SERVING UP THE BEST FOR SOUTHPORT
THE owners of Southport’s newest venue are aiming to reinvent the suburb as a dining destination to rival Burleigh’s James Street.
Percy’s co-owners Ben Howe and Arran Woollams said they opened the restaurant and bar to “bring something unique to the suburb while promoting its historical significance”.
“Southport is the Gold Coast’s hidden gem which often gets overlooked,” Mr Howe said.
“It does kind of have a bad reputation, but there’s a surge of young people who are doing really cool things in the area to change it up and give it a different reputation.
“A lot of young people are moving here and we just wanted to do something really cool.
“If we didn’t do it no one else was going to do it,” he added.
Percy’s pays homage to Percy Raby, Southport’s first Queensland Ambulance Superintendent.
The space — next to the original 1922 Southport Ambulance building — is an extension of Mr PP’s in the former Postmaster building, which was built in the late 19th century.
“The fit-out and the style is reflective of the time period with marble bar tops, a timber back bar, old brick and exposed timber and a cocktail menu to match — absinthe, old fashioneds and your true classic cocktails,” Mr Howe said.
The restaurateurs said they decided to take the downstairs space out of Mr PP’s, which they also own, and make it “its own special thing”.
“When you create a different offering it creates something new for people to explore,” Mr Howe said.
“There’s really great restaurants throughout Southport – and then here is a place that offers something different that you would probably find in the Sydney CBD.”
The modern Australian menu at Percy’s is designed for sharing.
A range of single-malt whiskey, wine and cocktails has been chosen to pair with oysters, caviar, fresh sardines and ocean trout.