A soupçon of inventiveness, a dash of intrigue and not a small amount of humour mixed with mischief. This was the recipe that created the Tom Collins cocktail.
It began in New York in 1874, when a man approached an acquaintance having a drink in a bar. He told his acquaintance there was a fellow in a bar down the road named Tom Collins telling everyone terrible things about him.
“We wanted to create a place where the experience is memorable, where good moments can be forged between friends and laughed about later”
The man stormed down the road to confront Tom Collins, leaving his scotch, cigar and woman behind for the taking. This hoax began to happen so often in New York and Philadelphia that eventually a wise barman invented a drink named the Tom Collins, which was offered to any man storming into the bar demanding to see Tom Collins and wreak his revenge.
It’s a prank that’s both playful and elegant, and it’s this vibe that Toowoomba’s new Tom Collins Bar hopes to offer. Proprietors Brendan and Cara Hawkey say they want people to feel comfortable and free to have a laugh.
“We wanted to create a place where the experience is memorable, where good moments can be forged between friends and laughed about later,” Brendan says. “Somewhere that’s fun, you can come and relax and not worry about who’s around or judging. You bring your friends, eat something great, have a few drinks and enjoy your experience.”
As part of the team that were behind the revival of the National Hotel, there’s no question Brendan and Cara have experience in bringing Toowoomba a popular food and drink experience.
Offering fresh twists on classic favourites their menu will feature modern pub fare and share plates, craft beers, wine, and of course cocktails, including a family of specially developed Tom Collins varieties. Morsels we can look forward to include sliders, a parmi burger, Vietnamese duck rice paper rolls and chicken croquettes.
The have been working hard with local chef James Alsop to develop a 100% gluten free menu, and have a dedicated beer line for gluten free beer too.
“Everything is made from scratch with love,” Cara says. “People request gluten free and it isn’t just an intolerance, a lot of people choose it as a lifestyle. We’ve done a lot of research with our chef and tested the menu and you wouldn’t even know the difference.
“We also have a paddock to plate concept and are using fresh produce wherever we can. The wine list will have a selection that’s organic, biodynamic and preservative free and we have a dedicated beer line for gluten free beer as well. Everything is fresh and delicious.”
Located in the spot where venues like Veraison, The Olive Branch and Campari have been and gone the Hawkeys aren’t buying in to the common Toowoomba theory that the venue is “cursed”.
“I think there’s been little bit of bad luck that’s happened to the previous operators,” Brendan says. “It was brave what the original operators did to put high end restaurants in but you do have to meet the market.
“It can be great to have the biggest ideas in the world and I’d love to put a rollercoaster in and have drones flying beer but there’s a reality to what the market expects. And, we are a bar, not a restaurant, so there’s a key difference right away.”
As well as having a history in hospitality Brendan is a carpenter by trade and has undertaken the fit out of Tom Collins himself. The venue now boasts a beautiful long wooden bench for sharing meals, a semi-private area that can host larger groups and function room that can hold 30 to 40 people.
Future plans for the venue include live music Thursday to Sundays, and a vertical herb garden behind the bar to help deliver on their fresh food promise.
Tom Collins Bar will be open seven days a week, 11am ‘til late. For more on Tom Collins Bar visit their website or like them on Facebook.
