Sea shanty bar opens its doors

Rum is the focus of The Mermaid Lounge in Lefty's Old Time Music Hall, which opens tonight. With a slightly risque sea shanty theme, the bar on the top floor of Lefty's will offer 60 types of rum, says co-owner Jamie Webb.

Webb and Sydney’s Jason Scott have created the bar from an empty shell, albeit one with good bones. Original features include high ceilings, polished wooden floors and massive arched windows. The tongue in cheek theme features a burnished blue gum bar inset with abalone shell and a huge model ship, as well "Jacques and Mark" -the sharks that hang from the ceiling.
Webb and Scott found the sharks, along with other marine and seafaring ephemera in a maritime museum near Fingal in northern New South Wales.

The walls are adorned with PG rated Sailor Jerry murals by former Brisbane- now Melbourne- based graffiti artist Steen Jones. Seating, at the bar or in booths, is for around 45.

In addition to rum, the bar will offer five cocktails, including the delightfully retro Blue Hawaii as well as their own home-brewed ginger beer which is mixed with rum to make a Dark and Stormy.

The maritime theme carries through to the bar menu, which will feature fishermen's baskets and other seafood snacks.

For the moment, Webb says The Mermaid Lounge will open the same hours as Lefty's.

Details: The Mermaid Lounge, Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, 15 Caxton Street, Petrie Terrace.