Bid to raise bar in city

A BOUTIQUE bar could soon pop up above an award-winning restaurant in central Hobart. The team behind the popular Lark Distillery has proposed a new bar above acclaimed restaurant Franklin. Australian Whisky Holdings has submitted a development application for a new venue focusing on its Forty Spotted Gin brand — being poured by Lark Distillery bar supervisor Andrew Barclay.

THE team behind the popular Lark Distillery have proposed a new bar for its gin brand above an award-winning restaurant in central Hobart.

Australian Whisky Holdings, which owns the Tasmanian whisky brands Lark, Nant and Overeem, has submitted a development application to the Hobart City Council for a new venue focusing on its Forty Spotted

Gin brand.

The boutique bar would be located above acclaimed restaurant Franklin in the former Mercury building on the corner of Macquarie and Argyle streets.

“As the [distilling] industry continues to grow, it is leaving an ever-growing footprint on the Tasmanian tourism landscape,” says AWH head of hospitality Daniel Knight in the development application documents. “More and more people make their way into our venues each year to discover more about Tasmanian spirits.”

During the day, the space would be used for a “gin blending experience” and at night, the bar would feature premium spirits and handcrafted cocktails. “As a destination venue hidden away from Hobart’s main hospitality strips, this bar will give visitors a chance to experience hand crafted drinks away from the hustle and bustle of Salamanca,” Mr Knight said.

“The gin bar will highlight Tasmania as a destination, with projected videos and images of the Tasmanian landscape and the use of fresh Tasmanian produce.”

The development application will be publicly advertised for comment until December 16.