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The Real Cost of Convenience: Why West End Drivers Want Tolls Scrapped

Thousands of daily motorists are calling for the removal of tolls on the Go Between Bridge as rising travel costs create a significant financial barrier for families moving between the city’s north and the residential hub of West End.

The Cost of a Shorter Commute

While the Go Between Bridge provides a direct path from Coronation Drive to the streets of West End and South Brisbane, the price of this convenience is under fire. Motorists across the city are expressing their frustration through a formal petition to the State of Queensland. This movement follows a series of price hikes that have seen the cost of using the city’s tunnels and bridges climb higher.

On 1 January, tolls on the Airport Link increased by 33 cents to a total of $7.16. many people feel that these charges are becoming a heavy burden, especially since the bridge serves as a local link rather than a major highway into the central business district.

Traffic Woes and Infrastructure Debts

The push to drop these fees comes as new data shows Brisbane drivers are spending more time than ever stuck in traffic. During 2024, the average commuter lost 84 hours to road congestion, which was a 14 per cent increase from the year before. While some argue that making the bridges free would help clear local streets, others suggest that the situation is more complex.

Public policy experts from the RACQ stated that these tolls are used to pay back the massive debts from building the roads. They suggested that without this private funding, there would be less money available for Queensland to build new transport projects in the future.

Searching for a Fairer Path

The debate has also touched on other famous landmarks, including the ageing Story Bridge. There were discussions in 2025 about whether a new toll there could fund much-needed repairs, potentially raising more than $205 million a year if set at the same rate as the Gateway bridges. However, local leaders have previously questioned why certain routes, like the one leading to West End, carry a fee when they do not even take drivers into the heart of the city.

For now, the State of Queensland is following its standard procedures to review the public petition, which has already gained 1,509 signatures, while the community continues to ask for a broader look at how South East Queensland funds its major roads.

Published Date 11-March-2026

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

Photo Credit: Catchment Brewing Co/ Instagram

The iconic West End craft beer scene has lost a major fixture following the sudden permanent departure of Catchment Brewing Co from its long-term home.

A Quiet Exit for a Local Favourite

The shutters came down on the Boundary Street venue in early 2026, marking the end of an 11-year run for the popular brewpub. While the windows are currently covered in dust, the interior of the building remains fully equipped with its original beer taps and decorative lighting, left in a state that would allow a new operator to move in.

The decision to leave was described by company representatives as a mutual agreement between the business and the property owners, though they acknowledged that the high costs of running the large space had become a significant financial burden.

Economic Pressures Hitting the Taps

The closure highlights a difficult period for the independent brewing industry across Australia. Over the past two years, more than a dozen highly-regarded breweries have been forced to stop trading due to a “perfect storm” of rising expenses. For Catchment, the struggle involved more than just local competition.

The rising cost of ingredients, increased electricity bills, and higher rents have made it harder to stay profitable. Additionally, federal alcohol taxes that increase alongside inflation have squeezed margins further, while major national retailers have introduced their own budget-friendly craft beer brands to compete with independent labels.

A Pattern of Change in the Suburb

This departure is not an isolated event for the local community, as West End has seen several high-profile venues struggle recently. The neighborhood said goodbye to the famous music venue The Bearded Lady in May 2025, and other major craft beer names like Newstead Brewing Co and Stone & Wood’s Fortitude Valley site also closed their doors in March and August of the previous year.

These shifts reflect a changing hospitality environment where even established brands are finding it difficult to balance community expectations with the high price of doing business in a popular inner-city suburb.

The Future of the Brand

Despite leaving its original flagship location, the company behind the beer is not disappearing from the Brisbane market. The business expanded its reach in 2022 by taking over Fortitude Valley Brewing Co and its associated brands, followed by a move to save Ballistic Beer Co from closing in early 2023.

Management has indicated that they intend to continue their involvement with the Brisbane brewing community and expect to share new plans for the brand’s next steps later this year. For now, the focus remains on their other existing venues and partnerships outside of the West End strip.

