Nightcliff pizzeria Lucky Bat looks to expand to new CBD alfresco venue

A popular northern suburbs pizzeria is looking to expand into Darwin’s CBD, with an application lodged to set up a demountable venue on a vacant lot.

A POPULAR northern suburbs pizzeria is looking to expand into Darwin’s CBD, with an application lodged for Lucky Bat to set up a demountable venue on a vacant lot.

The application lodged with the NT government’s planning notice board would see the Nightcliff pizzeria add a second base at 15 Knuckey Street, opposite Tamarind Park and the Johnn Johnn’s ice creamery.

An application for the new store, which includes about nine tables with about 42 seats, would see a new venue established by the same owners of Lucky Bat to be run from a shipping container and a large coolroom.

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Lucky Bat owner Justin Schmidt said the success of the venue in Nightcliff and the outcry for more alfresco dining in the CBD had led to the application.

“We propose to create an up-market venue targeting the professional and the urbane who are seeking a quality outdoor dining experience.

“This proposal is based on the successful Lucky Bat in Nightcliff, which we conceived, built, and now run: we wish to bring Lucky Bat’s energy and ethos of good fresh food to the city.”

Mr Schmidt hopes the venue will help bring life to the city, opting to base the demountable on the back of the lot opening onto Nuttall Place rather than onto a main road.

“With a public entrance from Nuttall Place, a minor street, we want to encourage people to find us in an underdeveloped part of the city,” he said.

“This proposal wants to be a part of the city’s rejuvenation, adding an exciting element to Darwin’s dining options – to develop an al fresco dining garden restaurant in the heart of the Darwin CBD.”

While the traditional primary pedestrian access is from Knuckey St, the active street frontage to the site, we propose providing pedestrian access from Nuttall Place as well.

“This will create a natural linkage between the streets, something the planning scheme is keen to encourage.”

Jakub Mach as Lucky Bat turns a vacant property into new venue. Picture: Glenn Campbell

But the new venue won’t just offer pizza, looking to add another element to Darwin’s food scene.

“We propose to have an outdoor fire kitchen with both an Argentinian grill and a large masonry oven,” Mr Schmidt said. “Fire-grilled meats, along with the proper curing, allow chefs to present sophisticated barbecue.

“The varied tapas menu created out of the fire pit will deliver exciting and creative food, as not currently available in Darwin.”

Mr Schmidt said his team hoped the proposal would help his growing business, and Darwin’s night and food scene, thrive.

“It will provide both the citizens of Darwin and its innumerable visitors with a novel, classy dining experience.” The plans are open for exhibition until midnight on Friday June 4.