The guys behind Mary’s Group have been planning to open the rooftop at the Lansdowne Hotel since they reopened the iconic live music venue in 2017.
Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham were eyeing a spring opening but with staff out of work, and the Lansdowne unlikely to be viable until Live Music is re-introduced, the boys brought their plans forward, opting for a raw and ready approach to the opening.
“It’s always been sitting there, taunting us with its proximity and promise. Now with the world gone crazy, we figured we would match that craziness by opening a fucking venue in the midst of the COVID mess,” Smyth said.
“This is about celebrating what we have to share with a world sorely in need of a good time. We have a lot of sun in Sydney, we have a fucking rooftop, and we have the best fucking burgers in the world. Put them together with some beer or a bottle of vino, and we aren’t solving the crisis- but we might just stick a smile on some our staff and our punters at the same time.”
Sydney’s sunshine was definitely an inspiration for the boys, as Graham pointed out.
“When you consider that Sydney has day-time averages above 17c for the entirety of fucking winter, and a total of 17 days of rain out of 90, it is pure insanity to think about the severe lack of roof-tops being used as prime social and cultural spaces,” he said.
And as for opening a new venue in the midst of a global pandemic lockdown, Graham adds: “Being the positive little bunch that we are, and the fact that we like to do things to the beat of our own irregular drum, we are not only reopening closed venues, we’re also adding a little kicker and opening a brand new piece of the puzzle which we know will be a great asset to the inner west and allow us to dream positively about the future whilst we gaze whimsically at the stars, literally.”
The Lansdowne rooftop opened on Thursday and the boys warned punters not to expect bells and whistles, “expect beers n burgers (both Mary’s + Vegan alternative) on a roof in our glorious city”.
Mary’s is also offering 30 per cent off food across all its venues until tomorrow, Newtown, Circular Quay, Castlereagh St, Melbourne, Mary’s On Top, and the offer will be available for sit in, takeaway and Deliveroo.
Graham added: “This is a time for our community to come together, especially when we’re being kept apart. This discount represents our understanding, resurrection and hope. If we all share in this moment, we will come back faster and stronger.”
Mary’s On Top is open now and the venue is completely weather dependent, so be sure to check their socials and website for daily updates on opening hours.
