Papa Js, the Little Parrot and The Blind Bear lodge changes with Sutherland Council

The popular venues have weathered the pandemic and bad weather and are now hoping proposed changes to their bars and restaurant will give customers even more reason to visit.

There are exciting new changes planned for three Cronulla bars and eateries if their applications get approved.

Sutherland Shire Council will determining development applications for Papa Js, the Little Parrot and The Blind Bear after plans were recently lodged.

The popular venues have weathered the pandemic and bad weather and are now hoping the changes to their bars and restaurant will add something to new - and existing - customers coming to Cronulla.

Josh Metcalfe owns a small cocktail bar Papa Js on Cronulla Street, with Brooke and Carl Jensen, who also run Cronulla’s Summersalt and Kareela’s Jensens.

Josh Metcalfe, co-owner of Papa Js in Cronulla, is excited to have a DJ, if approved, to play live 50-70s soul rock music at the small cocktail bar. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

He said the bar had been open for about a year and now wanted to include a DJ in-house.

“Paps Js opened up last year in April and we had 12 great weeks before we were shut down for five months due to Covid,” Mr Metcalfe said.

“We did takeaway cocktails which got us through and paid the rent, with our landlord also being good to us.

“Summer was a bit weird with the second wave of Covid over Christmas but now people are going out again.

“We are back to normal now and have hit our stride.

“We have been running for a year and we have proven we are not affecting the community adversely.

“We are a tame, quiet and civilised venue with no noise complaints or disturbances so we would like to introduce a DJ.”

The bar has a “small city vibe in the shire” with cocktails, food and good music. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Mr Metcalfe said the venue had a “small city vibe in the shire where we create awesome cocktails, great food with good music”.

The bar can accommodate 120 people but they seat about 75 people in comfy, beautiful lounges and chairs, along with stools.

The bar has a huge cocktail list of up to 60 drink options and it changes regularly to provide variety, with every drink “an experience”.

Mr Metcalfe said the DJ would play the same music as they do now, which is 50 to 70s rock, soul and funk but on vinyls.

“That will create a different vibe and feeling by playing vinyls. We have a DJ who specialises in that genre,” Ms Metcalfe said. “It won’t turn into a nightclub.”

The bar currently has an in-house sound system that has limited decibels with down facing speakers and the double glazed glass so the noise is reduced.

Mr Metcalfe encouraged people to come to the bar in the colder months because it had a nice, cosy vibe with a fireplace, and especially once the DJ was hopefully approved.

Meanwhile, another popular bar, The Blind Bear, is seeking council approval to extend its trading hours to 2am and the lockout time to 1am.

The Blind Bear, also on Cronulla Street, has been a staple of the night scene in Cronulla since 2013.

The atmosphere of the bar is reminiscent of an American style whiskey saloon.

The bar is usually open until 11pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and until 12.30am Friday to Sunday.

Little Parrot restaurant in Cronulla is expanding into an adjacent shop space where they will offer pizza. Artist impressions supplied

Further down in South Cronulla on Ewos Parade, Little Parrot owner Stuart Spillman wants to offer something fresh and different for new and existing diners.

The Little Parrot restaurant has been there for eight years, and two shops down there is the SixSmith coffee shop which has been there for three years .

The space in the middle of the venues has remained vacant for 15 years and Mr Spillman believes the expansion will tie the three premises together.

“It is a pizza option within the restaurant. It will be a sit down, walk up to a service area atmosphere where there is wine and cocktails, ordering of food and there is outdoor or indoor seating,” he said.

“We are trying to create a different scenario to the full table service of the current Little Parrot, but the other area will have customers come up to the service area with food and drinks dropped to the table.”

Mr Spillman said a roof would come over the top, but can be retracted for the warmer months, with heating outside for the colder months.

Little Parrot restaurant will have an outdoor and indoor space. Artist impression supplied

There will be a dome pizza oven, with share plates of antipasto and smaller dishes great for group settings on offer.

“Outside of the Nun’s Pool, we are the only other restaurant apart from them in South Cronulla down from the train station on that side,” Mr Spillman said.

“It is a nice little area, and the three rows of shops need to be completed and it will provide a different offering.”

Mr Spillman said if the green light was given from the council then he hopes to have the new part of the business running within three months.

The proposed fitout will allow for a range of dining options for future customers of Little Parrot Lane, the development application said.

Little Parrot restaurant expansion will include decorative gates. Artist impression supplied

This will include outdoor dining for 30 people and indoor dining area to accommodate 10 people.

The fitout also includes the kitchen, bar, pizza oven, new windows and decorative work.

Additional works are also proposed to erect additional floor area at the rear of the restaurant area to facilitate three toilets including one accessible toilet.