Overview
Collingwood needs no introduction as a destination for bar hopping, with those of the dive, wine and public persuasion filled with patrons night after night. But the inner-north neighbourhood is increasingly becoming a hotspot for bigger, later and louder nights out. In 2018, The Lame Duck popped up on the corner of Smith and Gertrude Street, offering late-night disco fever, while iconic nightclub New Guernica moved to Smith Street in 2021 following 12 years in the CBD on Little Collins.
Now, tucked beneath this latter venue, a new kind of after-dark clubbing venue has arrived, with the launch of The Collingwood Basement. Owned and operated by the same crew behind New Guernica — Steve Costa, Dominic Lococo, Jaff Tzaferis and Kyle Bush — revellers can expect an intimate experience compared to happenings upstairs in the sprawling main club. With only capacity for 100 guests, each event that takes over the subterranean space is intended to feel "like its own community."
"We invite different subcultures to curate the program, which gives space to niche music and left-field culture that rarely gets a spotlight in bigger venues," says Tzaferis, keeping details about the space ambiguous for now. "For us, it's not just about running a business — it feels more like a social service, creating a platform where people can connect, create and keep these scenes alive."
New Guernica
Entering via a separate side entrance on Langridge Street, The Collingwood Basement is designed to celebrate the city's underground sounds, especially those emanating from the north. Think queer-centred techno nights, boutique record label takeovers and boundary-pushing promoters bringing cutting-edge tunes to the dance floor. And with a 4am license and a Funktion-One sound system, feeling connected to Melbourne's most eclectic scenes comes even easier.
"The sound has been designed with the same care, powerful on the floor but balanced so the seated social areas aren't intruded on, because we value human connection just as much as the connection our patrons have with music," says Tzaferis.
While rooted to Smith Street, The Collingwood Basement is envisaged for all of Melbourne's north, from Brunswick to Coburg. More than just a spot for wide-eyed movement, it offers the city's varied communities a chance to thrive alongside a fit-for-purpose space. "Our larger venue upstairs works on a very different scale, and while it's great for headline acts and big nights, it's harder to give consistent space to niche music and culture on a weekly basis there," says Tzaferis. "The Basement changes that. It's intimate, community-driven, and designed to highlight the sounds and ideas coming out of the northside."
New Guernica
The Collingwood Basement is now open Friday–Saturday from 10pm–4am at 0 Langridge St, Collingwood. Head to Instagram for more information.