Just Open: Workshop 14 bar, Hamilton, Brisbane

Hamilton Harbour resident Anne Scott got tired of waiting for someone to open a bar in her neighbourhood, so she decided to do it herself.

Workshop 14 opens on Friday, March 20, with the name inspired by the area's shipping history.

It'll be the first foray into hospitality for Scott, who has a retail background.

"It's very different for me, but it's based on the same principles of customer service, it's just selling a different product," she says.

The bar, within the Hamilton Harbour precinct, will have a craft beer focus, with three beers and a cider on tap, as well as a dozen or so beers by the bottle, mostly local.

So why the beer focus?

"I did have a little help from my husband, " Scott says.

"I'm a wine girl myself, but he's always been into beer and he instigated what beers were chosen to start with, looking at what seemed to be favourites with Brisbane. We'll certainly be looking at what is popular and are happy to expand the range according to what people want."

Scott has managed to squeeze a couple of dozen bottles of wine onto the list, as well as taking charge of a small bar snack menu, including pizza and cheeseboards.

"We're keeping it very simple. Like our beer, we're trying to focus on Australian produce. We want to look after our farmers just as we do our local craft brewers."

Despite its suburban location, Scott is confident the neighbourhood bar will win over locals.

"There are 900 residential units here and lots of construction happening with the whole precinct – right up to Gateway Bridge being developed as a residential area. For people who live here, it's a lifestyle choice that means they can leave the car at home and walk to venues.

"There's already a real sense of community spirit here already ... I reckon it will be the area's new meeting house; somewhere for people to come and have a drink and a snack before going out to dinner."

With their own apartment just "above the shop" there won't be much escape for the pair, with husband Stewart roped in after work and on weekends as a glassy.

"It's a dream come true for him really: a wife who owns a bar," Scott says.

Scott swings open the doors on Friday, March 20 at 4pm.

Open Tue-Thur 4pm-9pm; Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-8pm.

Workshop 14, Hamilton Harbour, 8 Hercules Street, Hamilton, workshop14.com.au