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Function Well Has Arrived in West End, and It’s Unlike Anything Else on Brisbane’s Southside

Function Well has opened its West End flagship, bringing a $15 million, four-level wellness hub to Brisbane’s southside that combines 24/7 training, five boutique studios, a full recovery zone and an on-site Turkish café under one roof for the first time in the brand’s history.

The West End location, which opened its doors on Monday 27 April, is the most ambitious project yet from founders Darren and Natasha Bain, who have spent more than 16 years shaping Brisbane’s fitness and wellness landscape. Their original Function Well opened in Newstead, where it still operates across three levels in the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct.

A second location at Toombul was lost to the 2022 floods. West End is the fresh chapter, and at 3,000 square metres it is built to be the definitive expression of everything the brand has been working toward.

“Function Well West End is our most elevated offering,” Darren Bain said. “We set out to design a premium, high-performance environment that brings together our four pillars, mindset, movement, nutrition and restoration, to support total wellbeing for our members.”

Four Levels Built Around Yin and Yang

The philosophy running through Function Well has always balanced intensity with stillness, effort with recovery. That yin and yang approach shapes how the West End space is designed, with high-performance training zones on one side of the member experience and a genuinely luxurious restoration offering on the other.

The training side covers a 24/7 gym floor alongside five custom-built boutique studios offering reformer Pilates, a heated immersive yoga room and functional training sessions. The space is also an official HYROX training club, making it one of Brisbane’s primary destinations for the global fitness racing movement, which combines eight kilometres of running with eight functional workout stations.

The recovery side is equally considered. Members move between a sauna, hot and cold plunge pools, compression boots, massage therapy, red light therapy, a Recovery Cave and private recovery suites. It is the kind of restoration offering that previously required a dedicated day spa visit, now built directly into a gym membership.

A premium business and social lounge gives members a third mode entirely: a space to linger, connect, or catch up on work after training.

A Turkish Café Completes the Picture

The nutrition pillar at West End takes the form of Sureyya Kahve, a nutrient-led Turkish café from the team behind KAILO Wellness Medispa. The café reinforces what Function Well has always argued: that food is not a footnote to a fitness routine but an integral part of it. The presence of a full café operator of this calibre on-site signals that West End is designed as a destination, not just a gym you pass through.

“We’ve always believed in a holistic approach, where community and results sit at the core of everything we do,” Bain said. “What excites us now is bringing that philosophy to a new level within a true all-in-one lifestyle destination. Our team is incredibly proud and excited to officially open the doors and welcome the West End community into something truly unique.”

Visit Function Well West End

Function Well West End is at West Village, 97 Boundary Street, West End. Membership options are available at here. Follow Function Well on Instagram for class schedules, studio bookings and member updates.

Published 30-April-2026

West End’s Award-Winning Aizome Bar Launches New Tasting and À La Carte Menus

Aizome Bar, the 10-seat venue on Montague Road in West End named Gourmet Traveller Bar of the Year 2025, has introduced new tasting and à la carte menus as part of an updated food offering at the bar.

Read: A Year of Pride and Performance at West End Bar Come to Daddy

The menus are designed to provide a more flexible entry point into the +81 dining philosophy, the concept that underpins both Aizome Bar and its adjoining omakase restaurant, Sushi Kappo. The bar format allows guests to engage at their own pace, whether through drinks only or a fuller dining experience.

The food program is overseen by Chef Ikuo Kobayashi, who also leads the kitchen at Sushi Kappo next door. Kobayashi’s background includes time at some of Japan’s most prestigious Michelin-starred restaurants. At Aizome Bar, the venue says his approach adapts the discipline of kappo-style dining into a format suited to a bar setting.

Across both menus, dishes are prepared without gluten, dairy or nuts. The venue describes this as a deliberate philosophy, one it says reinforces purity, balance and precision rather than functioning as a dietary restriction.

What’s on the New Menus

The tasting menu is priced at $90 per person and runs across six courses: three starters, two mains and a dessert.

