24 February 2017

Burley Group to run new ANU Bar in Hamlet-style pop-up

| Charlotte
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Tristan Madigan and Will Honey of the Burley Group. Photo: Charlotte Harper

The operators of Walt and Burley and Betti Bravo will manage the establishment that will replace the existing ANU bar during and after the upcoming $220 million Union Court revamp.

ANU commerce graduate Tristan Madigan and his business partner in the Burley Group, Will Honey, pictured above, say they plan to ensure the new ANU Bar is true to its roots as a music venue.

“The new bar and entertainment precinct’s DNA will be hinged around live music and engagement with the student population and broader Canberra community,” Mr Madigan said.

“There’s the initial pop-up space, which still has some serious resource, and then there’s the second stage, the final stage, with which we’ll certainly be able to accommodate the large gigs.”

The businessman said the pop-up bar would feature a stage and would be of appropriate scale to showcase live music, though he was unable to provide capacity figures for either the temporary or final stage bar at this point.

“We’re working with the ANU and the builders and architects now in the final stages of design,” Mr Madigan said.

“We’ll be running a series of focus groups with students – stakeholder engagement – to incorporate everyone’s needs and requirements.”

An artist's impression of the village.

Other tenants in the Hamlet-style pop-up village that will operate during the redevelopment of the student hub will include BrodDogs and Mr Papa. The hub will commence operation mid-year and service the student population throughout the 18 months or so that the union’s facilities are out of action due the redevelopment.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said he hoped the food vans would help link the university and the CBD.

“The new pop-up will be a vibrant new location where the ANU and the wider Canberra community can come together,” he said.

Companies involved in the pop-up have been selected by a competitive tender process.

The long-term revitalisation of Union Court and University Avenue includes new teaching and student buildings, a purpose-built event and theatre building, student accommodation, swimming pool, gym, outdoor spaces and amphitheatre, bars, event pavilions, cafes, services, shops and underground parking.

The design and construction of stage one will be completed in 2019.

A concept diagram of the pop-up village.

More information on the redevelopment at the ANU is available here.

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