Redfern Surf Club has officially opened its doors, offering a slice of sunny surf club culture at the bustling intersection of Botany and Henderson Roads.
The new venue is the brainchild of Yannick Maslard – former GM of The Cliff Dive and Oxford Art Factory – and pairs a classic and fun drinks list with an inclusive, unpretentious approach to service.
The concept guiding RSC is the local club, whether it be a bowlo, RSL or surf club, where all are welcome to pull up a stool.
“We built the bar we all wanted to hang out in,” says Maslard, speaking for an extended family of hospitality professionals and friends who have chipped in to overhaul the heritage-listed space, once home to a bank and more recently a chicken shop.
“We want it to feel like a backyard barbie at your mate’s place that might turn into a house party at any minute,” he adds. “The whole idea is for everyone to feel at home and have a good time.”
The drinks selection is headlined by ‘Can Cocktails’, described as a “soft drink can that has taken a stroll through the mini bar”. Classics like the Dark & Stormy and Mojito have been given a local twist, while a handful of ‘Old Faithful’ cocktails will also feature seasonally.
Grifter Pale Ale features centre-stage as RSC’s house beer, while the rest of the taps will champion local breweries like Batch, Wayward and Akasha – with an eye to one-off collaborations and limited release beers sometime in the future.
Rounding out the list is a selection of natural wines curated by Sam Fitzsimmons of Melbourne’s Act of Wine, focusing on the team’s favourite Aussie producers – from fun and easy-drinking varieties to more complex styles.
Combined with surf-centric photography, a pool room, an old-school TV playing cult surf flicks, and even a taxidermied Ibis watching over the bar, RSC aims to stir up memories of lazy summer holidays – all in the landlocked inner city Sydney suburb of Redfern.
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