IT’S difficult to believe it has been just two years since The Edwards opened and steered Newcastle dining in a new, and definitely hip, direction.
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Much has happened at The Edwards since former Silverchair bass player Chris Joannou and two of his mates – cafe owner Chris Johnston and interior designer Tim Leveson – worked around the clock to transform the 660-square-metre Parry Street warehouse into a cafe, restaurant and bar.
Cavernous and yet warm and welcoming, the industrial warehouse setting on Parry Street was a breath of fresh air when it opened on February 7, 2014, in the previously neglected Newcastle West precinct.
The venue has hosted album launches, a zombie gathering, a pop-up record store and countless themed parties. Design students and graduates meet there on Tuesdays to share ideas, and Harry Callinan has added some much-needed flavour to Monday night dining in the city with his US-style firepit barbecue. And then there’s the monthly Sunday night shopping experience, The Impossible Market, held in the adjoining space known as The Garage.
The Garage is now fully licensed and will this month host sustainability workshops with local businesses Feedback Organic Recovery and Urban Hum. Also, there are now three beehives on the roof of The Edwards, encouraging bees to return to the city and use the trees, shrubs and flowers of the west end neighbourhood to produce fresh honey.
On Sunday, The Edwards will celebrate its second birthday with the launch of a self-service, coin-operated laundromat and old-school record shop. Run by vinyl veteran Chris “Dunny” Dunn, The Shop, as it is known, will stock an array of pop culture items, prints, books, movies, art and clothes.
“What we stock will be dictated largely by the consumer. If there is something that you are after, just ask me to get it in and I will – it doesn’t matter how weird, over or underground it is … and stay tuned for our cult movie night,” Mr Dunn said.
The Coin-Op is a self service coin-operated laundromat with industrial-sized washers and dryers. On opening day the service can be used for free. Hand-stencilled canvas laundry bags – and a free middie – will be on offer from Feral Brewery, and house-marinated chicken wings will be sold by the pound.
“We encourage people to use the space for community events. The Edwards is proud to be a part of the exciting revival of the city’s west end. We want to continue being a positive, functional and inclusive addition to the neighbourhood,” The Edwards’ Joella Tilley said.
