New gastro pub named after hecklers and hotels

Caxton Street looks the place to be this weekend, with Statler and Waldorf joining neighbour The Mermaid Lounge (inside Lefty's Old Time Music Hall) in opening its doors on Friday.

The owners of the new gastro pub, formerly the old Stadium Bar & Grill, are Jay Lambert, Andrew Tolley and Steve McDermott.

If you're wondering about the name, it is a reference to both two famous New York hotels and the two old hecklers in The Muppets.

The large screen TVs have been removed and the place stripped back to its original state, with exposed brick walls and heavy wooden beams on show. A trio of fireplaces will no doubt create a cosy ambience during our brief winters. The venue seats around 40 inside, as well as footpath dining and a substantial beer garden out back.

A soft opening is planned for tonight, with a pop-up menu being produced by chef Tolley (ex-Pearl Cafe, Woolloongabba), until they're up and running. Expect 'three little pigs'- pork belly rolls with soprasada and bacon; a Ploughman's, a roast of the day (currently duck) and eggplant parmigiana.

Tolley says he's pretty chuffed to have secured a plot of land and a market gardener in Maleny who will grow to order for him. With ex-The Bowery manager McDermott on board we expect the drinks list will be pretty solid too.