Strut & Fret raises the curtain on its new West End bar and eatery, Intermission
The team behind The West End Electric has lifted the curtain on Intermission, a theatre-inspired bar and eatery where champagne, charcuterie and cocktails bookend a night out. Inspired by old-school theatres, hidden bars and Parisian bistros, the venue invites guests to dip in before a show, linger afterwards or simply stop by for a glass of wine. Think of it as an intermission – not just in the performance, but in your day.
As Strut & Fret has evolved from an independent theatre production company into a multi-faceted creative juggernaut, the team has found itself extending beyond the stage more and more.
These days, Strut & Fret is often called upon to generate full-scale festival experiences and events in addition to touring its beloved creations. That’s why, when the street-facing hospitality premises next to Strut & Fret’s Brisbane theatre, The West End Electric, closed, the team felt uniquely suited to take it on.
“We’ve done a lot of festival precincts where we have to run cocktail bars and food things, so it’s not like it wasn’t in our wheelhouse to do this,” explains Strut & Fret director Scott Maidment.
“There was an old fried-chicken joint that was derelict for about six months, so we went, ‘Well, this isn’t good for business. Let’s try to expand what we’re doing.'”
Enter Intermission, Strut & Fret’s glam new bar and eatery. Enlisting the help of long-time collaborator and production designer James Browne, the team devised an identity that would complement The West End Electric’s vintage, velvet-accented decor while also standing out on its own.
The resulting aesthetic pays homage to London’s West End theatre district and the bistros and wine bars of Paris. A striking gold floor crafted from thousands of hand-thrown gold flakes is offset by dark wood panelling, soft white chiffon drapes, an assortment of eclectic vintage furnishings and theatre posters. A secret door connects Intermission to the theatre, allowing for express entry into The West End Electric before the curtains raise.
“James’s inspiration was old-school theatres, hidden bars and supper clubs,” says Scott, who explains that Intermission is envisioned as a flexible venue where theatregoers and West End revellers can pop in and out as they wish.
“What we want to do is curate the experience for the whole night. Come and get a drink, have a snack, see a show, come back out, have a chat about the show, have a late-night cocktail – we’re making a whole experience, rather than only doing a part of it.”
With that in mind, Scott and the Intermission crew have fashioned an offering that follows the evening. Intermission’s drinks list is described as showstopping and decadent, with signature cocktails like the Choc Top Martini, Popcorn Sour and Malt-Pleaser underscoring the venue’s showtime inspirations.
Classic cocktails and spritzes are also available, as are a selection of aperitifs (headlined by Dave Verheul’s Saison range), an ever-changing range of tap beers, and a tight wine list.
“You might start with a glass of champagne or, if you stay a little bit longer, there’s a whole heap of orange and natural wines,” says Scott. “Then for the late-night kick-on we’ve got a wide range of tequilas and we’re doing a whole range of picklebacks.”
On the food front, Intermission’s menu features Spanish and French influences. You’ll find charcuterie plates (piled high with sliced-to-order wagyu bresaola, prosciutto, mortadella, smoked pepperoni and sopressa), tinned fish with focaccia, Yarra Valley Caviar with potato pavé, gildas, empanadas, truffle-cheese toasties, sliders and more.
While only open for a few weeks, Intermission has already been abuzz with punters visiting before and after the theatre (there’s even been a Baz Luhrmann sighting), as well as locals looking to soak up a bit of Boundary Street’s unique atmosphere.
“We’re getting the real kind of drop-in crowd that comes down in the late afternoon,” says Scott. “Then the theatre crowd comes, then post-show, and then we get a late-night crowd from people coming out of the restaurants.”
“I say that we have the theatre behind us with The West End Electric, but also the theatre of the street that you get here in West End. I really feel like it’s still one of the most colourful suburbs of all of Brisbane.”
Ultimately, everything about Intermission – from its design and drinks list to the way it fits into the rhythm of Boundary Street – is built around the same idea. Rather than asking guests to settle in for hours, the venue is intended as a place to pause, reset and then continue on with the evening.
“The whole point is that it’s not just an intermission in the show,” says Scott. “It’s like an intermission in your day. It’s not that you spend your whole night there. It’s just a little place to take a little respite from the rest of your day.”
Intermission is now open to the public – head to The Directory for more information.
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.