Why the BYO restaurant is making a comeback in Brisbane

Bringing your own alcohol to a restaurant was once an Australian tradition, and now the trend is making a return. We tell you why and reveal Brisbane’s best BYOs.

The BYO is back! Restaurants that allow customers to bring their own alcohol are enjoying a popularity boost according to industry insiders, with patrons keen to save money as cost of living pressures bite.

Restaurateurs are reporting the number of diners hunting out BYO venues has boomed in the past few months, coinciding with interest rate rises and inflation pressures.

Arvid Noack owns Brisbane’s Le Coin in Red Hill and Haig Rd Bistro in Auchenflower and said he had witnessed a considerable increase in customers inquiring about the midweek BYO wine offering at both his venues.

Harry Davies, Arvid Noack and Selma Pourbaix at Haig Rd. Bistro. Picture: Richard Walker

“I think it’s a big drawcard these days – it has definitely increased,” Mr Noack said, who charges $17 per bottle corkage.

“Maybe they’re picking venues where they can bring their own wine and save a little bit of money.”

While he said his small restaurants didn’t have the space to store a large inventory of alcohol, he believed offering BYO gave his venues a point of difference and also helped fill seats during traditionally quieter weeknights, with locals happy to dine if they could save dollars on wine.

“On a Friday and Saturday, they don’t mind spending money on wine, beer and cocktails, but during the week they’re a bit tighter.” he said.

There are now also more BYO choices for Queenslanders, with the number of venues offering bring your own alcohol increasing each year, according to Restaurant & Catering Australia.

Zahra Askary from Bamiyan restaurant in Camp Hill has also experienced a boom in customers as more people look to BYOs to save money.

Her venue doesn’t charge a corkage fee because it’s against her Muslim religion to profit from alcohol, and she said the lack or surcharge was proving a huge win for the restaurant.

“It’s a great way to bring more customers is to not charge corkage,” she said.

“Some people charge $4 per glass but I won’t get benefit from that $4, I will get more benefit when people come in a big group and bring their friends.”