The New South Eveleigh Precinct Will Soon House the World's First Permanent No-Waste Bar

Helmed by world-famous bartender Matt Whiley and Sydney restaurateur Maurice Terzini, Re- is opening inside a historic railway workshop this summer.
Libby Curran
December 15, 2020

These days, you don't have to search too hard to find a bar that talks big about its low-waste ethos and sustainability focus. But the soon-to-open venture from Sydney hospitality stars Matt Whiley (Scout) and Maurice Terzini (Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Ciccia Bella) will be taking the philosophy to a whole new level and very much putting its money where its mouth is. Making its home in a heritage-listed, late-19th century railway engineering workshops in the newly revamped South Eveleigh precinct from February, Re- is on track to become the first permanent no-waste bar on the planet.

It's designed to be a truly world-class drinking destination, but with every single aspect built on an overriding commitment to sustainability — from the furniture, to the light fittings, to the glassware. Having already earned a reputation for his pioneering, planet-conscious methods at Scout, Whiley is keen for this new bar to become a world leader in the low-waste game, helping to shift perceptions and spur on some big changes for the entire hospitality industry.

"This is not about preaching what should be done, it's about creating the platform to take the vital conversation around waste in hospitality forward," Whiley said in a statement.

Re- is set to serve up a regular rotation of around eight-to-ten signature cocktails, driven by both a strong sense of innovation and that minimal-waste mentality. Expect reimagined classics, including plenty of creatively charged highballs and spritzes. There'll be a tidy food menu of flatbreads, toasties and other snacks to match, heroing reclaimed produce and sustainable ingredients.

Whiley will be joined behind the bar by some big-name local talent with Evan Stroeve (Bulletin Place) and Jake Down (This Must Be The Place), who currently work at Four Pillars Laboratory, both set to join the team.

Matt Whiley's now-closed Sydney bar Scout.

Of course, with a visionary like Terzini at the helm, Re-'s space is set to be every bit as groundbreaking as its offering and ethos. Creative production company Alfred is transforming a section of the historic former Eveleigh Locomotive Workshop into a study in sustainable design. You'll find stairs made from recycled plastic bags, terrazzo-inspired tabletops crafted from recycled bottles and tupperware, and banquette seating finished with pineapple leaf fibre. Reclaimed materials star throughout an assortment of furniture by Philippe Starck and Odger, while mycelium has been used to create the light fittings and wine coolers.

Last year, it was announced that the Mirvac's ambitious South Eveleigh project will also play host to a huge dining precinct, espresso bar and coffee research lab from The Grounds team, as well as a new modern Cantonese restaurant by acclaimed chef Kylie Kwong.

Re- will open at 2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh, from February 2021. We'll share further details as they drop.

Top image: South Eveleigh Precinct by Mirvac

Published on December 15, 2020 by Libby Curran
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