Published Date 04-March-2026

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

West End locals looking for a cafe that takes nutrition as seriously as its coffee are about to have a new option on Mollison Street. Süreyya Kahve is preparing to open its doors in late April inside Function Well’s soon-to-open luxury wellness hub, and it’s shaping up to be one of the more interesting additions to the suburb’s already well-loved cafe scene.

Read: Soda Factory West End Seeks Mall Upgrade on Mollison Street

The concept comes from husband-and-wife duo Dr Oz Dedehayir and Kristy Morris, the founders of KAILO Group, which has built a reputation as one of Australia’s leading medispa and nutrition brands. For the pair, Süreyya Kahve isn’t a side project — it’s a natural extension of everything they’ve been building in the health and wellness space, this time expressed through food, coffee, and community.

At the heart of it is Dr Oz’s Turkish heritage. The cafe’s name, its identity, and its philosophy are all rooted in that cultural thread, with the team describing the concept as one that looks to redefine cafe culture with an offering centred around intelligent nutrition.

What’s on the menu?

The team is keeping most of the details under wraps for now, but what has been confirmed points to something more considered than the average cafe offering. Süreyya Kahve will serve high-quality, nutrient-dense meals including healthy salads and sandwiches, alongside smoothies infused with KAILO Nutrition supplements. On the coffee side, the venue will be pouring specialty coffee from ST ALi.

The phrase the team keeps returning to is intelligent nutrition, with food and drink designed to do something beyond just tasting good. Given that KAILO Group’s background spans both medispa treatments and nutritional products, there’s genuine expertise sitting behind that promise rather than just marketing language.

West End has long attracted residents who care about where their food comes from, who made it, and what it’s doing for them. The neighbourhood’s cafe culture has leaned independent and values-driven, with locals quick to support businesses that feel like they genuinely belong to the community.

Placing Süreyya Kahve on the ground floor of Function Well’s new luxury wellness hub on Mollison Street reinforces that fit, bringing together fitness, health, and considered eating under one roof.

Read: Brisbane Comedy Cellar Opens Beneath Raven Hotel in West End

What’s next

The Süreyya Kahve team has indicated that more details, including a fuller picture of the menu and the space itself, will be revealed in the coming weeks ahead of the late April opening. It’s early days, but for a suburb that already takes its food and wellbeing seriously, this one is worth keeping a close eye on.

Published 27-February-2026

Soda Factory West End Seeks Mall Upgrade on Mollison Street

A development application has been lodged seeking approval for refurbishment works to the Mollison Street mall entry of The Soda Factory West End. The proposal seeks approval for the demolition, upgrade, and extension of centre activities within the established district centre.

Read: How Boundary St Building Evolved From Tristram Soft Drink Factory To West End Shopping Centre

The subject site is located at 79 Boundary Street and covers a total area of approximately 10,030 square metres. The site is zoned DC1 District Centre under the South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan.

According to planning documents prepared by Sinclair Planning, the mall is located in a separate building annexed to the Tristram’s Soft Drink Factory building — a Local Heritage Place — with an internal interface at the northern end of the mall. No works are proposed to the heritage-listed structure.

Proposed Refurbishment Works

Artist’s impression of refurbishment works at Soda Factory West End (Photo credit: Brisbane PD Online – A006923662)

The proposed refurbishment works include both external and internal modifications, as detailed in the planning documents.

On the exterior, works include partial demolition and upgrade to the Mollison Street façade, with a focus on replacing the existing awning over the entry stairs and accessibility lift, and enhancing overall façade finishes. The existing pedestrian ramp at the entry is proposed to be replaced with an accessibility lift, with the layout of the entry stairs also to be reconfigured.

Landscape planters are proposed along the Mollison Street building elevation, with the planning documents stating the intent is to positively contribute to the public domain and accentuate the mall entry point. Existing pedestrian seating will be retained and bicycle parking facilities are also to be retained.

