By now everybody should know the saga of Young Henry’s. There’s been enough coverage in the mainstream media for everyone with a passing interest in beer to have gotten wind of it. The original site for the brewpub/restaurant on Devonshire Street in Surry Hills, near Sydney’s CBD, was part of an existing dispute between the landlord and residents of the quieter, more suburban street. The application ultimately got knocked back, and owner Richard Adamson (formerly of Baron’s Brewing) has moved the whole operation to the inner west suburb of Newtown. Although the process set the opening date back a good seven months, final approval is in the hands of the local council, and beer production set to start in the brewhouse this week.
The next chapter of the saga is about to be written.
Unlike most historical sagas, according to Adamson, his trials have fed into a more positive story, with the move to Newtown having many advantages; two of his brewery staff are Newtown locals, while he himself lives a short bike ride away. More crucially, there has been none of the antipathy from local residents that they encountered at the original planned site.
“All the locals have been really supportive,” Adamson says. “I think the street’s really cool, and it’s a pretty good vibe. I think it suits us better here.”
The original plan had been for a brewery/restaurant with somewhat of a fine dining atmosphere, but the plan has been altered to include a menu consisting primarily of smoked, barbecued meat. Adamson explains that the original concept has undergone quite a lot of evolution, in part because of the move, but also just the general evolution of an idea from conception to implementation.
“I think when we were first planning, fine dining was more the sort of vision we had,” he says.
“But the more I thought about it, I thought well, it doesn’t matter what walk of life you’re from, everyone loves beer and barbecue. It’s a great social leveller.”
The concept of barbecued meat, and supportive locals, takes on an interesting twist when you notice that across the industrial compound from Young Henry’s is a yoga studio housing a vegan cafe; not the immediate logical choice for a good neighbourly relationship, but Adamson states there has been no animosity between them.
“We’re sort of the yin to their yang,” he says. He is upbeat when he explains that there have been discussions of the differences in their outlooks, but ultimately there is no objection.
All things going to plan, Young Henry’s will begin selling their beer within three weeks. To begin with, the beer will be sold in a couple of forms: through 2-litre Growlers on site, and kegs to be distributed to various local venues. At this stage, Adamson is intending to keep the operation local, but if there is interest, there may be plans to expand beer distribution interstate and beyond.
There is plenty of beer choice on the way to keep punters interested. When the bar is properly set up to serve patrons, Young Henry’s will have eight beers pouring at any one time, including two hand-pumped beers. There are plans for four regular pours – a natural Kellerbier-style lager, a ‘real’ English ale, and a darker beer that will alternate between a brown ale and a heavier stout for the Winter months, as well as a cloudy English-style cider.
Adamson says the name, Young Henry’s – which is named for his first son – is appropriate: Henry being a fairly traditional name, and their philosophy being to do fresh, new spins on traditional styles.
Aside from the regular range, Young Henry’s plans to make room for a range of seasonal beers – including a ginger beer, witbier and Vienna lager – plus two ‘guest’ beers from other brewers, and what Adamson is currently calling their ‘beer geek’ range, where they plan to experiment with more extreme beer styles. It’s enough to make a beer enthusiast salivate in anticipation.
Located as they are just a five-minute walk from the famous Enmore theatre, Young Henry’s really seems to have landed on its feet. In the middle of one of Sydney’s most frequented suburbs, close to public transport, shops and restaurants, the environment seems ripe for a lot of commercial interest in the bar and restaurant, and for enjoying the beer that they will be producing.
For now, there is merely the matter of waiting for the natural turnover period for beer production, and the slightly longer, more bureaucratic waiting period before they can open for a sit-and-drink experience. After that we can wait and watch for the next chapter to be written in the saga of Young Henry’s, and an exciting new chapter to open in Sydney’s beer history.
Richard Adamson has got it wrong, again. There is strong opposition to his plans from local residents, some of whom live just metres away from his planned cafe/pub for 90 patrons, with operating hours until 11 every night. But he wouldn’t know because there has been no community consultation at all about the location of the brewery (passed by the State Government) or cafe/pub so close to residences. Residents were not officially notified by Marrickville Council, which has yet to meet to consider his DA, and only found out by accident near the deadline for submitting a response. Many residents from Wilford Street and Gladstone Street have now submitted
detailed concerns. If he gets the green light it will be a real indictment of Marrickville Council’s probity.
Using a business park as the setting for a pub would be the second, third, fourth best but obviously young Richard is running out of options. However he is no more welcome in our neighborhood than he was in Surrey Hills.
As a long-term resident in the street that Richard has supposedly befriended I can attest that none of the locals has expressed any support for the stealth venture. We simply don’t understand why, given the abundance of pubs and other venues in Enmore road just a hundred metres from the business park we should suffer the unwelcome presence of a pub that no longer even tries to live up to the originally declared aims of fine dining.
On another note – my cat caught yet another rat this morning. I am afraid these will multiply in an area that is low on elementary cleanliness. This will only get worse with Young Henry. They will go out of business in six month, why the disruption and the waste is beyond me.
This has been talk of the town for weeks! We’re really looking forward to Richard’s new business and securing our first growlers.
Richard, if you read this, know that there is huge support awaiting you here in our home of Newtown!
Hi Merilyn,
I have met with you to discuss your concerns. I have also met with many other residents. Thus far your’s has been the only dissenting voice. The common thread has been overwhelming support for both residents and other business owners. The DA was advertised and we paid the council for notification. The door is always open to discuss further. I haven’t heard from you in the months since we sat down in your front yard to chat.
