We say goodbye to one of Newcastle's most innovative bars
We are sad to say that Roxanne has closed its doors. Here's what the team had to say about the closure -
"It’s been a wild ride but unfortunately it has come to an end. Roxanne is closing its doors. To all of the regulars, the staff, the DJs and musicians, and everyone who came in. We really appreciate you all."
Thanks from the Roxanne crew
Melbourne has long been a source of inspiration for those in the food and bev world. Many an excuse has been made to visit the southern city and draw on its culturally rich restaurant, cafe, and bar scene, and that’s precisely how the seed was planted for Roxanne, Newcastle’s newest small bar.
On Saturday, September 21, the doors to 73 Hunter Street will open, with owners Tim Moran, Jake Blenman, and Jacob Flynn (Flynn) alongside their dedicated team welcoming guests to their beloved Roxanne.
The team have plowed hundreds of hours into getting the architecturally beautiful building back into shape, with Tim sharing the background story of how Roxanne came to be.
“A group of my friends would often come down to visit me in Melbourne, when I was living there. I’m originally from Newcastle but lived in Melbourne for about 20 years. Each time they visited we’d go around to some of the really nice cocktail bars and we were always saying ‘why don't we do something like this in Newcastle?’.
Tim’s years of experience as a venue manager at Revolver Upstairs, Chapel Street’s nightclub institution, sparked the bar idea with Jake who was working at the Prince of Merewether at the time,
“I mentioned the idea of opening a bar with Jake, because I needed a buddy to do something this large, and he was like, ‘I'd like to get in on that’”.
Jake then enlisted Flynn, then Lauren and Laurie, resulting in the coming together of a hospo super group destined to do great things.
“When we first started looking we wanted a small bar space, but couldn't find anything that worked for us. Then this came up. I was hesitant at first because it's quite big, and starting from scratch when it’s your first bar could be expensive, but we just fell in love with the building, and once we came in and looked at it, we were like, this is it.”
An extraordinary amount of work has gone into renovating and reimagining the space, and whilst a number of bars have come and gone over the years at 73 Hunter St, you get the sense Roxanne is here to stay.
So what can you expect when you visit Roxanne?
The service is what’s going to set Roxanne apart from its neighbours, as Tim explains,
“We want Roxanne to be somewhere you can come and sit and relax in. Our staff will be on the floor serving you at your table, you can of course buy a drink at the bar, however our point of difference will be our restaurant-level service.
On entering Roxanne, it’s the extraordinarily high ceilings that initially grab your attention, quickly followed by the refined interiors. The seating preferences are varied, from antique style lounge chairs to bar stools, you can either perch yourself by the window or slide into a cosy nook, ensuring a spot for all occasions.
Aside from the interiors, Tim also notes Roxanne will very quickly become known for its exceptional cocktails and unique food offering.
“The cocktail menu is pretty incredible and the food menu is equally amazing. Chef Nathan has brought in his own dry aging fridge so you can expect dry aged salmon and beef together with some unique Australian ingredients such as lemon myrtle, and wattle seed. These flavours also cross over into the cocktail ingredients.
When it comes to the food it's definitely a shared vibe, even the mains are presented in a share style format, so everyone at the table can experience a variety of Nathan’s talents.
Behind the bar you can also expect the same level of attention to detail and commitment to flavour,
“The bar team is really experienced and passionate. They live for bartender life, and have been here all week extracting herbs into liquids and clarifying cocktails. That's the sort of thing we're doing here.
“The short list of signature cocktails we’ve created are works of art and feature flavours such as cinnamon myrtle, and rosella flower.”
The drinks menu also features plenty of Australian wine and whiskey with Tim explaining everything they could source locally they have, along with selecting some international favourites.
Roxanne brings to Newcastle a new type of bar experience, one that displays the team's commitment and passion for food and beverage, along with an exceptional standard of service that you’re sure to enjoy!
