*** THIS VENUE HAS NOW CLOSED ***
Every Christmas you meet up with friends for a drink and dissect the year that was. At the end of the sprawling afternoon you say ‘We must meet up more often. Not leave it so long.’. Then, before you know if, it’s November and you’re looking for slots in the calendar. I’m striking whilst the iron is hot and have started scheduling in catch up drinks with friends. Not big drinking sessions that stretch long into the evening but catch ups over a couple of hours on a regular basis.
First stop on the catch up calendar was InCider Trading.
The bar isn’t that big with a few wine barrels and some stools inside and a sneaky little courtyard with more barrels and stools, out the back. There’s an extensive wine by the glass list and you are also welcome to select a bottle from the racks on which you pay an additional corkage fee. Much better value than the huge mark ups in most bars. Drinks on tap rotate, with two ciders and two ginger beers on the evening we visited, including one with chilli for extra zing. More ciders by the bottle are stocked in the fridge including this delicious 750ml bottle from France for $25. Happily, there was not a Dirty Granny or Strongbow to be seen.
Part bottle shop, part bar, it’s hard to categorise. The licence is for wine and cider only. So no beer or spirits. They have a cellar packed with an eclectic mix of wines including some gems such as Rockford Basket Press. Anthony described it as ‘Visiting your grandfather’s cellar after he had died and discovering what he’d been hoarding.’ There is no food so you are welcome to bring your own or order from the Chinese restaurant next door and they’ll deliver. How often do you see this? I felt a bit odd turning up with a box of biscuits, a wheel of brie and a plastic knife but the staff could not have been happier for us to munch on our own snacks. What an interesting place this is.
After a few happy hour glasses of cider and perry as well as the aforementioned Domain Dupont, we battled through the Chinese New Year crowds to our bus stop. All done and dusted by 7.30pm. We waved
goodbye and I called out that I’d already selected the venue for our next catch up. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t be catching up with your friends also – life’s too short.
*** THIS VENUE HAS NOW CLOSED ***
InCider Trading
153 Wickham St
Fortitude Valley Qld 4006
https://www.facebook.com/InCiderTrading
I love this place too!
I knew you would. Right up your alley. Great that they have plenty of newbies to try on a regular basis too. Hey Shannan – if you read this comment, send me an email (at the top) so I have your contact email. Thanks.
Hope you got my email. S
Hi – yes I did thanks. Will be in touch. xx
This sounds a wonderful idea – I wish there was something like this around here but it seems that food is the way to make money so there's barely a bar or pub nowadays that just serves drinks of whatever nature.
You're absolutely right about catching up with friends. With some of our friends, the only way to make sure we meet regularly is to organise the next meet-up while we're
It's the only place I've ever been to like this. It's obviously do-able licensing wise but your right, most venues are obviously in it for the $$ they can make from food. I hope it does well and is open for many years to come. Thanks for your regular comments Anne – I very much appreciate it.
Bummer…where did that comment go?
As I was saying… Sounds great Fi. And the idea of taking along a few of your own nibblies is an interesting one too.
I hope Anthony won't be disappointed if he ever has the opportunity to raid his father-in-law's 'cellar'…but first, he'll have to wade through the junk to find it. :~}
It was a funny comment he made!