Regards,
Richard.
As a beer fan a short walk away, I can’t wait!
I live next door and will be buying the first growler! I know the husband and wife who have posted below are trying to kick up a fuss but there are certainly in the minority..
Yay! A brewer for Newtown!
I live next door to the proposed DA. Richard has never done me the courtesy of introducing himself. I am opposed to the DA for several reasons. proposed truck deliveries, I have major concerns about the amount of cigarette butts that will be dropped, and beer bottles, and fast food rubbish. There are several bars in close walking distance on Enmore Road, so there is no room for another establishment such as this. The noise generated by 90 people will be intolerable in a residential area. I have never received any notice regarding this DA from Marrickville Council. There is certaily opposition to the DA.
Hi Penny,
Please feel free to contact us through facebook, twitter, our listed telephone number or drop into the brewery. I’m more than happy to discuss the application with you and clear up some misconceptions.
Regards,
Richard.
I will drop into the brewery on Monday.
Living in a back row of eight units at 2B Gladstone Street our bedroom windows will be literally 2 metres away from the Beer Cafe’s exterior walls. I can see with up to ninety patrons in the building drinking and socialising well into the evening the amount of noise created would be problematic. Along with all the other associated problems that go along with licenced premises.
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> I would assume that the proposed licensed premises will be non smoking & then patrons will have to gather outside to partake in a social cigarette, which again will have person gathering outside, again with raised voices and in most instances will have little regard to residence in the very close proximity to the proposed licensed premises.
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> The other issue that then comes to hand is those patrons who have over indulged with their alcohol and food. If you have patrons becoming involved in scuffles outsides as they are leaving or being removed from the premises, it again raises issues of disturbance to neighbours.
> Again with those who have over indulged. I frequently have to step of vomit on Enmore Road and King Street Newtown during the weekend or on a Monday morning, plus we have those who chose to urinate on the street. All of these issues now occur on the busy bustling Enmore Road & King Street’s & will be brought into a high density residential area if this type of premises was approved.
Issues with cut and paste Brett?
Issues with civility Simon?
I am with Merilyn, Ogi, Penny and Brett, and they certainly are not the minority. Our street is full of homes of hardworking families who do not need any more problems with limited parking, noise, rubbish and security. We will be present at the council meeting.
So excited to have a quality venue opening locally!
Is this on the same street as a metal scrapyard?
NIMBY cry-babies. Suck it up.
I too am concerned about the .,noise pollution ,swearing ,well i swear myself ,but i mean loud screaming drunken rages fighting ,urinating and shouting ,we all know that Australians cannot handle their booze,thats why this country is practically a Nanny state ,we have to be held by the hand even when we try to drink a beer,
But i have to say that a quality brewery ,and i mean “quality” does sound enticing ,if the products were ground breaking ,i am very critical of Australian beer ,All the Australian beers that i have tasted ,and i do taste a lot with the exceptions of A FEW ,There is one beer occasionally sold at the tap house ,a Belgian style ,Made in Australia ,but a bit lighter with just the right amount of bitterness fairly dry ,and NOT the typical fruit cake sweet flavour most Ausi CRAFT beers taste like .This particular beer is a real rarity
If his dark beer had the quality taste finnish and balance of say a samuel Smith Taddy Porter ,in my house ,we drink a fair amount of Different alcohol ,we know all the good bars in Sydney we enjoy going out and having a quality alcohol experience ,
So we do not want some ware house producing some foreign nock off with mediocre quality and flavour,EVEN IF IT DOES COME IN A GROOVY BOTTLE ,but if the beer was Exceptional quality and the establishment offered good service if ,the establishment compromised with the locals and offered well trained help full and polite security at all times this would help the Newtown economy and that is very important ,
Newtown is really the last remaining True High street in Sydney City ,if this can add to a quality experience for visitors i think it would be quite good , but if this establishment does not do the right thing by the locals ,then the council should, MUST ,Retain the right to kick them out on their arse at very short short notice.
The Council needs to be clever with well crafted contracts ,to protect its well paying rates Citizens and itself .
If you want peace and quiet, why on Earth did you move to Newtown? Less than one block from Enmore Road and the Enmore Theatre no less! Same goes for Surry Hills. It’s called Inner City for a reason. I for one am happy there will be a place where people from the community can come together and share a locally made beer. I’m sick of rowdy pubs with garbage on tap a crap coming form the kitchen. A bit of civility in my drinking hole, that’s all I’m after.
Well Richard it seems you aren’t the only dick in the neighbourhood, sorry couldn’t help it.
Good luck with the venture, I look forward to having a quiet ale and taking away some growlers.
Cant wait for another great place to go out in newtown. Im a bit shocked at the amount of people against this place. Newtown been a cultural hum for decades and has a great vibrant music and social culture.
Im sick of all the yuppies who move here for the cheap housing (before the boom) and then try to get the businesses that make newtown unique shut down. They should move to the north west where there is no life.
more good pubs with good beer are always welcome
The beer is pretty good actually and if you bring the growler back (its recycled) you get a discount on your next one. It’s a local for me and I get beer there I can’t get anywhere else.
Also the staff are really friendly as well. It’s nothing like the whiners are making out, it’s a nice relaxed, chill place to just hang with a good vibe. Newtown has always been trendy, maybe the naysayers and blow-ins should move back to Lindfield or the North Shore and leave use to enjoy a unique spot.
Fantastic that the Newtown area manages to keep coming up with new, innovative, exciting ideas for people who like to go somewhere a little different. What a great place! Certain to become an institution!