Now on its fifth year, Brisbane Ice Cream Festival, the sweetest and coolest event of the summer, is all set to give everyone a scoop of the action with a three-weekend treat!
Kicking things off is the Chef’s Playground, a ticketed event featuring the culinary skill and style of Brisbane’s best chefs — Phillip Johnson (E’cco Bistro and Philip Johnson Catering), William Wallace (Executive Chef at William Wallace Group), and Matt Golinski (Ready Steady Cook and Peppers Noosa Resort). This talented group will indulge guests in a degustation of sensational sweet and savoury desserts.
The Chef’s Playground will be at The Common in West Village and will run at 6:00 p.m. on 18 and 19 March 2022.
On 26 and 27 March 2022, Brisbane Ice Cream Festival will launch the Sundae Funday event for the kids and kids at heart. Anita Gelato will provide delicious treats whilst the kids play, engage, enjoy the entertainment, and develop their crafty skills.
Sundae Funday will take place at Peters Ice Cream Factory on various time slots (1.5 hours per slot). Adults won’t have to pay for the entry and tickets for groups will be reserved for a maximum of four kids per schedule.
Whilst restaurants in the West Village will participate and offer a variety of special desserts in the Ice Cream All Day and All Night during the duration of the festival, the Ice Cream All Weekend event will cap off the celebrations on 2 to 3 April 2022.
Some of your favourite ice cream vendors, like Ungermann Brothers and Roll It Ice Cream Co, will be churning their specialities and delectable ice cream creations, including treats for specific dietary requirements.
Please note that slots for ticketed events at the Brisbane Ice Cream Festival will be strictly limited. Once tickets are sold out, no more will be released and no walk-ins will be entertained.
However, nothing ought to stop you from enjoying your favourite frosty treat with West Village’s all-day and all-night specials. Who knows, you might even be the one to win FREE ice cream for a year! Now that would really be cool.
STRONG Pilates has opened its latest studio on Montague Road in West End bringing its revolutionary hybrid workout machine that integrates cardio with strength and resistance training.
Whilst Pilates helps strengthen muscles and enhance flexibility, its low-impact nature doesn’t offer the kind of burn that a high-intensity workout gives. This is where STRONG Pilates comes in.
STRONG Pilates has been making waves in the fitness training landscape since opening its flagship studio in 2019 in Elsternwick, Melbourne. Already 15-studios strong, owners Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong are not stopping with their aggressive expansion plans with no less than 50 locations eyed this year.
Photo credit: Strong Pilates / Facebook
Michael and Mark used to run several F45 studios which were highly successful. But after discovering ‘Rowformer’ – a machine that is a half reformer and half rower – they started unloading their six F45 studios in 2019 to open a STRONG Pilates gym in Melbourne.
The studio is very stylish with charges in each locker, hair dryers/straighteners, mobility area, showers, and cold towels soaked in Eucalyptus oil delivered post-workout plus a distinct scent enveloping the entire gym and a specially curated playlist in the background to complete the overall STRONG experience.
At the heart of the STRONG Pilates class is the Rowformer which allows for a low-impact but high-intensity workout regardless of one’s level of fitness or mobility. A typical 45-minute class will involve what they call “strength blocks” covering the upper body, lower body and core. Each of the three strength blocks is followed by a 5-minute interval rowing.
Photo credit: Strong_Pilates / Facebook
STRONG’s West End studio is the sixth location following Hope Island, Burleigh, Ashmore, Southport and Maroochydore. Soon to come are at least seven Queensland locations spread across Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, thanks to the strong reception that their fitness brand has been getting.
Ready to take your workout routine to the next level? Click here to book online.
STRONG Pilates | 196 – 204 Montague Road West End QLD 4101
If you’re parched and in the West End area, check out Parched, Brisbane’s newest craft brewery!
Up for sharing cold beers during these hot summer nights, nibbling on some finger-licking bar bites when you’re feeling peckish, and reconnecting with friends you haven’t seen for some time?
Former mining engineer Carl Hallion is the brains behind Parched. Carl has long harboured dreams of running a bar where guests could chit-chat and reconnect over a few pints of beer, from the time he began brewing beer as a young adult in Adelaide.
