Neil Slater changed the face of Newcastle’s dining scene when, in 1989, he transformed a former ferry terminal into an 80-seat waterfront restaurant.
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Scratchleys on the Wharf, as it was known, had a little plastic roof, outside toilets and a BYO policy. But the location, on Newcastle’s working harbour, was superb – matched only by the restaurant’s increasingly popular fresh seafood menu.
“We went on to win many awards including best BYO restaurant in NSW,” Mr Slater told Food & Wine.
“Brett Graham did his apprenticeship with us and back then a seaplane flew from Scratchleys to Rose Bay. People rocked up with an esky each, it was a wild time.
“After a few hiccups Scratchleys re-opened in September 1999 with environmental credentials, operable doors, inside toilets, a 280-bottle wine list, private function rooms and a computerised ordering system.”
He had “always wanted to revitalise the western end of the building” – and so the concept of a “holding bar” for the existing seafood restaurant was born, where people could enjoy a drink and live music in a sophisticated yet friendly environment.
Battlesticks Bar, designed by EJE Architecture and built by PDA Builders, opened a fortnight ago.
It offers cocktails, tapas, premium wine and live music seven nights a week, as well as on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Diners can order hot or cold tapas, larger plates, sides and desserts. Choices include smoked salmon with citrus cream cheese and crustini; sticky pork croquettes and chipotle aioli; chicken katsu with teriyaki sauce and cabbage; and frozen chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis.
In the kitchen is Leigh Boys, Scratchleys’ sous chef of eight years.
“We decided to do something innovative and architectural as well as environmentally-friendly – I don’t think you can over-capitalise in Newcastle these days,” Mr Slater said.
“It’s a different offering for the community, something that is civilised and sophisticated without being snobby.
“I would like to think that every now and then we can go out without our thongs and singlets, and not think it’s lah-di-dah. This is not a pub, it’s an anti-pub. There are no TVs, no thongs, no singlets, no TAB.
“It’s where you go if you want to show visitors how much Newcastle has grown as a city.”