Clare Valley

Clare Valley’s first rooftop bar opens at Seed’s new location

Clare’s first rooftop bar opens this weekend, in the first stage or a major transformation of an old Commonwealth Bank site.

Feature image: Seed Clare Valley

Popular Clare Valley restaurant ​Seed​ returns to Clare this month, with an expanded offering and purpose-built space.

This weekend is your first opportunity to check out the huge undertaking that the team have been involved with, with a soft launch ‘preview weekend’.

The Seed team are taking a staged approach to opening, and the Rooftop bar is the first cab off the rank.

The new rooftop bar provides both a new perspective on the township, and a drinking experience that is unique to the region, and a custom built wood-oven will produce Napoli style pizza.

The Deli and Bistro will follow soon, with more information about those to follow.

In the meantime, once this long weekend is over,  the team will be running the bar aspect (including wood-fired pizzas and bar snacks) from 12pm-late Wed-Sun.

In 2020, Chef and restaurateur ​Guy Parkinson, together with business partners ​Sam Macdonald (​SJM Carpentry & Building), ​Candice Leighton (Seed)​ and ​Sam Maitland (Pangkarra Foods)​, embarked on the extensive renovations for the new venue site, located in the main street of Clare, formerly a 1970s Commonwealth Bank.

The original Seed Winehouse + Kitchen opened in 2014, and whilst the ethos of the original venue will remain, the new offering is more diverse.

Known for his celebration of relaxed, regional dining, Parkinson will work alongside Head Chef Louis Ritchie​ to develop menus that will continue to celebrate simple, quality ingredients, with a European accent.

Once complete, Seed’s new iteration will include a daytime deli/providore, a nighttime bistro, and a rooftop bar, with venture into events, which are expected to spill out into the adjoining laneway.

“This new space means that we are able to deliver on the long-term vision that we have always had for Seed,” says ​Parkinson​.

“At our old location we were limited by what we could do beyond the core dining experience. So, when the opportunity came up to renovate the bank with local builder and friend Sam Macdonald, we couldn’t go past it.

“It means we can push ourselves further and offer more for both Clare Valley locals, and visitors to the region.”

Unique to the building itself will be the wine room, which is located in the bank’s original vault.

The new space also boasts an exterior mural by Queensland-based street artist ​EJ Zyla​, commissioned by Seed in conjunction with SJM and the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council.

​EJ Zyla with her artwork on the Seed building in Clare

“We’re so excited to watch our vision come to life in a space that is designed specifically for it,” says ​Leighton​.

“We’re lucky to be located in a region that has such incredible access to produce and producers, and we can’t wait for the new Seed to really work to activate the town and help to celebrate the region.

“The partnership with Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council through the commissioning of EJ Zyla’s mural is central to this.”

Seed Clare Valley is located at 268 Main Street, Clare
https://www.facebook.com/seedclarevalley

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