Overview
Bars, restaurants and a cinema have long been part of the Portside Wharf experience, but hitting the pub for a pint over a parmigiana hasn't previously featured at the Hamilton precinct. That's changing. The inner-north area is in the middle of a $20-million revamp, with a gastropub among its upcoming additions. That food-serving watering hole: Portside Social.
If you're already thinking about Newstead Social, you're on the right track. The same team is behind both venues. All Stars Hospitality Group is taking its cues for its new venture from what'll now be a sibling venue to Portside Social, after the model has proved a hit since Newstead Social opened in 2022.
At Portside, All Stars Hospitality Group co-directors Justin Kong and Patrick Donohue are overseeing a pub that'll sprawl across 224 square metres in the precinct's riverfront village, near Gusto da Gianni and Burrito Bar Portside, and join the company's stable of hospitality sites alongside Wonderland Nightclub, Soul Pantry and more. Fingers crossed that the full Newstead Social setup makes the jump, including bingo, trivia nights and live sports.
Expect to start sinking drinks and playing games of pool around June, with the fitout kicking off in mid-March. Clui Design is overseeing the venue's decor, plus Builder Lowry Group. The vibe will be down to earth and the look will hew industrial.
And on the food menu: burgers, bangers and mash, fish and chips, chicken schnitzels and parmis, salads and steaks, so traditional pub grub. The drinks will also stick with classics, aka beer, wine and cocktails.
"Portside Social will be your good old fashioned local pub, with an elevated ambiance and menu," said Kong, who also called it "a space to relax and unwind with family or mates and a hotspot for locals to catch up and connect".
"I live locally and think it's such an incredible location," he continued. "There's a diverse demographic in and around Hamilton who will benefit from having a bar like Portside Social in the mix, with few venues of this kind available in the area."
Portside Social might be Portside's first pub, but it's part of a fresh wave of bars and eateries that've started calling the Hamilton spot home over the past year. Rise Bakery, Rosé Gelateria, Birds Nest Yakitori and Fosh are all 2023 newcomers. Choo Choo Sushi opened at the beginning of February 2024, with Sugee Ramen and Chinese restaurant Uncle Wang set to follow in the very near future.
This Portside makeover is separate to the also-announced Northshore Hamilton expansion. That other project is set to see the neighbouring precinct gain an extra 1.2 kilometres, and is focused around hosting the Brisbane Athlete Village for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, then giving residents something to enjoy afterwards.
Find Portside Social at Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton, sometime from June 2024 — keep an eye on the Portside Wharf website for further details.