Starters include seared beef tataki with broccoli, tomato and soy milk cream cheese; sashimi of the day; and chawanmushi, a Japanese savoury egg custard made with Canadian snow crab. Mains are a Marble King Wagyu Sirloin MS9+ sukiyaki with seasonal vegetables and free-range egg yolk, and a salmon avocado roll. The meal closes with a sweet finale dessert.

The à la carte menu includes bar snacks and dishes the venue says are designed to pair with its drinks offering, across a range of price points. Options include:

Edamame $8
Tomato Caprese with soy cream cheese $18
Sashimi of the Day $12
Chicken Karaage $20
Diced Marble King Wagyu Fillet MS9+ $20
Uramaki rolls (6pc) with Tasmanian ocean trout and avocado, or ebi and avocado $12 each
Inarizushi (2pc) $8
Wagyu Curry Rice $19
Sake-lees and Chocolate Soy Ice Cream $8

The Drinks Program

The bar’s drinks program defines the Aizome Bar experience. The venue is known for its Neo cocktails, developed by Tony Huang and Tim Pope, which are prepared over multiple days using freeze-integration techniques and served in a wine-style format.

A Cocktail Experience option is also available, offering a curated flight of six 60ml cocktails, each aged over five days. The broader drinks list includes wine, sake and spirits.

Read: Cheers to West End: Exploring Brisbane’s Vibrant Bar Scene

Aizome Bar sits under the +81 brand, named after Japan’s international dialling code, alongside Sushi Kappo. Reservations are available through the +81 website.

Aizome Bar is at 259 Montague Road, West End.

Published 30-April-2026

Queensland Ballet Brings Sia’s Music to West End Stage

A full orchestra, a global pop catalogue and a contemporary dance company come together in West End, where Queensland Ballet is presenting a reimagined ballet set to the music of Sia, transforming familiar radio hits into a live performance shaped for the stage.

Performances run from April 30 to May 9, 2026, at the Talbot Theatre inside the Thomas Dixon Centre, with additional shows added due to demand.

A New Sound for Familiar Songs

The production, titled Elastic Hearts, draws on Sia’s original tracks but reshapes them through orchestral arrangements by Elliott Wheeler. Known for his work in film, Wheeler adapted the songs into extended pieces suited for ballet, allowing the music to stretch beyond its original structure.

The score was recorded by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Nigel Gaynor, using a layered recording process rather than a single live session. Sections of the orchestra were recorded separately and later combined, creating a detailed and controlled sound that supports the choreography.

Movement Built on Emotion and Connection

Choreographer Garry Stewart, a former artistic director of Australian Dance Theatre, developed the work as a response to Sia’s music. His approach focuses on physical intensity and emotional range, using movement to reflect themes of resilience, relationships and change.

Stewart’s concept centres on the idea that people adapt under pressure, drawing from the emotional tone of Sia’s songs. He links these ideas to natural cycles, where growth, decay and renewal shape both the environment and human experience.

Nature Shapes the Stage

The visual direction of the production reflects Stewart’s long-standing interest in nature. The character of Gaia, drawn from Greek mythology, acts as a symbolic presence throughout the performance, representing the Earth and the forces that connect life.

Set and costume designer Charles Davis builds this environment on stage, while lighting by Alexander Berlage supports shifts in mood and movement, helping guide the audience through the work’s changing tone.

A Different Direction for Queensland Ballet

Artistic director Ivan Gil-Ortega positions Elastic Hearts as a contrast to the company’s earlier production Messa da Requiem, which focused on large-scale choral work. In comparison, this ballet leans into contemporary energy, driven by rhythm and recognisable music.

The response from early audiences and critics has been strong, with reviews noting the blend of ballet technique and pop influence. The production reflects a shift in how ballet companies engage wider audiences, using familiar music as a starting point for new work.

The project also brings together several South Australian links. Sia, originally from Adelaide, shares a connection with Stewart, who spent years working in the city.

The season at West End places an international music figure within a local arts setting, supported by Australian creatives and performers.

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Published 30-April-2026

West End’s Elisi Residences to Break Ground Mid-2026

Thirty apartments are coming to Ferry Road, one of West End’s most rapidly changing streets, and construction is set to begin in July 2026.