Internally, modifications to existing tenancies are proposed to regularise shopfronts to the mall and to reduce the floor area of the existing mall kiosk. These internal changes result in the creation of new gross floor area, with the refurbishment yielding a net increase in tenancy GFA of approximately 37 square metres. Glazed automatic doors are also proposed near the northern end of the mall to maintain an air-conditioned internal environment. Modifications to the levels of the mall footway are proposed to remove the existing sloping gradient.

No changes are proposed to the centre’s current hours of operation, site access and servicing arrangements, refuse storage and collection, or ancillary on-site car parking. The Mollison Street footpath and road reserve will also remain unchanged.

Staged Delivery

The works are proposed to be delivered in stages. The initial stage involves the refurbishment of the western side of the Mollison Street mall, allowing continued public access and tenant operation during construction. The succeeding stage will address the eastern side of the mall following completion of the initial works.

Read: See The Stunning Mural At Soda Factory In West End

The application is listed under application reference A006923662. The full application documents are publicly available via the Brisbane development portal at developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au.

Published 23-February-2026

West End Girl Tour Brings Lily Allen Back To Australia In 2026

Photo Credit: Lily Allen/Instagram

Lily Allen will return to Australia and New Zealand in 2026 with an arena tour focused on live performances of her album West End Girl, marking her first regional tour since 2019.

Event Details Announced

In Brisbane, the concert will take place at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Friday 23 October 2026, with a scheduled 7:00 p.m. start time.

The tour is scheduled to begin in Auckland on 21 October before moving to Australia for shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The final performance is set for 1 November at RAC Arena in Perth. All announced dates are licensed all-ages events.General public tickets for all dates are due to go on sale at 1 p.m. local time on Monday 9 February 2026.

For the Brisbane show, presales begin on Wednesday 4 February, including Telstra, artist and Frontier Touring member access, with ticket limits applying across presale and public allocations. Venue conditions for Brisbane include restrictions on bag size and a ban on backpacks.

Lily Allen Australia — Photo Credit: Lily Allen/Instagram

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Artist Background

Lily Allen is an English singer-songwriter who emerged in the mid-2000s and gained international recognition with her debut album Alright, Still in 2006. She followed with It’s Not Me, It’s You in 2009, which topped charts in several countries, including Australia, and produced singles that became long-standing staples of her live performances.

After later releases Sheezus (2014) and No Shame (2018), Allen stepped back from extensive touring. West End Girl, released in 2025, marked her return with her first studio album in seven years. The album received renewed attention in Australia after two tracks appeared in triple j’s 2025 Hottest 100 countdown, with “West End Girl” placing at No. 88 and “Pussy Palace” at No. 38.

West End Girl Tour — Photo Credit: Lily Allen/Instagram

What The Tour Will Feature

The 2026 shows are billed as Lily Allen Performs West End Girl. Each concert will present the album in full, played in track order. Event information also indicates that additional songs from across Allen’s earlier catalogue are expected to feature in the setlists.

The tour has been described in multiple announcements as Allen’s largest headline run in Australia and New Zealand to date.

Looking Ahead

The West End Girl tour places Lily Allen back on Australian and New Zealand stages after several years away from the region, linking her 2025 album release with a full-scale arena run. Further ticketing and venue information is available through official tour and venue channels.

Published 3-Feb-2026

West End Mechanic Takes Legal Action After Vehicle Abandoned for Two Years

Photo Credit: Google Maps

A West End automotive workshop owner has been forced to take legal action after a customer failed to collect a heavily modified luxury vehicle for more than two years.

Aaron Cremona, owner of West End Service Centre on Bailey Street, says he has exhausted all options trying to reunite the owner with his modified Audi S4, valued at approximately $180,000.

The saga began in late 2023 when Mr Cremona notified the customer that modifications to the vehicle had been completed in November of that year. The European marque had undergone extensive work, including turbo upgrades and performance modifications that cost around $90,000 on top of the car’s base value of approximately $90,000.

Since then, Mr Cremona has attempted multiple means of contact with the vehicle’s owner, with minimal response.