It took a couple of years for Carl to hatch plans for Parched with his wife Pauline. Sometime in 2020, the couple found the right spot tucked along a laneway on Montague Road. Despite some hitches and amidst the havoc COVID wrought on the hospitality and construction industries, and their supply chain, they kept the faith.
Everything came together eventually, and Parched finally opened in mid-December 2021.
Photo Credit: Parched/Facebook
Parched is slightly bigger than Carl’s original ideas for a bar but the building had plenty of space for communal dining, the bar and taproom, the kitchen, the actual brewery, and the warehouse at the back.
Divided into two levels, Base Architecture designed Parched with a seating capacity for 200 people. Sometime this year, the deck should be built to accommodate more guests.
At the brewery section of the venue are two tanks that can make 2,000 litres a day. From the brewery, it’s straight to the 16-tap bar which stands out in the room because of its green tiling.
Photo Credit: Parched/Facebook
Parched’s initial offering includes eight kinds of beer concocted by Carl himself:
Brave New World hazy IPA
Creaming Soda vanilla-milkshake IPA
Mi Amigo Pagara Mexican lager
Smiling Eyes Irish red ale
Sunset Sour wild pomegranate kettle sour
The Pilot mid-strength session IPA
The Old Enemy old English IPA
Tewy’s Misery Australian pale ale
Meanwhile, head chef Breanna Dent runs the kitchen and prepares the delectable pub-style dishes matching the beers. For dessert, craft has heaps of beer-infused cold treats from Lick! Ice-Cream.
Photo Credit: Parched/Facebook
Follow Parched on Instagram for store updates and offerings.
“Great beer, great service, the food smelt amazing, the ribs looked divine. I’ll have to have them next time. There are some strange reviews for this place but be assured the beer is excellent.”
Phil Heitt
“Had a great experience with a group of my friends. Everything about this place was great. The place was clean and smelled good. The staff was very nice and friendly. They worked as a team in bringing and cleaning up our food. The beers and the stories around them are awesome. Also, great varieties of beers and added values to West End. The food was fresh and awesome. Then we also had dessert and that was really good as well. I love Parched Beer Ice-cream. Great atmosphere with really nice people. We’ll definitely come back. Highly recommended this place.”
Nadeeka Silva
“First visit to the new brewery. Pomegranate sour was a favourite – not too sour and the pomegranate flavour was subtle. The old English ale and the red Irish ale were very similar in taste to traditional uk and Irish ales, which being a Pom I appreciated! Also tried the oatmeal-based brew which was well balanced; it had a bitterness from the roasted oats to compliment the sweetness of the beer, but it wasn’t overly done. Tried the tacos, which were the two veggie / vegan options – the dragonfruit taco was delicious with plenty of filling and sauce. The vegan cauliflower option needed a little more flavour although it was good to see so many vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. Great customer service with really pleasant staff, who enjoy talking about the beer. Dog friendly too which is a great addition. Looking forward to visiting again soon!”
Help continues to pour in for the El-Masri family, whose iconic West End kebab shop, King Ahiram, was destroyed by a devastating fire earlier in January 2022.
The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen and quickly destroyed everything. This led Sanaa Wehbe and Diyana Bokhari, nieces of owner Walid El-Masri, to launch a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of helping their uncle re-establish his livelihood.
“My humble uncle and his family operate this local community business and work incredibly hard to provide an authentic yet affordable taste of Lebanese cuisine. They are committed to serving the locals and have generously contributed to various community outreach services and initiatives,” said Wehbe.
Before the fire, the establishment had been operating for over three decades. Best known for making some of the best falafels in Brisbane, King Ahiram is one of the longest-standing restaurants in West End.
Photo Credit: KingAhiram/Facebook
“I am so deeply saddened by this news. King Ahiram was my go-to place for falafel kebabs and baklava. My thoughts go to the family that put their heart and soul into this establishment. King Ahiram is one of the few OG’s left standing at that intersection and I do hope that we as a community can bring it back,” a local donor shared.
The funds raised will be used to repair and replace everything in the damaged building, from the ceiling down to the cooking equipment. In less than a week since the campaign started, 60 donors raised over $2,450 out of their $10,000 goal.
