From the people who brought you Sling Bar [West End], Ponycat [New Farm] & Kettle & Tin Restaurant [Paddington], owners Martin Lange, Asa Boardman and Trent Goodwin, are the forces behind Cobbler - West End’s newest cocktail and whisky bar.

Tucked away at 7 Browning Street, Cobbler boasts black leather bar stools and soft industrial lighting that providse a warm and relaxed mood amidst the exposed brick walls. The space itself is split in two, with ground level upon entry and mezzanine level a short walk up the metal staircase.

Asa Boardman’s distinct graffiti style features as murals on the back walls of the mezzanine level, offering a colourful backdrop to those enjoying a whisky dram on the couches nearby.

The owners required an olden time look, speakeasy country feel. They have used natural recycled timbers and period pieces to achieve this, as well as dark paints and low lighting. They admit to programming and planning the space on the back of napkins!

Plumbing was a major issue. Due to the fact that the ground level is so close in proximity to the actual ground beneath, the water drainage from the bar was very hard to achieve.

Taking the environment into account, Cobbler has recycled as its bar top; a beautiful piece of Grey Ironbark Timber rescued from the 1981 Queensland bushfires. Garde Timber in Moorooka supplied and fitted the top in three pieces from the one tree. It still has a visible darkened edge where the fire left its impression.

The recycled timber depots that they used really helped reinforce what they were trying to achieve. Walking around in those places is quite inspiring. Its kind of like walking back in time and living the lives of the people who once lived in the timber that is now pulled apart, catalogued and stacked.

The venue was always going to be dark, so that decision was made for them due to the nature of the business. But once they pulled down the walls and discovered the brick underneath, the feeling was quite mutual among all of them that the brick needed to feature.

The main element that ties the venue would be the back bar. It is a great shelving concept that they had pondered over, and the bottles are the feature. Its great that the actual ‘for sale stock’ is a part of the overall look of the venue.

Any bar needs moody lighting and they call them ‘Ugly Lights” for a reason. Edison style warm yellow globes and very few of them, they really bring out the brick work.

The Graffiti Art work upstairs on the mezzanine level almost separates that level from the rest of the venue. Asa Boardman painted it all and had a great time doing it. Martin Lange had a vision for the bathrooms inclduing large timber sinktops with ornate industrial chains hanging them from the wall.