“Every six months or so he would make contact and give another promise, but he never followed through,” Mr Cremona said.

The workshop owner said the situation had created significant challenges for his business, which specialises in high-end European vehicles.

“Every time there was a flood or cyclone we had to move it—and we’ve had a few of them in that time,” he said. “It’s become a logistic nightmare and I’ve held it for as long as I can.”

The presence of the abandoned vehicle in the workshop has also created misperceptions among customers.

“It’s a bad look for us because our customers keep seeing it in the workshop and must be thinking we can’t fix it,” Mr Cremona said.

According to Mr Cremona, the Audi had been serviced at the workshop several times previously before the latest round of modifications.

To comply with Queensland law, Mr Cremona said he has contacted the owner in writing every six months as required. He also placed classified newspaper advertisements and contacted police to ensure the vehicle was not stolen.

On 15 January 2026, Mr Cremona advertised his intention to sell the Audi at auction under the Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act 1967.

Under this Queensland legislation, businesses that accept goods for repair, storage or treatment may sell uncollected items if specific legal procedures are followed, according to legal information provided by Queensland law firms. The Act requires businesses to provide written notices to customers and place advertisements in newspapers before goods can be auctioned. Any surplus funds from such sales must be forwarded to the Public Trustee if unclaimed by the owner.

Mr Cremona acknowledged that the auction proceeds may not cover all costs owed to the business, but said any surplus would be directed to the Public Trustee as required by law.

“I’ve attempted everything I can to get rid of it but the owner never follows up. I’ve had it,” he said.

The workshop owner declined to speculate on why the customer had not retrieved such a valuable asset.

West End Service Centre has operated in the West End area for more than 30 years, according to the business’s website, and specialises in European vehicle servicing and repairs.

Published 23-January-2026

West End Hosts BrisAsia Festival Performances And Exhibitions

Photo Credit: Thomas Dixon Centre

The BrisAsia Festival will deliver a series of scheduled performances, exhibitions and ticketed events in West End, with the Thomas Dixon Centre confirmed as a key festival venue.

Festival Context And Return

BrisAsia Festival will return in February 2026 as Brisbane’s annual Lunar New Year celebration focused on Asian culture, cuisine, art and music. The 2026 edition marks the festival’s 14th year and aligns with the Year of the Horse.

The festival program spans multiple suburbs, with West End identified as one of the core locations hosting programmed events.

West End Programming At Thomas Dixon Centre

All confirmed BrisAsia Festival activity in West End will take place at the Thomas Dixon Centre, positioning the venue as a dedicated performance and exhibition hub.

Events at the centre range from free, all-ages exhibitions to ticketed evening performances, reinforcing a venue-based model rather than suburb-wide activations.

Exhibitions And Daytime Access

The exhibition Thresholds & Memories: Lois Kim & Hannah Seong will run from Friday 23 January to Monday 23 February 2026. The exhibition is free to attend and open daily, with extended weekday hours.

The exhibition features photography, installation and painting and is presented as part of the BrisAsia Festival program.

K-Pop Dance And Showcase

The ON:STAGE KPOP Showcase is scheduled for Saturday 14 February 2026 and brings together Brisbane and Queensland-based K-pop dance crews for two sessions at the Thomas Dixon Centre in West End.

The showcase features high-energy dance covers, original choreography and staged performances, highlighting the growing influence of Korean pop culture in Australia. The event is open to all ages, with tickets priced from $20.

Thomas Dixon Centre — *Photo Credit: BCC*

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Lunar Soul Party At Kite Terrace

A separate ticketed event, Lunar Soul Party, will take place on Tuesday 17 February 2026 at the Kite Terrace. The event is restricted to guests aged 18 years and over and is priced at $130.

The event combines live music and DJ-led performances, featuring neo-soul, hip hop and Chinese opera vocals supported by live instrumentalists. The event pairs the music program with pan-Asian food and drinks as part of the BrisAsia Festival’s Lunar New Year celebrations.