Grown is celebrating the New Year with their first event for 2022. The January Seven Course Degustation will feature seasonal produce from the likes of Loop Grower, Little Acre Mushrooms, and other local suppliers.
Curious as to what their degustation menu will offer? If you haven’t visited them yet, here’s how plant-based dining at Grown looks like.
The brunch menu includes two slices of sourdough toast served with housemade vegemite or fruit preserves; seasonal fruit loaf with preserves and cream; oat porridge with poached fruit, crispy bits and custard; and roasted mushroom and silken tofu scramble with sourdough and sesame cashew cheese.
There will also be some housemade brioche french toast with dulce de leche, ice cream and seasonal fruit; and housemade hash brown with slow-roasted tomatoes, miso white beans, seasonal greens, avocado, and purple kimchi.
Their Shared Plates menu include fried potatoes served with paprika, garlic and shallots; baked pumpkin and capsicum empanadas with chimichurri; pilaf rice with a generous sprinkling of toasted nuts, sesame cheese and dried fruit; baked polenta; charred broccoli in oyster sauce and sesame; and grilled corn with cheese, coriander and chilli sauce.
For dessert, customers can choose between the beetroot and neenish cream tart with cocoa nibs or creme brulee with seasonal fruit.
Grown offers plant-based dining with a seasonal menu which utilises fresh local farm produce from Brisbane’s surrounds. They also serve specially curated beverages for vegans, so you are sure that the wine and beer they offer are vegan friendly and where possible, are also locally produced and sustainably packed.
The January Seven Course Degustation event happens beginning 6:00 p.m. on 27 January 2022. Tickets cost $95 per person with an option to order matching wines for an additional $65. This is a limited-seating vegan degustation event so be sure to book early.
A 57,000-sqm international broadcasting centre extending to the South Bank Parklands across the river could become part of the preparation for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, if plans to purchase the Visy Glass site along Montague Road in West End push through.
The Visy site is being eyed as an ideal location for the broadcast centre as it is a short distance to at least five Olympic venues, including the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and The Gabba.
In early 2021, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner confirmed that they have been in talks with the inner-city factory and are now awaiting approval from the management and board members of Visy Glass.
Council has set aside a budget of $250 million for the 2021-2022 financial year as the deal will not earn state support, per Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick.
Cr Schrinner added that if closed, Visy will still have several years to transition to a new site while the West End plot will be prepared for the Olympics.
After the Olympics, the site will be transformed as an extension of the South Bank Parklands, aligning with the Kurilpa Riverfront Renewal Masterplan that intends to open the riverfront land to the public and provide the locals with a lasting legacy.
Nearly five years since he opened Langanis Barber for men opened in West End, owner and director Michael Langanis has decided to make his establishment more inclusive. The new Langanis Studio nowoffers their trademark luxury hair and grooming servicesto a growing number of men AND women.
As a luxury hair and grooming shop, Langanis Barber embodied urban culture and style. It became the go-to studio for beard grooming, precise colouring and textured haircuts.
Despite the lockdowns and restrictions on certain activities, including personal care services, the West End shop was bustling with demand and gained a 60 per cent revenue during the pandemic.
Following the flagship store’s opening, Michael also opened a shop in Teneriffe in late 2019 and on Edward Street, Brisbane CBD, in December 2020. A fourth outlet is set to open at the Pacific Fair in Gold Coast in early 2022, whilst Michael is also focussed on expanding his Langanis Hair product line in the United States, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and the rest of Australia.
“The businesses resilience and versatility are credited to a cult-like clientele which has increased dramatically over the past two years – some of whom come in for style cuts twice a week,” Michael said.
“We’re thrilled to have a diverse mix of customers frequenting each studio and evolving into a unisex brand that caters to both men and women is quite a significant milestone.
“We can’t wait to celebrate an elevated level of inclusive hair fashion with the launch of our rebranded Langanis Studios.”
With the rebrand, every shop will feature ultra-modern design with an energetic and welcoming atmosphere. Customers who love coffee will be served a fresh brew during their visit.
