West Village team takes over Darlinghurst venue

With Sydney rooftops an increasingly valuable commodity, alfresco space was high on the shopping list for the second venture from Locky Paech​ and James Bodel, the duo behind Petersham's new West Village. In a nice piece of symmetry they've just bought East Village in Darlinghurst, a century-old, four-storey pub with a rooftop capturing CBD skyline views.

With a number of rooftop venues about to open, including one at The Light Brigade in Woollahra, they are the new high-ticket hospitality accoutrement. Bodel and Paech's Goodtime Hospitality has closed East Village for a refurb by design outfit Alexander & Co. When it reopens in spring, former Catalina and X74 Coogee chef Nathan Holowell​​ will rattle its pans.