Photography courtesy of The Vision Collective

There’s a new reason to head to Darby St for a night out and if you’re a lover of music, natural wines, and good vibes you’ll be excited to head to this new disco social club, Bar Romeo.

Brought to us by local hospitality aficionado, Thomas Cox, Bar Romeo officially opened their doors to the people of Newcastle in mid-May and have been bringing their disco vibes to Darby St ever since.

After being in the hospitality game since day dot, it wasn’t long before Thomas decided his goal was to open up his very own bar. Working as a Dj across many of Newcastle’s night venues over the years, he’s been keeping an eye on the nightlife of our city waiting for the perfect time.

“For the last five years, I have been researching all things bar. Visiting places and getting inspiration, checking out menus, experimenting with cocktails, etc. I have a strong passion for it, from the design of the space to the food and cocktails.

“I also have a strong interest in wine which came a bit later for me and I am particularly interested in natural wines. I think more people are getting into that. So, in a way, I had my concept ready, but it was just waiting for the right opportunity,” Thomas said.

Keeping a close eye on the bustling community on Darby St, it was an absolute no-brainer for Thomas to jump on the opportunity when the lease became available at the old Skeeta’s on Darby spot.

The small bar boasts good music and is the place for those looking to have a fun night out with quality wine and cocktails on offer. The drinks list has a strong focus on natural wines from across Australia and the Mediterranean.

“We’re focussing on many wines you aren’t able to get elsewhere in Newcastle. Our cocktail list has a slight Mediterranean theme with our Sicilian Margarita made with tequila, limoncello, lemon, and Sichuan, and our house-made sangria.”

The bar also features a range of bespoke G&T’s that offer up a selection of gins, tonic, and garnish combinations as well as their iconic House Spritz made with rosé, blood orange, rhubarb, and passionfruit.

With a huge focus on the drinks list, Bar Romeo is keeping their foodie offerings simple. With a few snack offerings including Marinated Olives and Marinated Peppers alongside Antipasto, Meat & Cheese Boards, and Charcuterie.

“We have imported a vintage style fly-wheel slicer directly from Italy to slice all of our charcuterie to order. We are focusing on a quality selection of meats and cheeses, including Jamon Serrano from Spain and Prosciutto from Italy. We are also marinating our olives in-house. Our aim is to have simple great quality food with an in-house touch.”

Now, where does the disco come into it all?

“We love disco! All of our playlists are full of all the fun disco songs. We have DJs playing from 7pm-late on Friday and Saturday nights.

“Newcastle’s nightlife is becoming more vibrant… and I think we need more venues with different offerings. I wanted somewhere people could come and enjoy drinks in a beautiful space with good music, so it was an easy decision to have disco music as the main vibe, which I think is something Newcastle is missing and is something that is fun and appeals to a wide audience.”

Love a happy hour? Head in from 5pm-7pm, Thursdays through to Saturdays for $6 tap beers, $14 house cocktails, $8 house wines, and $10 Spritz. Love a freebie? Drop-in on a Thursday and buy a bottle of wine to enjoy a complimentary cheese tasting plate.

So, what are you doing this weekend? Head on into the social disco club on Darby St and experience the newest hospo hub in Cooks Hill.