Beirne Lane Is Fortitude Valley's New 24-Hour Bar, Eatery and Dancing Spot
It's a gastropub-meets-nightclub with a solid food lineup, including a dedicated katsu sandwich menu.
Whether you're keen to kick on once lockout time comes, are hankering for a bite in the evening's early hours or need somewhere to dance the night away, Fortitude Valley's new watering hole offers a one-stop-shop — and, now that Beirne Lane has opened its doors in the heritage-listed T.C. Beirne Building, it's not closing them.
Settling into the Brunswick Street spot from early November, Beirne Lane trades 24 hours a day. The indoor and outdoor two-level space is the latest venture from Trent Meade and Matt Blyth at the Celissa hospitality group, and it combines the vibe of some of their other projects, blending the gastropub aspect of Isles Lane in the CBD with the hangout feel of fellow Valley residents The Met and GPO.
Mixing things together drives the venue's food menu, too, which takes inspiration from Beirne Lane's namesake in an interesting way. If you're not up on the city's past, Thomas Charles Beirne came to Brissie from Ireland, opened a department store in the Valley at the turn of the twentieth century, and initially employed James McWhirter — who would then open a competing department store across the street. Beirne also apparently loved Japanese culture.
What this mini-history lesson means is that Beirne Lane slings an Irish-meets-Japanese menu in its iconic location, complete with a dedicated katsu sandwich menu featuring the likes of beef with spicy miso mayonnaise and tonkatsu sauce, and fish with Kewpie tartare, bacon, Sriracha and pickled jalapeño. Also on offer are chips slathered in Japanese curry, cob loaf with beer cheese, plus spicy pork rinds with seaweed crisps and peanuts, as well as king prawns with black garlic butter and marinated spatchcock with charred lime from the charcoal grill.
In another nod to Brisbane gone by, the spot is reviving the 'shilling meal'. A plate of oysters, steak and more, it was available to T.C. Beirne's employees for just a shilling. The new version isn't as cheap, but it does feature four oysters, dry-age rib-eye steak, buttermilk onion rings and a clotted cream cannoli, and is recommended for sharing.
Drinks-wise, rotating beers and a range of natural, organic wines are joined by a cocktail list that throws together combos of Australian native produce, house-made syrups and whatever's in season. That's evident in the Oh Boys! We Must Have Another!, which blends gin, brandy, rum, orgeat, lime and orange juice, and sherry, and is inspired by — like most of the joint — T.C. Beirne's past.
Find Beirne Lane at 315 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, open 24/7.
