Bone Idol marks one year in business with bold ambitions to double its brewing capacity

The past year has been a wild ride for the team behind Toowoomba’s newest live music venue, but the popular watering hole has a plan in place to grow in 2025.

Bone Idol host a tropical-themed first birthday party (from left) Chris Janetzki, Ben Cheesman, Anthony Smith, Al Ferguson and Mickey Berry, Saturday, November 9, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The past year has been a wild ride for the people behind Bone Idol Brewery as they balanced rising inflation and a tough business climate with their passion for throwing a good party and supporting live music.

That hard work was celebrated with a birthday party at the CBD venue on Saturday.

“It has been a tough year for everyone,” operations manager Chris Janetzki said.

“Perseverance is the biggest thing we have learnt.”

The downtown venue is an offshoot of The Paddock and The Plate. It is part sports bar, part brew house, with a stage in the middle for musicians to belt out a few numbers.

Earlier this year, the venue took out the Hospitality award at the Business Excellence Awards, which Mr Janetzki said brought a huge boost to morale.

Regulars Bill McGee (left) and Aiden Magaina get behind the tropical theme of Bone Idol's first birthday party, Saturday, November 9, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“That was big for us,” he said.

“We have exceeded our expectations, and everyone seems to love the bar and love the live music.

“The ticketed events are selling really well – we had a few sold-out shows.”

The past year has seen the likes of Ben Lee, the Whitlams and Frente perform to huge crowds.

“I am about supporting local artists as well,” Mr Janetzki said.

“We had local band Liar Bird performing on Saturday, they were our first band, and as soon as we said we were having a birthday party they said they wanted to play.”

Looking forward to the second year, the business has ambitions to double its brewing capacity after buying up the Four Brothers beer making equipment after it closed its Margaret Street venue earlier this year.

The plan is to move all brewing operations, which are currently at The Plate, to an off-site location.

“We are going to keep pushing the envelope and taking risks,” Mr Janetzki said.

“We are selling cans to a few places, when we catch up on brewing we will start selling wholesaler, but we need to do it slowly.”

Originally published as Bone Idol marks one year in business with bold ambitions to double its brewing capacity