Sow Sloe Boutique Bar has taken ten years to get here, but now that the Jamestown venue is finally open, the community is keen to get in for a look.
The small bar is a relaxed gin and whisky venue serving Australian spirits, pizzas and share-style food in a spacious creekside setting made for slowing down and catching up.
Owners and husband-and-wife duo Kristin and Ian were first inspired by a trip to Margaret River in Western Australia for a friend’s wedding.
“They had a lot of distilleries and breweries and bits and pieces, and cool little places to go,” they said.
“Back then, Jamestown had nothing like that… we thought, hell, we should get onto that and beat the rush, but it’s just taken us probably ten years too late to do that.”
Although the pair don’t live in Jamestown currently, it’s where Kristin grew up, and after looking at other locations, including their own farm, nothing quite felt right.
The block Sow Sloe Boutique Bar now sits on, is right in town but feels surprisingly secluded, with the creek beside it and very few close neighbours.
“For us, it’s about being a casual, relaxed sort of vibe. We want people to… just enjoy being here.”
Following renovations, a large green outdoor area, with 600 square metres of lawn, gives visitors and locals plenty of room to catch up and make an afternoon of it.
The drinks list focuses on Australian and local producers, while the food offering leans into simple, shareable favourites that are easy to graze on.
Think homemade pizzas and golden fries made for passing around the table. It’s a straightforward offering for now but with room to expand down the track.
“We’ve probably had about 50 pizzas so far while testing them and I haven’t found one I don’t like,” Ian said.
The name is an ode to sowing paddocks and the sloe berry, but it’s also a bit of an inside joke.
“If you ask my family, they’ll also tell you that I am so slow… so it is a play on words,” Kristin said.
The response from locals has already exceeded Ian and Kristin’s expectations, with interest coming from a much broader age range than they first imagined.
While they thought Sow Sloe would mainly appeal to people in their 30s to 50s, they’ve heard from locals in their 20s right through to their 60s and 70s who are eager to check it out.
The venue’s location has also struck a chord, offering plenty of space while still being within walking distance or a short drive from home for many people in Jamestown.
“I’m sure there will be a few bumps we’ll have to iron out as far as the process goes,” they said.
After a decade of talking, planning and searching for the right place, Sow Sloe Boutique Bar officially came to life with a soft opening on September 25.
Sow Sloe Boutique Bar
Where: 1 Irvine Street, Jamestown
When: soft opening on September 25
For more, click here.
