold a property with a telco tower in it. The unusual auction held in September 2021 has attracted more than 50 inquiries a week prior to the auction.

Photo credit: https://brisbanecityres.ljhooker.com.au/

Based on the listing, the 1955-sqm property consists of blocks of units with ample on-site parking with two street access, one from Milton Road and one from Nerida Lane. It’s situated within 2km of Brisbane City and is within walking distance to Suncorp Stadium, Ferry Terminal, Bus Stops, and other amenities.

Still, the drawcard of the property is a significant opportunity to improve and increase income. It has a total gross income of over $170,000 and annual 6% fixed rental increases.

Hosting a Mobile Tower on Your Property

Hosting a telco tower on your residential property can be a good way to generate income. Based on industry estimates, the average rental rate of telco towers ranges from $100 per month to $100,000 a year.

Whilst it’s guaranteed to increase your income, it’s worth noting that it will come with both pros and cons.

Telco property experts suggest getting help when it comes to reviewing the lease from a legal perspective. There are a few legal issues to consider when hosting a telco tower on your premises, including lease negotiations, environmental due diligence, and general lease administration.

Enjoy Stress-Free Christmas Shopping and Support the Cause of the AKF

Are you eager to kickstart your Christmas shopping activities to avoid the rush? The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is spreading the cheer and igniting the Christmas spirit with a special shopping event ahead of the holidays.

Everyone is invited to check out the items for sale at The Australian Koala Foundation shop on 40 Charlotte Street, at the building’s basement level. Happening on Thursday, 21 October 2021, from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., the shopping event is a way to raise more funds to protect the koala habitat. Proceeds of this event will go directly back to the foundation.

Score some great deals among the hundreds of gift ideas that will be on display. Those who stay longer may get a chance to win amazing door prizes.

“It’s a lovely evening and makes shopping for Christmas gifts stress-free and enjoyable,” said AKF Chair, Deborah Tabart OAM, of the Christmas shopping event.

“This year has been difficult for everyone, but this night presents an opportunity for our team to connect with our generous supporters and extend a thank you for the support they have given us throughout the year.”

“To thank our supporters for being a part of the AKF community we will be offering beverages and delicious nibbles for our extended trading hours,” Ms Tabart said.

Patrons who won’t be able to attend, however, may still support the event by shopping online.