Sydney’s first alcohol-free bar Lentil on the Rocks opens
Sydney’s first alcohol-free bar, Lentil on the Rocks has opened in Newtown, right in the heart of the inner west.
The brain child of Melbourne-founded vegetarian food outlet Lentil As Anything, the bar is on the upstairs level of the food outlet’s existing Newtown premises.
The Lentil as Anything restaurant asks patrons to pay what they can afford, or what they think the food is worth, rather than listing prices. Staff are volunteers and the business is not for profit.
This new bar will also operate on an "honesty policy" system and is free entry.
Many mocktails were consumed upon the official opening last week, allowing teetotalers, general abstainers and the underage to enjoy a Newtown night out.
The bar will be open every Friday and Saturday from 8pm to 11pm.
Lentil as Anything upsized to their “own premises”, closer to the heavily trafficked Newtown train station, at 391 King Street in July this year. They were previously renting the nearby 531 King Street. This is their first, and currently only, foray into Sydney.
The alcohol-free bar is next door to one of Newtown’s favourite alcoholic watering holes “Sando”, or the Sandringham Hotel.
Alcohol-free bars are becoming increasingly popular overseas, dubbed ‘dry bars’ by offshore media, in particular in the United Kingdom. The Brink in Liverpool, Redemption Bar in London, Sobar in Nottingham and The Umbrella Café and Dry Bar Manchester have all recently opened. The Brink and The Other Side are, like Lentil on the Rocks, not for profits.
The Date Report notes that there are also 'dry bars' in Paris, Dublin and Chicago.
The OECD ranks Australia equal 16th internationally, tied with the United Kingdom and Switzerland, for alcohol content consumption per person.
The Preston and St Kilda Lentil as Anything restaurants are currently looking at potential renovations, with fundraising a la carte dinner nights to be held later this month. There are also outlets in Abbotsford and Footscray. But there is no word yet whether Melbourne can expect an alcohol-free Lentil as Anything bar any time soon.