Dave & Amy Spanton, the workforce behind Australian Bartender journal, have introduced plans to open The Hook, their third venue in Sydney’s Kings Cross. This brand-new oyster bar will be a part of Piccolo Bar (which opened in 2021) and Vermuteria (which opened in 2023), all inside strolling distance of one another.
The Hook is slated to open in Might 2024 at 13-15 Bayswater Highway, which was previously Izgara Restaurant. The workforce is delighted to be bringing oysters again to Bayswater Highway, recalling the heyday of Bayswater Brasserie and its iconic freshly shucked oysters.
What else to anticipate? Dave can’t wait to overtake the positioning which has superb bones and “the one horseshoe bar” that he is aware of of on the town. Count on retro vibes and a rejig of the basic oyster bars of New Orleans and San Francisco. “There can be a number of oyster twists, nautical design parts, coastal whiskies, beer, Champagne and naturally, basic cocktails,” says Dave.
It’s an even bigger endeavor than Piccolo and Vermuteria, with some 250 sq. metres of flooring area. To assist get it off the bottom, Dave has as soon as once more assembled an esteemed workforce of hospitality professionals. He’s once more the artistic driving pressure behind the venue (as he was with Piccolo and Vermuteria), driving the idea and look of the bar from the bottom up.
Dave had his eye on the positioning for some time. “It’s an incredible location proper within the coronary heart of Kings Cross with each inside and out of doors seating,” he says. “It will likely be the right place to take a seat and luxuriate in some oysters freshly shucked for you proper on the bar, a couple of ice-cold martinis and stay jazz piano tunes.”
“It will likely be the right place to take a seat and luxuriate in some oysters freshly shucked for you proper on the bar, a couple of ice-cold martinis and stay jazz piano tunes.” – Dave Spanton, Proprietor, Spanton Hospitality
As soon as once more, knowledgeable design and construct can be within the fingers of Michael Delany (who labored on each Piccolo and Vermuteria and has current design gigs like The Abercrombie on his resume). “With this design, I’m very completely satisfied to be utilizing a very romantic inexperienced all through the venue,” says Delany, including, “As you realize, oysters are well-known for his or her capability so as to add energy to the love act, so this can be an incredible venue for lovers. The oyster bar inside the venue can be a magical grotto, an ideal spot to spend the night time.”
Jay Cozma, former long-time GM of Baxter Inn, helps to streamline the construct and operations. Jay brings years of expertise in service, operations and construct to the operation. Jay is admittedly excited to be part of the venture as he wraps up his six-year stint with Swilhouse. He says: “The scope of this venue will actually convey a really distinctive providing to Sydney, very like Piccolo and Vermuteria have executed. Assume good quaint drinks and hospitality with a give attention to recent oysters, ales and Whisky!”
“The scope of this venue will actually convey a really distinctive providing to Sydney, very like Piccolo and Vermuteria have executed. Assume good quaint drinks and hospitality with a give attention to recent oysters, ales and Whisky!” – Jay Cozma
Rounding out the workforce is Michael Drescher, who can be on board for front-of-house coaching throughout the group. With the third bar, Dave’s spouse, Amy Spanton, will focus extra of her consideration on the hospitality aspect of the enterprise (whereas persevering with her function because the Managing Editor of Spanton Media), taking over the Operations and Advertising function.
The workforce are excited to open Tuesday to Saturday in Might 2024. Observe @thehooksydney for updates.