Read: Süreyya Kahve Is Coming to West End, and It’s Redefining What a Cafe Can Be

The eight-storey apartment building at 17 Ferry Road, West End, will deliver 30 three-bedroom apartments in a pocket of the suburb that has seen significant development activity in recent years. The project is developed by Vista and designed by architecture firm Prospect.

Interiors have been designed by Bella Vie, and the building will include a rooftop pool, barbecue area and yoga lawn. Each apartment will come with its own outdoor space and two underground car parks.

Sales agent Doug Tonkin said the target demographic was primarily downsizers, people leaving the leafy suburbs of Brisbane for something smaller and more centrally located.

Tonkin described the broader inner-city apartment market as overcrowded, with high-density projects continuing to proliferate. He said that offering only 30 apartments set the project apart in an otherwise high-density market, and that he believed there was a clear demand for it.

Prices range from $1,799,000 to $2,209,000 across four different floor plan configurations. Around 12 apartments have already sold ahead of the July construction start.

Elisi is immediately adjacent to the large-scale The Lanes Montague Markets precinct and sits directly opposite a separate planned apartment building at 24 Ferry Road. Tonkin said the area’s appeal was tied to its access to city services, proximity to Orleigh Park, and the draw of two public schools: West End State School and Brisbane State High School.

The site itself has already been cleared. The building that previously stood at the address, along with the adjoining car park, has been demolished ahead of the July start.

Read: West End Brewpub Landscape Shifts as Catchment Brewing Co Departs Boundary Street

West End has experienced significant population growth in recent years, and residents have raised concerns that development is outstripping infrastructure. Rapid development in the area has faced criticism from locals who argue that population growth is outstripping services and that the necessary infrastructure has not kept pace.

Whether the infrastructure catches up remains an open question for the suburb. For now, the site has been cleared and construction is due to get underway in July.

Published 25-April-2026

Metro Arts Secures Grant to Bring Touch to Contemporary Art in West End

Metro Arts

Metro Arts has secured a grant through Brisbane Airport‘s record 2026 Community Giving Fund, using the funding to install and deliver an eight-week tactile exhibition and events programme designed specifically for the blind and visually impaired community.

The grant is one of sixteen awarded across the city as Brisbane Airport distributed its largest-ever Community Giving Fund, sharing $125,000 among grassroots organisations working across education, health, environment and community inclusion. For Metro Arts, the funding arrives at a meaningful moment.

The West End arts centre is rebuilding its programme through a “rewiring” process after losing federal Creative Australia funding for the 2025 to 2028 period. The Brisbane Airport grant gives the organisation a concrete new project and a new community to reach.

This tactile exhibition addresses a significant gap in accessible arts programming that many venues overlook. Brisbane Airport Community Engagement Manager Portia Allison said each recipient in this year’s fund plays an important role in building a stronger, more connected community.

“Our Community Giving Fund is about giving back where it counts,” Allison said. “From youth programs to grassroots sport, there are organisations and groups across every corner of Brisbane delivering important work to support their local communities.”

An Arts Centre That Has Always Backed New Ideas

Metro Arts has occupied a distinctive position in Brisbane’s cultural life since its founding more than 40 years ago. Its theatre, two galleries, rehearsal rooms and the Factory Lane outdoor precinct sit inside the West Village development at 97 Boundary Street, offering a purpose-built home for contemporary work across theatre, dance, cabaret, circus, music and visual art.

The organisation champions artists who take creative risks and develop new works, and over its history has served as a launchpad for some of Australia’s most significant contemporary artists. Its current “rewiring” programme, announced earlier in 2026, is focused on building new partnerships, rethinking how it presents art, and strengthening the infrastructure that supports both artists and audiences for the long term.

The tactile exhibition programme fits that forward-looking ambition directly. Tactile art experiences, which use raised surfaces, textures, soundscapes and physical interaction rather than visual contemplation, represent one of the most significant frontiers in accessible arts programming internationally. For a venue built around experimentation, it is a natural fit.

