Sherwood Magpies AFL Club scores Fair Play gastropub by Iconic I Group

From Melbourne’s Crown Casino to the Brisbane suburbs, a pair of Indian immigrant mates have formed our newest hospitality group. 

Owners Urvik Bhalani and Reagan Nongkhlaw, Fair Play Kitchen, Chelmer. Picture: Liam Kidston

Sherwood’s newest local boasts an origin story that could have been written by the very wordsmith its owners are inspired by, full of unwavering friendship, dedication and trust, complete with a journey across the seas.

Fair Play Kitchen at the Sherwood Magpies Australian football Club, is the third Brisbane venue by mates Reagan Nongkhlaw and Urvik Bhalani, who together immigrated from India and were sponsored to work in the kitchens at Melbourne’s Crown Casino in the early 2000s.

From there the duo hustled and parted ways, each going on to open their own venues across Melbourne, all the while keeping in touch.

But in 2018, after Bhalani and his scientist wife Jessica Liebig relocated to Brisbane for her work, he knew he wanted to bring a touch of Melbourne’s hospitality vibes to the Sunshine State, so reached out to his old friend Nongkhlaw.

Fair Play Kitchen, Chelmer. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Urvik called me and said he had moved to Brisbane and he wanted to start a new business and asked if I would move here too, so I came to see it myself and loved the weather and then the next move was to look for the right business and its kept going from there,” Nongkhlaw said.

The pair then opened their first cafe, Method to the Madness in Kenmore, followed by the since-sold To Be or Not To Be cafe in Westlake, both Shakespearean-themed, and on Wednesday they opened the doors to their newest venture, and first gastropub, Fair Play Kitchen.

The pair also recently developed hospitality group Iconic I, which Nongkhlaw says is representative of their heritage and their philosophy in their venues.

“Iconic I group is guided by a Sanskrit phrase ‘atithi devo bhava’ which translates to ‘guests as divine’, and that is what we do, we treat guests to our existing and all future venues with respect and empathy, and foster meaningful connections,” Nongkhlaw said.

“We treat them not just as a transaction, but so much more than that.”

The pair describe Fair Play’s menu as “pub food done really well”, and features hero dishes such as Moreton Bay bug risotto, whipped cod roe and mushroom ragu pappardelle.

Fair Play Kitchen will also be operating the football club’s canteen and functions room, and the pair is excited to hone their offering before football season kicks off in March.

Doors open from 6.30am Wednesday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and breakfast and lunch on Sundays.