Franc.
This Wednesday, New Farm shopping hub Merthyr Village will welcome a fresh-faced newcomer – one specialising in express eats with a bit of a French spin. Franc. is the new concept from Matt and Dan Jefferis, the brothers behind hugely popular New Farm cafe (and fellow Merthyr Village resident) Savour. The duo has taken over the space previously occupied by Dello Mano for the new concept, which is described as a patisserie-inspired pit stop specialising in everything from sandwiches and pastries to coffee and gelato. Matt and Dan have linked up with interior designer Alexa Nice to hone in on Franc.’s aesthetic, which has resulted in a chic and light makeover comprised of cream-coloured Venetian render plaster, oak bench tops and shelves, and brass lighting fixtures. As for the offering, Franc. will turn out a broad selection of morsels, including fresh baguettes, sandwiches and salads, plus pastries, pies and croissants baked on site at Savour. Pie flavours will include hearty Angus beef and osso bucco pies, which will be available alongside Tasmanian lamb pasties and chorizo quiches. Franc. will also feature a small gelato cabinet stocked with silky goodness supplied by La Macelleria, with flavours like chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, salted caramel and raspberry cheesecake available alongside a sorbet. When it comes to coffee, Franc. will be pouring its own signature blend made in collaboration with Providore & Co in Bowen Hills as well as tea from Tour de Tea. Keep your eyes peeled for an up-close look at Franc. on The Weekend Edition soon.

Josie North
Over the weekend, the team behind beloved Toowong coffee spot Josie North made an exciting announcement. Later this spring, the neighbourhood cafe will open at night from Thursday to Saturday as a wine bar, giving locals the cool and casual nighttime haunt they’ve long desired. The team will be translating the same refined, quality-driven approach to its post-sunset identity, applying a tasteful curatorial ethos to a punchy menu of vino and snacks. Josie North’s wine list will boast a tidy selection of Australian and international drops, with a distinct lean towards lo-fi, minimal-intervention wines sourced from small-scale producers. Roughly five or six wines will be available by the glass, with a constantly updating stash of rare and unique bottles also on hand for those seeking something new to try each visit. Though small, Josie North’s kitchen will still be doling out a selection of delicious drinking food – we’ve been told to expect the likes of raw seafood (think oysters and sashimi), some fried snacks and charcuterie with a twist. The Josie North team is targeting a late-September or early-October date for the launch of its after-dark offering, though fans will be stoked to hear that the daytime menu has already received some fresh tweaks. In order to add a bit of versatility to the established offering of rolls and sandwiches, from this week Josie North now offers a concise build-your-own breakfast option featuring sourdough toast and extras such as fried eggs, fresh ricotta and chilli honey, haloumi, field mushrooms, and smoked loin bacon. We’ll have more info on Josie North’s wine bar pivot closer to launch!

Aura Hotel
If you’re a Sunshine Coast-based music lover (or don’t mind travelling for a sweet gig), then you might want to sit down, as we have some big news to share. The Comiskey Group – the hospitality and entertainment crew behind venues such as Sandstone Point Hotel and Eatons Hill Hotel will be adding a brand-new venue to its portfolio in 2024 with the opening of Aura Hotel. This impressive live-music venue and hotel will be an exciting addition to Stockland Aura, a masterplanned community near Caloundra. The $35-million development will boast internal and alfresco dining areas, six bars, a gaming room and function spaces, while the live-music hall itself (which will be able to house 2500 punters across ground and mezzanine levels) will be equipped with a state-of-the-art PA and lighting rig. The Aura Hotel announcement comes hot on the heels of Comiskey Group’s recent announcement of Coochin Fields, the team’s brand-new 150-ha outdoor festival site, which is located 35 minutes from Maroochydore.

Archer Brewing
In case you missed the news last week, Archer Brewing – one of Brisbane’s most beloved independent beer makers – has revealed details of its forthcoming new brewery headquarters in Newmarket, which is on track to open in October. Three years on from the closure of its Spring Hill microbrewery, owners Stuart and Lucy Martin have found a corker of a site for the brewery’s rebirth, snagging a hangar-style building on Newmarket Road in which the team is installing a 10-hectolitre two-vessel system alongside a kitchen, new bar and a mezzanine seating level. Chris Fletcher (formerly of 2 Brothers Brewing in Moorabbin, Victoria) will oversee brewing operations, continuing Archer’s established method of using all-Australian ingredients in the brewing process. As for the range itself, Stuart and Lucy are bringing across most of Archer’s established core range (including its mid-strength lager, pale ale and IPA) but will be dropping its pilsner from the line-up in favour of a new Japanese-style rice lager. A small pilot kit will be utilised to craft single-keg batches of experimental beers that will only be available over the bar at Newmarket. The crew is also hard at work perfecting the recipes for a ginger beer and a cider made from Stanthorpe apples. Archer Brewing’s artisan produce licence means that the team can also stock wine and spirits, so expect a selection of drops from other local booze makers. As for Archer Brewing’s food offering, Stuart and Lucy are still putting thought towards the menu direction, with a shareable range of Mexican-inspired and deli-style eats currently front-running contenders.

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].