A Step Forward for Inclusive Arts in West End

Since 2016 the Brisbane Airport Community Giving Fund has poured more than $655,000 into local community organisations. This year’s round was expanded by $25,000 over 2025, when $100,000 was distributed to coincide with 100 years of Brisbane Airport.

For Metro Arts and the West End community, the tactile exhibition and events programme represents something the suburb’s arts scene has rarely seen: a dedicated, extended programme designed from the ground up for audiences who are blind or have low vision. West End has long been one of Brisbane’s most culturally diverse and community-minded neighbourhoods, and Metro Arts sits at the centre of that identity.

Metro Arts is at 97 Boundary Street, West End, inside the West Village precinct, accessible via Factory Lane. The venue’s window gallery is open 24 hours a day, and its office operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. For programme updates, event details and to subscribe to the Metro Arts newsletter, visit metroarts.com.au or follow the organisation on Instagram at @metroarts.

Published 20-April-2026

West End Health Food Store Introduces Shopping Baskets That Signal If You Want Help

A detail spotted inside a West End health food store has attracted attention on social media, with commenters praising the idea and calling for similar systems to be introduced more broadly.

Read: Süreyya Kahve Is Coming to West End, and It’s Redefining What a Cafe Can Be

WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods, a pharmacy and health food chain, has introduced colour-coded shopping baskets that allow customers to indicate whether they want assistance from staff. Two baskets are available at the entrance: a grey one labelled “I am happy to shop on my own” and a green one reading “I would like assistance.”

health food store — Photo credit: Gogole Maps/M S

The system was shared to Reddit by a user who photographed the baskets side by side.

“I just think it’s neat,” the original poster wrote. “My Millennial brain heaved a sigh of relief when I walked in to a store this week and saw these — I now wish every single store had this system.”

What Shoppers Are Saying

Commenters responded to the post with support for the system, with several noting it addresses uncertainty, for both customers and staff, when assistance is wanted and when it isn’t.

Some commenters noted the system could make it easier for retail workers to approach customers with confidence, removing the guesswork around who wants help and who doesn’t.

One Reddit commenter wrote: “It is a good idea for some people. Just because some people are fine navigating a store it doesn’t mean everybody is. My local store recently changed everything around and hoped we didn’t notice some products being deleted. It’s a pain to shop there now. Could have done with these baskets.”

One Reddit commenter pointed to the difficulty of navigating stores after layout changes as an example of why a system like this could be useful. The basket system allows customers to signal their preference without having to approach a staff member directly.

Read: Function Well Plans Large Wellness Hub For West End

Will Other Retailers Follow Suit?

Several commenters said they hoped larger retailers would introduce a similar system. No announcements from major retailers have been made at the time of publication.

WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods is a Queensland-based pharmacy and health food chain with stores across Brisbane.

Published 14-April-2026

Upstate Has Opened Its First Brisbane Studio in West End

Upstate

Upstate, the Melbourne-born reformer pilates and hot yoga brand that has built a devoted following across Victoria and expanded into Queensland and New South Wales over the past year, has opened its first Brisbane studio at 391 Montague Road in West End.

The studio marks another significant step in one of Australian fitness’s more compelling growth stories. Upstate launched in Victoria and spent more than a decade becoming a genuine institution, before opening its first interstate location at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in July 2025, then landing in Sydney’s Five Dock in September 2025. West End now brings the brand to Brisbane proper, and according to co-founder and co-CEO Gail Asbell, the neighbourhood was the obvious choice.

“Brisbane has such an incredible energy and community spirit, and West End in particular has a character that feels perfectly aligned with Upstate,” Asbell said. “It’s creative, vibrant and social — exactly the kind of neighbourhood where people want to move, connect and feel good.”

What the Studio Actually Looks Like

True to Upstate’s identity, the West End studio is not subtle. Bold and neon interiors in the brand’s signature sunshine yellow run throughout, designed specifically to lift mood on arrival before a single class has begun. Studios are designed to boost members’ mood and motivation, with bright interiors decked in positive hues and energising neon as defining features of every Upstate location.

