By Sacha Delfosse – bars&clubs editor
Bat Country, a new small bar inspired by legendary writer Hunter S Thompson, will open up its doors in Randwick next week.
The owners of the bar – Collin Perillo, Tim Dengate and Aidan Morrison – have designed the venue’s layout to reference and pay homage to some of Thompson’s most loved works including The Rum Diary, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Hell’s Angels.
This includes Harley Davidson engine chains used to suspend shelves, motorbike headlamps used as light fixtures and Puerto Rican-style corrugated iron roofing and décor.
In addition, various aspects of Thompson’s life have also been incorporated into the venue including toilets designed to look like they belong in the writer’s famed Owl Ranch, deer antler light fittings (in reference to his love of hunting) and copies of 1970s Rolling Stone magazine pages used as wall paper.
Fittingly, the bar sits on the site of a former pharmacy, the old signage from which has been incorporated into the back bar. There is also outdoor seating and a patio in the back as well as a custom built kitchen that will be serving ‘rustic Americana’ dishes.
“There will be lots of focus on ethically produced and sustainable foods," said Perillo.
“The cocktail list will have around sixteen drinks which will change every four months and will be tequila, rye and rum driven. We will also be using many of the drinks that Hunter S Thompson was known to enjoy such as Chivas Regal, Wild Turkey, Chartreuse as well as absinthe and mezcal."
Perillo said there were various reasons why the team decided to open the bar in Randwick, but one of the main ones was that although the area has a similar demographic to neighbouring Bondi, it lacks good places to go for a drink.
The bar team will also include two bartenders from London, ex-Milk & Honey general manager, Manuel Alvarez Gonzalez, and Fabrizio Thiella, formerly from The Lanesborough.
Bat Country will operate seven days a week from 7am to 12pm and is located at 32 St Paul's St, Randwick.