MELBOURNE | Remember those property developers who wanted to build apartments behind Howler a few years back? They’re the ones who, in their application to council, deliberately ignored the fact that Howler had existed for several years, and instead said that the former warehouse was operating under its pre-Howler guise as a wool store.
You know the story, apartments go up next to an established venue, the kind of venue that developers use as an example of the area’s vibrancy when marketing the apartments, then one resident complains about noise and gets the venue shut down. In this case, there was a huge uproar from local residents (including myself), and council ended up rejecting the proposal using Victoria’s “Agent of Change” laws, which were enacted in 2014 and aim to protect live music venues from this exact kind of inappropriate residential development.
Well in a twist of fate, the folks behind Howler have acquired that very site, and have opened Wes Anderson meets 1960s Palm Springs inspired pop-up bar, Howlerwood. I decided to take a look on Saturday.
It’s got a super chill vibe, perfect for the long summer days we’ve been having lately in Melbourne. There’s big and small rosé sangria jugs, four kinds of frozen slushie cocktails (my favourite is the peach bourbon iced tea), a few other cocktails (the iced coffee one is ace), spritzes, and local wines and beers.
If you’re hungry, Red Sparrow have their van parked at the front for all of your pizza needs.
A top offering all ’round, and one I’ll definitely be returning to.
Howlerwood
8 Michael Street
Brunswick
Victoria 3056
Australia
Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Wed – Fri: 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Sat – Sun: 3:00pm to 10:00pm