Brand new fine dining and rooftop bar venue Anelay boasts beautiful views and all new experience

Townsville’s new rooftop bar Anelay is set to give customers their first taste this weekend

The Strand’s new rooftop bar will serving ice cold beers and popping the champagne for the first time this weekend.

Anelay, the brainchild of Burdekin sports stars Shane Muspratt and Shaun McCarthy, will soon offer four dining menus under one roof, as well as an in-house gelataria and rooftop bar.

McCarthy, who’s been involved in Townsville’s dining industry for years, says seeing the latest venture come together has been incredible.

“It’s delightful to see it all together. It’s been three years in the making for us. I’m overwhelmed. I couldn’t be happier.”

The development, which features a downstairs restaurant and cafe which caters to a variety of different palates, is something McCarthy says will set the project apart in terms of scale.

Anelay Opening

“We’ll be opening the restaurant next weekend. It’s a staged process for us at the moment. We’ve got 35 chefs and four kitchens. It’s a lot of training.”

Asian fusion, rustic Italian and modern Australian seafood will number among the dishes being plated up through the establishment’s variety of casual eating options.

Operations manager Sarah Ward says while the task appears daunting, everyone involved is thrilled to be a part of Anelay.

“It’s an amazing venue to be in. We’ve got beautiful views all day. We’ve hired about 80 staff members. They’re energetic, new people who are keen to give back to the community.

“It is a daunting task, but we’ll take it one step at a time. We’ve got a great team. There’s been a lot of energy and effort already.”

In addition to a dedicated area for children, the restaurant is aiming for a family-friendly atmosphere that McCarthy sees as a fitting addition so close to his own hometown.

“Having been all over the world and lived in Europe for eight years bringing an offering like this in our own backyard is very satisfying,” he said.

While patrons won’t get to sit down for a bite to eat just yet, they’ll be able to explore the upstairs bar from midday on Sunday.

“Sunday, we’ll open the rooftop bar to the public from 12 to 8. Then, from next week, we’ll be open all nights. It’ll be full swing the week after,” McCarthy said.

The venue will also be bolstered further in the days ahead, with a seven storey apartment block in development on the block behind.

Originally published as Brand new fine dining and rooftop bar venue Anelay boasts beautiful views and all new experience