This Newcastle East restaurant and bar celebrated its 5th birthday this year – that’s right, The Falcon Bar & Restaurant, brought to you by Mike and Brendan has been serving up their signature drinks and smoky American food since 2018.

To signify such a feat, we caught up with Mike & Brendan to hear about how business has been, what they’ve got in store for the festive season, and exactly what their future plans are for the biz – did someone say new venue?

It’s been five years since you opened in our East End – overall, how has business been?

It’s been amazing doing our thing in the East End for sure. We love it. The people are eclectic, the place is easy and you know it’s good vibes in general (especially if the sun is out). It’s been a great time.

It’s been a tough last couple of years, but you know – it just gives us an opportunity to look at what we are doing and adjust if need be. Bring something new to the table if needed.

Are you still loving being a part of the Newcastle hospitality scene?

Absolutely! You have your moments; you might even have your weeks – but the good times outweigh the bad times. I sound like the eternal optimist; I guess you’ve kind of got to be these days.

You’re partnering with W.I.R.E.S. to donate $2 from every cocktail sale up until the end of Christmas – can you tell me how this came about?

We just have a big love for native animals, they are so unique and they are endangered by fires, drought, and just crazy weather patterns relating to our warming planet. We just wanted to do our small part and bring it to people’s minds. The native animals in this country get a very rough trot and I personally want to help.

In the interest of keeping it simple, $2 from all cocktails sold will be forwarded to W.I.R.E.S. We will run this till Christmas. We have a great little new cocktail, the Bush Baby, which is a tasty little blended number on ice. We dipped into Archie Rose’s bag of goodness for the backbone of this little summer hit – it will stay on the menu and will always be a cocktail that we donate $2 from each one sold.

Speaking of the menu – what other highlights would you recommend people taste testing over the spring/summer period?

Well, drinks-wise - the Bush Baby is awesome; Archie Rose True Cut Vodka, house-made lemon and basil shrub, fresh strawberries and lemon…blitzed with ice!

Also, I’m going to let the cat out of the bag so to speak. We are dropping a Grifter X Falcon American Pale Ale this weekend and we are so excited (The Ship Inn gets a beer too!). It is a big honour to do a Grifter beer, we are really one of the first, if not the first venue to be given the honour outside of Sydney and they are really a great little business. Come try some on us on the 17th of November!

Food wise, we have a new dish in the Shrimp Etouffee’ with fresh prawns, in-house chorizo sauce, rice, and beans. Delicious! All the favourites are still there too, burgers, nachos, schnittys, wings, and jambalaya. It’s all good!

Do you have any big plans for the business?

We will just keep doing our thing, we are back to Uber Eats (the people need burgers) and we will just be there for anyone who needs a ‘fix ‘er-up’ - you know a Bloody Mary or beer!

Plus, we’re working on another project in beautiful Carrington. Well, after 12 months of red taping, we are almost ready to finish the fit-out. We know will bring it all together and wrap it up for all of you guys. It’ll be a cafe/diner vibe, offering breakfast and lunch, in the same handwriting as the Falcon and Ship Inn.

Coffee first, simple menu, maybe even some health thrown in!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Thank you to all the customers we’ve had in the past and welcome to all those who are yet to visit, we’re only small – but we can hang!

I’d like to add to please support small biz. There are so many creative and uniquely Newy businesses that are putting it all on the line daily/weekly. Go out there and support them, if you like what they do.

Don’t be complacent, they might just close up one day (man, I miss Covered in Crumbs).

And one more thing… A farewell to our employee, Paige – thanks for your five years of killer service – we’re proud of the young lady you’ve become!

Drop into the East End venue this Summer and get around their signature menu, enjoy the iconic Falcon vibes, or order a round of Bush Baby cocktails and give back to W.I.R.E.S.