Popular CBD bar set to live on with new owner
A PASSIONATE wine connoisseur will be the new face behind one of the CBD’s most popular small bars.
Hospitality veteran Ross Stevens will take over The Conservatory on Lake St from Jay Tweedie and Callum O’Brien from March 14.
Mr Stevens is a wine sales representative and has worked at Palm Cove’s Sea Temple but got his taste for the fermented grape juice at McGuigan Wines’s cellar door in the Hunter Valley wine region.
“I’ve always like The Conservatory,” he said.
“I’ve been in hospitality forever and have worked in wine extensively and the timing was just right to buy the bar.
“A mutual friend of ours mentioned Jay and Callum wanted to sell so I got onto them about it.
“I’ve been around the Cairns hospitality track a fair bit and I have been talking about owning my own bar for quite a while.”
In fact, Mr Stevens was in discussions with teachers Kerry Carrington and Jan Warnock, who opened The Conservatory in 2014, when they were looking to sell in 2017.
He said he would keep much of the drinks menu and vibe the same and gradually bring in some of his own changes.
Freelance designer Mr Tweedie and hospitality professional Mr O’Brien said they had always planned to own the bar for “a few years” and then move on to other creative projects.
“We’ve got a few things on the agenda we want to do – a few more creative things,” Mr Tweedie said.
“Everyone here has been so supportive of each other.
We’re not going to take on another venue though.
“We were just happy to close down and move on but then Mr Stevens came along and wanted to take over.”
The pair paid tribute to their patrons on social media.
“We’ve had such a bloody blast hanging out with you all over the last 2.5 years and we can’t thank each and every one of you enough for the continued support we’ve had over this time,” they said in a post on Facebook.
“We hope you’ll be able to join us for our last night or pop in beforehand, and will continue to support Ross as we hand him the keys to what’s been ours and your cosy little home away from home.”
The Conservatory Bar became one of the best spots in the city to indulge in a grazing board full of cheese, fruit, crackers and other goodies while indulging in top notch wines, cocktails and whiskies.
Mr Stevens, Mr Tweedie and Mr O’Brien will host a simultaneous farewell and welcome party on March 14 to ring in the new era for the business.