If you’ve stood in line waiting to get a table at the busy Picnic Cafe in Camp Hill, you’d be glad to know that this local favourite has set up a second all-day breakfast spot in West End. Now, a whole new crowd can enjoy its delectable brekkie and lunch offerings and experience why the food at this cafe is an easy eastside favourite.
Since 23 Sept 2021, Picnic Cafe in West End has welcomed brunchers at the new venue on the corner of Boundary and Mollison Street in West Village. With nearly the same fit out as its Camp Hill sister site (but only bigger!), this eatery has an inviting open dining space with lots of lights, natural pine furnishing, and specs of greenery. It’s also attracting a hungry crowd, judging by its packed operations every single day.
Unlike the Camp Hill site, however, the West End spot opens a lot later than the eastside outlet but whether you come to this cafe for breakfast or lunch, you’ll always get the same line-up of classic, delicious, and Insta-worthy meals.
Picnic Cafe’s highly-recommended signature dish is the nutritious and filling Wagyu Scotch egg, which is loaded with bearnaise sauce, house-pickled salad, avocado, kimchi-inspired dressing, piccolo, and hash browns. If it’s pancakes you’re hankering for, this cafe has Stacks On Stacks cream cheese pancakes topped with berries, pistachio praline, salted caramel sauce, lemon balm, and ice cream. The flavours are worth the guilt trip!
But there are lunch items on the menu as well, such as the chicken burger with 25 spices or the unique udon-based pasta with chorizo and tiger prawns. Between 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Picnic Cafe serves up snacks you can’t resist like fried halloumi sticks, salt and pepper squid, and popcorn chicken.
The Camp Hill cafe’s iced coffees, cold press juices, smoothies, and cocktails like the fabulous Biscoff or Toblerone martinis are also on the West End menu. Some of the cocktail drinks come with alcohol-free versions.
After the birth of this second venue, Picnic Cafe is also planning on offering actual picnics for diners to order in advance and then collect at their most convenient time. Tune in for more from this exciting cafe by following their Instagram or Facebook.
To a very reassuring degree, the West End property market showed remarkable resilience as the median house price growth hit over 20% for the period from July 2020 to June 2021. In terms of property growth, West End demonstrates the strength of Brisbane’s property market as both house and unit sales continue to successfully weather the economic uncertainty that pandemic restrictions have wrought in the inner city and CBD.
Data from Property Market Updates for the period of July 2020 to June 2021 indicated high growth for West End at 21.43 per cent, pulling the house median price from $1,050,00 to $1,275,000. Inventory sold at a brisk 43 days on the market with 50 properties snapped up during this period.
Most home buyers are families who need either a three or four-bedroom house with modern fittings to raise their children. Contrary to the popular perception that West End is home to unconventional and non-conforming bohemians, this locale is quite attractive to young families, professionals, and downsizers who still prefer the inner city life, where good schools and job opportunities abound.
Despite a growing inclination by buyers to ditch a busy city to look for lifestyle homes close to the beach, the river, or next to nature at the height of the pandemic and the lockdowns, sales activity has remained strong in West End’s housing market.
A three-level oasis on Hoogley Street with an open-air Japanese-inspired indoor centre garden sold the highest price for this period at $2,500,000. The architectural structure, located on a spot overlooking the Brisbane River via Orleigh Street, was built after the flooding in 2011. Its former owners loved staying at this residence for its proximity to the unique shops and the best schools in Brisbane. But as the children have grown, the owners have decided to downsize and let a new family have their dream house.
Unit Price Growth
West End’s unit market saw a modest decline of 2.96 per cent despite the sale of 552 properties within 77 days on market. This was partly because most of the sales were two-bedroom apartments, a segment of the market popular among downsizing couples and first-home buyers.
Aside from that, what has largely driven the unit median price down from $625,000 to $606,500 is an inventory oversupply, as new developments and construction continue to keep West End’s unit market in a constant state of flux. Tenant demand also dipped at the start of the pandemic as international students were unable to return to Australia and many workers lost their jobs.
