Chippendale: Prison-themed cocktail bar with theatrical experience planned for Chippen St

Jailhouse on the rocks, please. A prison-themed venue is on the cards for inner Sydney suburb where patrons can expect to don orange jumpsuits, be handed a pretend criminal record and be served contraband cocktails.

More than 11,000km from Alcatraz, Alcotraz is coming to Chippendale.

A prison-themed cocktail bar is planned for Chippendale where patrons can expect to be served contraband cocktails from inside a mock cell.

Inventive Productions has lodged a development application with Sydney City Council to open Alcotraz: Immersive Cocktail Experience at Chippen St, at a cost of $157,157.

The 100-capacity venue draws inspiration from historic correctional facilities and plans to deliver an original drinking experience.

Inventive Productions director Sam Shearman, who lives in the United Kingdom, said introducing a venue to vibrant Sydney would add value to the city’s cultural fabric.

“It would bring together local artists, performers and mixologists to showcase Sydney’s diverse talent while creating jobs and collaborating with neighbouring businesses,” he said.

What the inside of the venue would look like, if approved.

Mr Shearman introduced Alcotraz eight years ago in London and said back then there was a rise in themed venues, but he grew frustrated when the theming halted at the decor.

“Having a bartender or server ask about my day or if I saw the latest sporting news took away from the theme,” he said.

Patrons embrace the London venue.

“I truly wanted to be in an environment in which every touch point was considered and added value to the theme and overall narrative.”

One of the founding principles for Alcotraz was to ensure patrons are “immersed within our world” from the moment they buy the ticket to the moment they leave the venue, Mr Shearman said.

To create a prison-like experience, guests would be encouraged to register to receive a pretend criminal record with “the Department of Justice” before attending.

“Inmates” would then don provided orange jumpsuits at the venue and meet the crooked Guards of Alcotraz, who will give guests a steady flow of high-quality contraband cocktails from inside their cell and a storyline.

Inventive Productions director Sam Shearman.

Your contraband cocktail has been served.

The cells will contain a bed, metallic stools and a decommissioned toilet. Guests will be offered a range of creative “missions” to complete, such as helping to craft an escape plan and find missing pieces of a map.

Inventive Productions recognises there are harsh realities faced by real inmates and has partnered with Innocence Project London charity to provide funding to help ensure wrongfully convicted individuals can access their services.

The first Australian venue arrived in Elizabeth St, Melbourne last year.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]

Originally published as Chippendale: Prison-themed cocktail bar with theatrical experience planned for Chippen St