Game on – Ballers Clubhouse is coming to Fortitude Valley
An iconic Fortitude Valley site will soon be reborn as a two-level, 600-capacity experiential wonderland. Ballers Clubhouse is set to open in the heart of Brisbane’s party precinct in February next year, promising cutting-edge games technology, a sports bar, karaoke, food and drink, and much more. Here’s what we know …
The way Australians socialise is changing, and few people know this better than Joshua Lefers and Stephen Wools. The hospitality veterans have seen firsthand how tastes have changed over more than a decade in the industry, and at every opportunity, they’ve sought to meet – and, at times, anticipate – evolving demands
Josh and Stephen are the brains responsible for Ballers Clubhouse – a competitive socialising concept that packages entertainment, food and drink, and function amenities into a large-scale, immersive experience.
A few years back, Josh and Stephen announced the Brisbane expansion of Ballers Clubhouse, which the duo founded in Melbourne in 2020. Since then, the crew has opened Pawn & Co (a party destination that’s part nightclub and part luxury pawnbroker) on Ann Street, adding a novel element to Fortitude Valley’s after-dark offering.
Now, the crew has finally announced the location and opening date for Ballers Clubhouse Brisbane, which is set to open in the former King of Kings site on Monday February 1, 2027. The $5-million project will span two levels, featuring interactive games and entertainment, and is expected to employ 100 hospitality staff as the venue scales up.
“This is the best venue we’ve ever produced and the most ambitious thing we’ve ever done,” says Joshua. “Everything we’ve learned since 2020 is in this building. We’re not testing Brisbane. We’re planting a flag. We intend to lead this category in Australia and we’re very happy for everyone to know it.”
Once open, groups will be able to compete across a range of games, all powered by Good Times Tech. These high-tech games include classics like darts, ping pong and shuffleboard (all camera-tracked, so there’s no competitive exploits), while ball pit karaoke offers the chance to belt out some certified classic hits. A private penthouse level upstairs has been designed to accommodate functions, from corporate takeovers to private events.
On the food and drink front, Ballers Clubhouse will pour gamified cocktails, while guests can hit up the on-site eatery – Posh Nosh Kitchen – for food and drink in between games. The venue will also house its own dedicated sports bar, equipped with two large LED screens airing all major sporting fixtures, from State of Origin to the Super Bowl.
When it comes to the venue’s interior overhaul, the Ballers Clubhouse team is working with Space Cubed on the design and Lowry Group on the fit-out effort.
Subscribe for updates“Some buildings you renovate. This one you resurrect,” says Joshua. “King of Kings fed this city for three decades and then sat dark. The Valley has always reinvented itself, and we’d much rather be the next chapter of a building people already know than another box on a strip.”
Ballers Clubhouse arrives at a pivotal moment in Brisbane’s evolution. In addition to bolstering the city’s nightlife offering ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ballers Clubhouse responds to changing drinking and dining trends by offering an experience-led outing designed, first and foremost, around play.
“We want to be the most fun venue on the planet,” Josh says. “That’s not a tagline, it’s the brief. Brisbane is the closest we’ve come.”
Ballers Clubhouse will open to the public in February – stay tuned for updates over the coming months.
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