Upstate's sttudio — Photo Credit: Upstate

The space at Studio 7 on Montague Road splits across two workout rooms. The first is a 24-bed reformer studio for the pilates crowd, and the second is a 35-person hot mat studio for those who prefer a sweatier experience. Three unisex toilets and showers mean members can freshen up and flow straight back into their day without interruption.

The class timetable spans reformer pilates, hot mat pilates, hot power yoga, yin and sound baths, giving members plenty of range depending on whether they want to push hard or wind down.

The Brand Behind the Neon

Upstate was founded by Gail Asbell and her sister Charelle Cuolahan, and started as 100 per cent yoga before evolving over the years to add hot mat pilates, reformer pilates and boxing as the brand grew. As a female-led powerhouse, Upstate prioritises community and real career paths for women over growth for growth’s sake.

The co-founder has been deliberate about keeping classes approachable, describing the ideal room as “full of diversity, from people doing their first classes ever, to someone who’s gone for a long time.” That philosophy carries through to West End, where the studio welcomes everyone from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners.

With locations now spanning Victoria, the Gold Coast and Sydney alongside the new Brisbane opening, Upstate has moved from a Melbourne institution to a genuine national presence in the space of less than twelve months.

Getting Started at Upstate West End

A launch offer gives new members 14 days of unlimited access for $29, covering reformer, hot mat and hot yoga classes. Upstate West End is at Studio 7, 391 Montague Road, West End. Bookings and membership are available here.

Published 13-April-2026

West End Diners Hit In Masked Handbag Snatch At Browning Street Restaurant

Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

Masked offenders allegedly stole handbags from elderly diners during an evening gathering at a West End restaurant, with police investigating whether the incident is linked to other nearby activity.

A Fast-Moving Theft In West End

The alleged theft happened at Little Greek Taverna on Browning Street, where an elderly book club group had gathered for dinner. Police believe two masked offenders approached the restaurant at about 8.25 p.m. on Friday night and stole three bags from diners in a brief incident that left the group distressed. The items taken reportedly included two handbags and a wine bag.

West End Crime — Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

The group was understood to include six women meeting for their regular gathering when the offenders moved in quickly and then left the area. The incident centred on diners at the restaurant, turning an ordinary social catch-up into a sudden and confronting encounter. A second business was also reportedly targeted during the same sequence of events.

Police Examine Possible Links To Nearby Incidents

The offenders fled in a vehicle believed to be a grey Volvo station wagon, and investigators are continuing to examine whether the West End incident is connected to other activity on Vulture Street. The latest alleged theft also comes amid previously reported concerns about anti-social behaviour along the nearby Boundary Street retail strip, adding further local context to the investigation.

Brisbane Restaurant Theft — Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

Police are calling for anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward as inquiries continue. The focus remains on identifying the offenders and determining whether the alleged West End restaurant theft forms part of a broader pattern of offending in the area.

Published 31-Mar-2026

Brisbane Group to Make Trans History With Record-Breaking Flag Unfurling at Davies Park

West End is set to make trans history on March 31. Davies Park on Montague Road will host the unfurling of what is believed to be the world’s largest trans pride flag, just in time for the International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Read: A Year of Pride and Performance at West End Bar Come to Daddy

The flag, created by local advocacy group Trans Justice Meanjin, measures a staggering 20 by 40 metres, totalling 800 square metres of pink, white, and blue fabric.

The project has been months in the making. After running a fundraising campaign to cover the cost of materials, the group held a series of community sewing sessions throughout March, inviting locals to contribute to the creation. The finished product was officially measured last Friday, confirming its dimensions. With the sewing machines now packed away, Trans Justice Meanjin are ready to share it with the world.

Photo credit: Facebook/Trans Justice Meanjin

Group member Jodie Hall said the flag was intended as a physical symbol of trans love, joy, defiance and resistance. She said the group’s intention was to make the trans community impossible to ignore on Trans Day of Visibility, and that by creating the world’s largest trans flag, they aimed to make trans history.

