Chalky’s, Brookvale: Combined pool hall, restaurant, cocktail lounge and sports bar set to open
What do you do with a big, old wedding function centre? You turn into a combined pool hall, restaurant, cocktail lounge and sports bar with karaoke. That’s what one hospitality entrepreneur is doing on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Manly
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A unique entertainment venue that’s combining a pool hall, restaurant, posh cocktail lounge and sports bar — with karaoke — is set to open on the northern beaches.
The former Valentine’s wedding and function centre, above Mimmo’s Pizza on Pittwater Rd, Brookvale, is being transformed into Chalky’s.
It’s the brainchild of Nick and Lexi McDonald, the founders of Bucketty’s Brewing Co, the popular microbrewery bar and eatery in nearby Orchard Rd.
As well as six pool tables, the new 600sq m venue, with its vaulted ceilings, will boast the biggest high-definition TV screen on the beaches at 14m long.
Nick joked the screen will be so big, patrons will “need to wear sunscreen” when they’re watching their favourite live sports events.
The venue will have 16 beer taps — with Bucketty’s beers alongside options from other local independent brewers — and a 3am liquor licence, seven days a week. It will open from 3pm on weekdays and midday on weekends.
For those wanting a bit more luxury – the “fancy pants” – as Nick described it, Valentine’s wine and cocktail bar will pay homage to the old wedding venue and will operate on weekends initially when the venue opens later this year.
The bar can be booked for private functions for up to 120 people, while budding singers will be able to book private karaoke rooms to belt out their favourite numbers.
A head chef has been working on the menu featuring “shareable” offerings.
Nick and Lexi have leased the building, which also spent a bit of time as the Label nightclub in the early 2020s, to “bring something new” to their growing band of customers.
“I’m a big believer that nothing stays the same, you’re either growing or dying,” Nick told his supporters on the Bucketty’s website.
“And if we don’t evolve and adapt, I’m worried that I’ll slowly turn into one of those old exhausted hospo dudes that work 100 hours per week.
“And as proud and I am for what we’ve achieved at Bucketty’s, we’ve hit a ceiling.
“There’s only so many people that can fit inside our walls and it’s becoming harder to curate events and constantly bring something new to the space.
“Having a crack at a second venue should fix all that.”
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