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West End’s Role In The Broader Festival

Compared with other festival locations, West End’s contribution is concentrated within a single venue. Programming at the Thomas Dixon Centre focuses on indoor performances, exhibitions and curated night events.

This approach distinguishes West End from outdoor and street-based festival locations elsewhere in the city.

Looking Ahead

BrisAsia Festival events in West End will run alongside programming in other Brisbane suburbs between 13 and 22 February 2026, with selected events extending beyond those dates. Bookings are required for most West End performances.

Published 21-Jan-2026

West End Set to Welcome Korean-Western Fusion Deli on Boundary Street

Photo Credit: Janus Deli

West End is set to gain a unique culinary addition as a Gold Coast-born sandwich shop brings its famous Korean-Western fusion menu to the heart of Boundary Street.

The new venue, Janus Deli, is targeting an opening date in mid-February 2026. This launch will mark the fourth location for the brand, which has already established popular spots in Slacks Creek, Molendinar, and Surfers Paradise. The owners are currently finalising preparations at the 120 Boundary Street site, where they plan to join the suburb’s creative and community-driven atmosphere.

Comfort Food with a Twist

The deli is known for combining traditional American deli staples with distinct Korean flavours. The menu at the new West End location will feature signature items that show off this blend. One highlight is “The Seoul Sub,” which is filled with Korean galbi meatballs, a poached egg, and jalapeno. For those who prefer a different take on the classics, the “Janus Deli Delight” pairs standard deli meats with a sweet kiwi yoghurt dressing.

Sweets and Specialty Drinks

Beyond the savoury options, the shop aims to attract locals with its range of baked goods and beverages. The location will serve fried chicken, cinnamon scrolls, and a variety of doughnuts in flavours such as Nutella, Creme Brulee, and Golden Gaytime. To drink, customers can order specialty items like Iced Strawberry Matcha and Tiramisu Lattes. Coffee service will feature beans from Paradox Coffee Roasters.

A New Space for the Community

The team behind Janus Deli intends for the new shop to be more than just a place to grab lunch. They want to create a welcoming space where residents feel comfortable visiting at any time of day. By setting up shop on Boundary Street, the business hopes to fit right into the existing neighbourhood culture.

Published Date 15-January-2026

West End Gets a 12-Seat Japanese Omakase Experience With a $450 Menu

West End is about to claim a rare spot on Australia’s fine-dining map, with a new 12-seat Japanese counter restaurant bringing Michelin-trained craftsmanship, century-old traditions and a $450-per-person menu into one of Brisbane’s most community-driven neighbourhoods.

+81 Sushi Kappo is scheduled to begin service on Thursday, February 5, tucked just off Montague Road in West End, next to the already well-known Aizome Bar.

An Intimate Addition to West End

The arrival of +81 Sushi Kappo marks a significant moment for West End, an area better known for its relaxed cafés and creative culture than ultra-exclusive dining rooms. With only 12 seats available each night, the restaurant introduces kappo-style omakase to the suburb, a traditional Japanese format that places the chef at the centre of the experience.

Each dish is prepared directly in front of guests, creating a quiet, focused exchange between chef and diner that prioritises respect, seasonality and care.

The restaurant is led by Tokyo-trained head chef Ikuo Kobayashi, whose career includes time at some of Japan’s most respected sushi counters, including Michelin-starred Kyubey in Ginza. Drawing on decades of experience, Kobayashi’s approach centres on Edomae-style sushi, a Tokyo tradition that values precise knife work, careful ageing of fish and perfectly balanced rice. His cooking reflects both Japanese discipline and Australia’s changing seasons, using premium local seafood alongside select ingredients sourced from Japan.

The Menu and Experience

The multi-course omakase menu is seafood-focused and shaped by micro-seasons, meaning no two sittings are exactly alike. A signature element is Kobayashi’s sushi rice, enriched with spirulina sourced exclusively from Iceland, chosen for its flavour balance rather than visual impact. Dishes move from lighter preparations to richer courses, with an emphasis on texture, temperature and restraint.

