Your Mates Brewing to open second venue with bowling green in Cooroy

A booming Sunshine Coast brewery’s second venue is further proof the team is on a roll. See how they’re planning to merge craft beer with bowls.

Your Mates Brewing co-founder Matt Hepburn wants to revitalise traditional bowls clubs with new venue.

A successful Sunshine Coast brewery is opening a new “cowboy”-style venue at the Noosa hinterland, with a bowling green twist.

Your Mates Brewing at Technology Dr, Warana is opening a pub with a bowling green, Your Mates BowlsPub Noosa, along Opal St, Cooroy in early January after taking over the property’s restaurant, Saw and Mill.

Co-founder Matt Hepburn said the new venue will breathe life into a traditional bowls scene by offering lawn games, barefoot bowls, and family entertainment.

“There’s a bit of a pandemic with these places closing down across Australia,” he said.

The brewer said the beautiful, yet under-utilised space would feature live music and trivia nights like their first venue, but with a rustic, “cowboy” aesthetic with pool tables, classic pub meals, spirits and beer on tap.

Your Mates Brewing to open second venue in January. Picture: Supplied

He said one of the biggest differences between his venues will be that the new one will have airconditioning – a warm welcome for his punters.

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Mr Hepburn said he had been searching for a second venue, looking as far as the Gold Coast, but landed at Cooroy partly because it helped him dodge the staffing crisis as he could staff the venue with existing crew.

“It’s close enough to manage and far enough to appease the community up north,” he said.

Partners Matt Hepburn (foreground) and Christen McGarry of Your Mates Brewery pictured during the Covid-19 pandemic when they offered a drive-through service. Picture: Patrick Woods

He said the bowling green was a huge drawcard, and that they could be the first in the country to mix a brewery with bowls.

“It’s pretty unspoken of,” he said

His brewery took over from Saw and Mill earlier this month after the existing restaurant had occupied the place for about four years.

Saw and Mill, previously the site of the Cooroy Bowls Club, opened in February, 2018, and kept the existing bowling green.

A post on Saw and Mill’s Facebook said it was sad to close its doors but wished the new owners the “best of luck”.

Mr Hepburn said he had taken over the old venue‘s lease, and was now looking at purchasing the property.

Originally published as Your Mates Brewing to open second venue with bowling green in Cooroy