Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham, the people behind the Mary’s Group have won the tender process to reopen The Basement in Sydney and will be bringing live music back to the iconic venue.
The pair have already demonstrated their live music credentials at The Lansdowne, which was named as the Live Music Venue of the Year at the 2018 Australian Liquor Industry Awards.
Smyth said reopening the venue is an important part of invigorating Sydney’s nightlife and he was excited about Mary’s helping with that.
“We love our city, and are extremely excited about bringing a fat slice of Mary’s slap bang into the middle of the action. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, inhabited by some of the most talented folk in the world. Sydney 2019 is glorious and we are all about celebrating that fact.”
The pair said that guests can expect a wide variety of music at the venue with rock n roll, blues, whacked jazz, bluegrass, hip hop and electro all having a place at Mary’s Underground.
As well as the live music aspects of the venue, Smyth and Graham wanted to bring something special with the food offering and so it will be a “two-speed” venue, with a fast casual bar serving burgers, beers and fried chicken upstairs and a more intimate and involved restaurant downstairs.
Graham said one of the exciting new things being brought to the table “is the slant in the direction of plant based foods on the menu”.
He added: “The kitchen set up will also reflect this respecting people’s choices in terms of how they choose to eat. Mary’s will always continue to be inclusive of all choices, without losing their direction of delicious, fun, indulgent food and flavours.”
The pair also want to bring something special to the venue in terms of its drinks offering and as such there will be a large focus on Australian alcohol alongside a fully natural and sustainable wine list.
One of the great successes of Mary’s Underground has been the continual support from AMP Capital and their recognition of the importance of live music for the CBD.
On this, Luke Briscoe, Managing Director of Office and Industrial at AMP Capital said: “Following a competitive tender process, we are thrilled to welcome and partner with Mary’s Underground to 7 Macquarie Place. As experienced operators with a strong track record in The Unicorn, Mary’s and The Lansdowne, Mary’s Underground is set to revive this iconic Sydney Venue with the next generation of great food and live music. This is a great outcome for both music lovers of Sydney and for our clients.”
There will also be some renovations in the venue, although the original bar will largely be untouched, the upstairs bar will be revived, a new wine bar added and the stage will be moved from the centre to the left.