The event is free and open to everyone. The unfurling is scheduled for 3pm at Davies Park, located at 277 Montague Road, West End. Following the main event, local trans artists Worm Girlz and Clover Love will perform a free outdoor concert in the park.

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A post shared by Trans Justice Meanjin (@transjusticemeanjin)

Organisers have said the project is intended as both a celebration of the local trans community and a visible show of solidarity during a challenging time for trans and gender diverse people. Last year, members of Brisbane’s LGBTQIA+ community flew a trans flag from the city’s Victoria Bridge at the start of Trans Awareness Week in November, in a show of solidarity for trans and gender diverse young people affected by the Queensland government’s puberty blocker ban.

Read: Three Residential Towers Proposed for West End Site Near Davies Park

Trans Day of Visibility, held annually on March 31, has been observed internationally since 2009. Unlike the Trans Day of Remembrance in November, which is a day of mourning, TDOV is a day dedicated to recognising and celebrating the lives and achievements of trans, non-binary and gender diverse people around the world. Events are being held across Australia and globally to mark the occasion this year.

If you are free on March 31, head down to Davies Park and be part of the occasion. For more information on Trans Justice Meanjin and their work, visit their website.

Published 30-March-2026

Inner City Brisbane Avoids Shortages but Faces Soaring Petrol Prices

Photo Credit: Wikimedia/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

Brisbane inner city drivers are paying close to $2.50 a litre for petrol while fuel remains available across most suburbs, even as shortages spread across parts of Queensland and other states.

Prices Climb Across Inner Brisbane

Across Fortitude Valley, New Farm, Newstead and surrounding inner-city suburbs, petrol prices are now sitting between about 239 and 249 cents per litre, with diesel pushing close to or above 290 cents. The variation between nearby stations can be as much as 10 cents, even within a short drive.

Kangaroo Point and the inner south, including South Bank and West End, are showing similar trends, with petrol mostly around the mid-240s and diesel nearing the $3 mark. These prices reflect a sharp rise over the past week, with national averages also climbing significantly.

Figures from industry data show the average petrol price across Australia rose to about 238 cents per litre, while diesel jumped to more than 282 cents. That has added roughly $9 to $18 to a standard 50-litre fill, placing extra strain on households and small businesses.

Area	U91 Range	Diesel Range	Notes (as of 23 March)
Fortitude Valley	239–249	292–296	widest variation
New Farm / Newstead	238–249	295–299	some cheapest + some expensive
Kangaroo Point	~239	289–292	most stable
South Bank / West End	239–245	290–298	typical inner-south

Supply Pressure Felt, But CBD Holding

Despite rising costs, there is no widespread fuel outages in Brisbane’s inner city. Most stations across the CBD and nearby suburbs continue to operate, though some may temporarily run low on certain fuel types.

National figures show 166 service stations across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have run out of fuel, including dozens in Queensland alone. However, these shortages are spread unevenly and are more common in regional areas than in major city centres.

The supply issue is largely driven by a surge in demand, with more drivers filling up earlier or more often than usual. This has created pressure on distribution networks, even though overall fuel supply into Australia remains steady for now.

*Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International*

Push for Public Transport as Costs Rise

As fuel prices climb, city leaders are encouraging residents to leave their cars at home where possible and use public transport instead. Across South East Queensland, fares have been set at an affordable 50 cents, making buses, trains and ferries a cheaper option for daily travel.

The low fare is designed to ease cost pressures on households while also reducing demand for fuel. With more commuters onto public transport, there is also hope it will help ensure supply remains available for essential industries such as farming and freight, which rely heavily on diesel.

Global Tensions Driving Local Costs

The sharp rise in prices has been linked to global supply concerns following conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted key oil shipping routes. About 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes through the affected area, and ongoing instability is pushing wholesale prices higher.

Officials have indicated that while supply is still flowing, prolonged disruption could continue to push prices up, with the possibility of petrol reaching $4 per litre if conditions worsen.

Yet residents are already feeling the impact. Higher fuel costs are affecting daily commutes, small business operations and trade work, where diesel use is high. Even without widespread shortages in the inner city, the rising cost of fuel is changing how and when people travel.

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