When Patio opened in Rosalie Village last June, it was an overnight success. A character-filled pub-style venue serving suds from one of Brisbane’s best breweries and a menu of Italian-inspired eats – with that recipe, how could it not be? But despite the rapturous reception from locals, Patio’s owners – Range Brewing’s head honchos Matt McIver and Gerard Martin – had no grand designs to use Patio as a launchpad for similar concepts. Not at the start, at least.

“At the time that we opened Patio, we weren’t like, ‘This is what we’re gonna do now – we’re just going to open neighbourhood bars’,” says Matt. “It became clear pretty early on that Patio was a concept and a model that people would really get around. 

“[Patio’s success] became a catalyst for us to look for other areas in Brisbane where we could bring that local community vibe and provide a space that people can come together. We thought if we had opportunities further down the line, we would take them. But it was more of a wait and see what becomes available situation.”

Well, if you’re a resident of Camp Hill and Coorparoo, here’s some good news for you: Range Brewing is opening another neighbourhood bar in your neck of the woods – one imbued with the same sunny amiability as its crosstown sibling.

In late-September the team will debut Rays by Range, a community-oriented corner bar that is taking over the old Ze Pickle space at the junction of Martha Street and Newman Avenue. Positioned a short keg roll from beloved nosh spots like Ramona Trattoria, Mons Thai and Shizen Japanese Cuisine (plus Florence around the corner), Rays will be joining a stellar roster of suburban gems, a fact that helped sway Matt and Gerard’s decision to expand.

“Coorparoo and Camp Hill was an area that I thought could really use a space that was similar to what we’ve created at Patio,” Matt tells us. “I think the area has some great restaurants and some awesome cafes, and there is quite a buzz. I think [Rays could be] the missing piece over there.”

Work will soon start on a refurb of the venue, which will boast approximately 90 seats across interior and footpath dining. Much like the works undertaken at Patio, the Range team will be incorporating the Camp Hill site’s bones into the general aesthetic direction, which Matt describes as ‘warm industrial’.

“There is some exposed concrete, a lot of brick and some exposed pipes, but what we’re doing is warming that up and making it a lot more comfortable of a space, but still keeping some of those industrial elements to it,” Matt informs us. “We definitely want that space to have its own identity – there will be some similarities in the visual concept for sure, but there are some elements that are totally different.”

Once open, Rays will gift Camp Hill locals a drinks offering similar to Patio, with a beverage program anchored by Range Brewing beers and LATTA wines. Likewise, the kitchen will dispense a menu of Italian-leaning eats, including its famous range of Jacopo’s pizzas.

“[Rays] will have a similar style of service and a similar offering in terms of ten taps of our beer, two LATTA wines on tap, as well as a fairly significant wine list and cocktails,” says Matt. “The main thing is that we’re just trying to provide a nice, comfortable, casual space where people can catch up with their friends or families, take a load off and enjoy a cold drink –  alcoholic or non-alcoholic – and enjoy some nice, freshly made food, whether that’s one of our pizzas or something from the sharing menu.”

Rays by Range is targeting a late-September opening date – we’ll have an up-close look once the venue launches, but the team is inviting locals to follow the process via the Rays Instagram page.