Kicking off with Goodbye Ryle July next week, Gilbert Place traders are gearing up for a months-long series of block parties, with Hains & Co, Red October and The Pancake Kitchen teaming up to bring revellers back to the backstreet laneway.

Hains & Co, Red October and The Original Pancake Kitchen are teaming up to shake off the now months-long COVID blues and reintroduce the city’s bar-hoppers to the Gilbert Place experience, throwing a set of street parties over several weekends from July through September.

The first said happening is ‘Goodbye Rye July’, taking place on Friday, 31 July and Saturday, 1 August. The party is wild west-themed and will be a celebration of all things American whiskey.

Marcus Motteram, owner of Hains & Co, says hospitality venues have taken a hit and businesses are still in the recovery stage from the coronavirus lockdown.

“These events are an invitation for people to come back into the city and experience live venues out on the street, [while] following COVID-19 rules and staying safe,” he says.

“Goodbye Rye July is a celebration of American whiskey and we thought what better idea than to bring it out to the street and give people a great reason to come out and enjoy it.”

Attendees of ‘Goodbye Rye July’ will have full access to the open laneway, with the backroad strip’s restaurants also setting up on a section of the street.

There will be live music from Dusty Lee Stephenson on the Friday and Cal Williams on Saturday.

Punters will also be able to partake in “Old Midwestern parlour games”, with a bunch of prizes up for grabs.

“We are all serious about hospitality, it doesn’t mean what we do has to be serious,” Marcus says

“We are providing people with live shows and events that they have been missing. We’ve got Cal Williams, who is fantastic on slide guitar, on Saturday; and Dusty Lee Stephenson, who has got a great and wonderful sound, for the Friday.”

Following ‘Goodbye Rye July’, there will be a roster of street parties taking place on Gilbert Place, including:

• Winter Warmers – a celebration of winter, fire, and hot cocktails to warm the soul. Friday, 14 August to Saturday, 15 August,
• Mother’s Ruin – billed as a celebration of everything Gin. Friday 28 August to Saturday 29 August,
• Hola Hospo (featuring Never Never Distilling’s 3rd Birthday) – which is a tribute to “all the hospitality crew that make our life sensational.” Sunday, 30 August,
• and finally, Agave Love – a tribute to Mexican spirits, tequila, mezcal and raicia. Saturday, 12 September.

Never Never’s Sean Baxter and Tim Boast love supporting hospo. This image: Katie Edwards

Hains & Co has seen an incredible level of support since reopening its doors post-shutdown, Marcus says, and his intention for the series of parties is to thank all those who’ve turned up, bought a cocktail or two, and helped to keep he and his neighbours afloat.

“For us at Hains & Co. we have seen a lot of wonderful support as soon as we reopened. Hospitality is what we do and what we love, we are people orientated, we love giving customers a great time and plan to with these events,” Marcus says.

“These plans match our belief in giving people a good time in a safe environment. If it can also be a bit tongue in cheek and a laugh, then that’s fantastic.”

For more information on the series of Gilbert Street block parties, see Hains & Co’s Facebook and Instagram pages.