The cost reflects the level of craftsmanship and exclusivity, with menus starting from $450 per guest. According to the source materials, the pricing aligns with international kappo counters rather than mainstream dining, positioning West End alongside global destinations for high-end Japanese cuisine.

Complementing the food is a carefully curated beverage program featuring more than 100 artisanal sake references, rare Japanese whiskies, Champagne and a mix of Australian and international wines. Guests can also choose from rotating beverage pairings designed to follow the rhythm of the menu. After the meal, diners are encouraged to move into the adjoining lounge to continue the evening with whisky or liqueurs, extending the sense of connection built across the counter.

Omotenashi is a Japanese philosophy that means selfless hospitality. It focuses on demonstrating care through simple gestures rather than formalities. Each service is unique, with the chef adjusting the pace and level of attention based on the guests at the counter.

A New Chapter for West End

For West End locals, the restaurant represents more than just another opening. Positioned beside Aizome Bar, itself recognised for bringing Japanese cocktail culture to Brisbane, +81 Sushi Kappo strengthens the suburb’s growing reputation as a destination for thoughtful, independent hospitality.

While access is limited by design, the presence of such a focused dining room adds a new layer to West End’s food story, blending neighbourhood character with international technique.

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Published 14-Jan-2025

Three Residential Towers Proposed for West End Site Near Davies Park

A development application has been lodged for a three-tower residential complex adjacent to Davies Park, the latest proposal for a site that has seen multiple development iterations.

Read: Montague Road Named One of the Coolest Streets in the World in West End

The proposal targets the site at 281–297 Montague Road, seeking approval for three residential buildings ranging from 16 to 19 storeys. Designed by Rothelowman, the application represents an “Other Change” to existing approvals for the 10,628-square-metre site.

The development would deliver 403 apartments and five townhouses, with a mix that includes 46 one-bedroom, 238 two-bedroom and 114 three-bedroom apartments. Ground-floor retail space totalling 558 square metres would activate the street frontage, while 723 car parking spaces and 512 bicycle spaces would be provided.

Photo credit: Brisbane PD Online/A005608649

A signature element of the proposal is “Davies Lane,” a landscaped pedestrian thoroughfare designed to connect Montague Road directly through to Davies Park. The development also includes 600 square metres of dedicated parkland and 5,476 square metres of communal open space for residents.

Development Vision

davies park — Photo credit: Brisbane PD Online/A005608649

According to planning documents prepared by Urbis, the architectural approach emphasises subtropical design principles suited to Brisbane’s climate. The towers have been conceived as what planners describe as a complementary family of buildings, each contributing to a unified design language while maintaining individual character through orientation and relationship to surrounding context.

The design incorporates deep facades, layered screening and natural ventilation strategies. Features include operable windows and doors for passive airflow, sliding screens for solar protection, and greenery embedded throughout the buildings’ vertical extent, linking to landscaped areas at ground level.

Construction would proceed in two stages. Stage 1 would see the 19-storey Tower 1 built first, along with the delivery of Davies Lane. Stage 2 would add Towers 2 and 3 at 18 and 16 storeys respectively, completing the retail components and final landscaping works.

Community Concerns

Not everyone in West End welcomes the proposal. Some residents have expressed opposition to further intensification of the area, citing existing pressures on local infrastructure.

“Montague Road and whole of West End area is already full of apartments leading to congestion on the West End roads and schools,” one local resident said.

The concerns echo issues raised by some residents about the pace and scale of development. West End has experienced significant residential growth in recent years, with multiple high-rise developments adding to demands on roads, public transport and community facilities.

The site’s location directly adjacent to Davies Park, which has served as a community gathering place since 1901, has contributed to community interest in the proposal. The park hosts the popular Saturday markets and serves as an important green space for the suburb.

Read: Function Well Plans Large Wellness Hub For West End

What Happens Next

The application is now under assessment, with the full development plans and supporting documents available for public viewing through the development application portal using reference number A005608649.

Published 9-January-2026