Still, West End units haven’t lost their appeal for some savvy investors who are aware of the long-term prestige and value of the properties in this inner-city suburb. Proof of this is the six-bedroom riverside penthouse unit on Buchanan Street, which nabbed a $3,800,000 price tag, higher than the house sale. Set on top of a luxury development, this apartment is within West End’s famous cultural hub and very close to South Bank and the CBD.
About West End
While a densely populated suburb, West End offers heaps of conveniences for its residents with easy access to bike paths, buses, trains, and ferries. Established in the 1860s, this suburb has developed into one of the most progressive areas in Brisbane and has become a melting pot of cultures.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
As a diversified community, West End has an abundance of quirky cafes, unique and interesting retail stores, and a hip and happening nightlife. Following the 2011 floods, this location has had a number of revilisation both in the residential and commercial or mixed-use market.
West End is surrounded by Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), the Queensland College of Art, and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Brisbane’s premier educational institution, Brisbane State High School, is also close by, along with West End State School and Somerville House.
“West End represents an alternative take on urban living. There is nothing like it in Australia, and few places like it in the world. Imagine. A place where your neighbours are your friends, and your friends are artists, builders, students, doctors, musicians, lawyers, yoga instructors, academics, bloggers, local business owners, and circus performers. You walk, skate or ride to work or study – just 20 minutes to the city or to Queensland’s major universities (unless you choose to laze it on the CityCat as it hums along the river). You walk 10 minutes to the best food, coffee and nightlife in Brisbane. On Saturday, you walk to the farmers market, where you catch up with your neighbours, listen to upcoming musicians, and purchase fresh fruit and veg. The residential streets are quiet and safe, and neighbours still say hello to each other. In the morning, you wake up to the sound of Kookaburras, chickens, and lorikeets. You meet your friends at the gym, the indoor climbing centre, yoga, Capoeira, and/or Latin Dance school.”
Giddy
“Love living in West End. Plenty of excellent cafes, restaurants and fabulous pubs predominantly situated on Boundary Street. Great stretch of Asian restaurants all serving fab food with byo on Hardgrave Road. I also love the colourful, alternative vibe here that makes other Brisbane suburbs appear bland (trust me, I’ve lived in other suburbs!!). Great Saturday farmers markets and Friday night markets where you can eat yummy stall food. The ONLY downside however is the level of development work going on especially down by the river where we live.”
LynnL
“West End is Brisbane’s Bohemian heart. It is easy to write Brisbane off as a collection of bland suburbs that stretch out forever from the city. But most locals will tell visitors that there are three exceptions: West End, New Farm and Paddington. Among those suburbs, West End is a diverse and artistic suburb. The coffee is brilliant, even if you might sit on a milk crate. The food is without par, and you won’t pay too much for it. The streets range from typical inner-city streets to quiet cul-de-sacs. This is the place where Brisbane’s more broad-minded live (if they are lucky) and play.”
A well-established developer of several apartment buildings in West End has acquired another property on Bailey Street for its future residential development plans. Stockwell now owns the 2,347 square metre industrial block that also provides access to Kurilpa Street and Tondara Lane.
Mark Stockwell, the company’s founder, negotiated with the investor who owned the property since the 1980s through Jones Lang Lasalle. After closing the deal in August 2021, Mr Stockwell said that this latest asset will allow his company to serve more retirees, downsizers, and young families or first homeowners with the construction of another apartment complex.
Development plans for 8 Bailey Street have not yet been filed with Brisbane City Council but since 1997, Stockwell has been transforming former industrial sites into sought-after residential and commercial properties.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
The developer completed its first West End project in 2003 with the Regatta Apartments on Kurilpa Street.
To date, the company has built over 14 residential apartments in West End, including the upcoming Ferry Road apartments in conjunction with 3P Projects, the Muse with its twin boutique buildings in Tondara Lane, and the Riverpoint in Forbes Street.
Stockwell started as a Queensland construction company in the 1950s. Founded by William and Necia Stockwell and Tom and Norma Rumley, the cross-generational business prospered for decades as its partnered with local businesses for developments, leasing, property funds, and retail management.
Aside from its West End core projects, the company’s current projects include lifestyle and residential projects in South Brisbane, Dutton Park, Bribie Island, and Agnes Water.
