Christmas has come early for cocktail lovers in Branxton, with the former Commercial Hotel prepped to house an all-new bar, opening in November.
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The village's nightlife is expanding with the bar opening during the same month as the Huntlee Tavern.
The new cocktail bar will feature a little something for everyone - The Quinn aims to offer an experience more than anything, incorporating historic themes, accompanied by natural views, refreshing beverages, a restaurant, and even an escape room.
The Quinn is the brainchild of Robert Williams from Williams and Co, who said after searching for a venue that would fit his idea, the Commercial Hotel was "love at first sight."
"It was always something we had lurking in the background but we could never really find anywhere that perfectly fit what we wanted," he said.
"The jobs the owners have done in renovating it over the last five years has been amazing. The aesthetics of the building was just perfect for what we were looking for."
Significantly growing in bars internationally, escape rooms are becoming an attraction in Australia, with reports showing a little over 40 currently operating in the main CBDs of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra.
Being featured in the new venue, Williams said it will offer people tangible and real-world experiences, rather than the ones found with Netflix or devices.
"The escape room puts a little different twist on it. It is a one hour experience where you're taken into essentially a locked room," he explained.
"There is a combination of academic and physical puzzles that you'll have to solve to eventually find a key or code to escape out of that room."
Taking in the history of the building and town, the name itself is testimonial to the original licensee of the building, Timothy Quinn. There will also be history tours, sharing stories about Branxton and the pub itself.
"Everything we're doing is trying to be respectful and really incorporate the history of Branxton and the building," Williams said.
Williams said that the main targets will be locals, offering them with something other than wineries or pub food, with a locals' discount card in the plans.
"The way I see it is; on a Friday night, you're getting your kids babysat, coming out, having a cocktail with friends," he said.
"On Sunday, you're coming back with the kids to have a nice lunch.
"It's something for everyone."
Second on the list, Williams aims for tour operators to put Branxton on the map.
"It's a beautiful part that's under-utilised," he said.
"We want to create an experience and destination in Branxton, and try to encourage tour operators to drive over the bridge.
"I see a huge opportunity there for Branxton and the Hunter Valley to have something different that is for everyone, and hopefully helps highlight the Branxton/Greta area."
