Leonards Bar & Bistro and the laneway bar Dawn will open at the old Urbane restaurant site

FIRST PICTURES: Two new bars will open this month in the former site of an acclaimed Brisbane city diner.

A national education group that specialises in hospitality training will open a new bistro and a bar in a Brisbane CBD venue that once housed an acclaimed restaurant.

Allara Learning has a five-year lease on a two-level character building at 181 Mary Street which was once occupied by Urbane restaurant and Euro bar.

While Allara Learning will kick off courses on the top floor in May it will open Leonards Bar & Bistro on the ground floor on Wednesday, March 24 and the laneway bar Dawn, with entry from Spencer Lane, the following night.

Burger with a difference at Leonards Bar & Bistro.

Allara chief executive Andrew Lewis said the openings were timely considering how the hospitality industry was “decimated” a year ago when the sector was shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s been a struggle managing everything and we had to adapt quickly with the border closures,” he said.

“But we’re back at full flight now. This is our first venue in Brisbane and the only hospitality venue in Australia run by Allara.

“We’re looking to replicate this up and down the eastern seaboard. We just want to get the first one right, get it open and then we can actively look for other sites.”

Some of the food on offer at Dawn.

The building has had a total refurbishment while still retaining the original exposed bricks and Leonards will have a classic old-world burgundy and gold vibe while Dawn’s aesthetic will be a fresh take on a Riviera inspired bar.

The Leonards menu is a take on a nomadic Mediterranean philosophy, with dishes inspired by the flavours of Spain, Italy, France and Greece, with also a bit of a Pacific influence.

Leonards will also operate an accompanying all day cafe deli menu and the bar snacks menu at Dawn will draw from the same philosophy as Leonards.

Leonards Bar & Bistro at 181 Mary Street in the Brisbane CBD.

Dawn patrons will be able to enjoy their drinks in the back laneway which features a striking outdoor wall mural. The two venues will be separated by a glass door and between them will accommodate up to 200 patrons.

“There’s more to come later in the year with an underground private dining room planned for Leonards and a private bar overlooking Dawn, both of which will be available for private functions,” Mr Lewis said.

Dawn at 181 Mary Street in the Brisbane CBD

Allara, which also has offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Townsville, provides on-site and online training for around 3000 students, 700 of which are in Brisbane.

A former publican who also had a stint at CBRE in Sydney as the manager, commercial and pub division, Mr Lewis said Leonards and Dawn were another pillar of the business.

“All of our pillars complement each other,” he said.

“We do training for clients from entry level up to management. We do work in the community where we give people skills to get jobs and we also have an online business were we do micro learning, like how to pour beers make a gin and tonic and compliance issues.

Allara Learning chief executive Andrew Lewis.

“Now we have the live venue that complements all three of those. We have staff downstairs when there are positions available give our students practical skills.

“We will be running a live training venue upstairs in office for people wanting to get into the hospitality industry and will also use to venue to create our micro training videos.”