Melbourne’s CBD will get a new bar later in the year dubbed Fancy Free, courtesy of industry figures Rob Libecans, Chris Hysted-Adams, Matthew Stirling and Ryan Noreiks.
The team met at Melbourne bar Black Pearl, but have since gone on to work at other venues including Cookie, White Lyan, Lark, Romeo Lane and Joe’s.
Hysed-Adams is a former Ketel One and Diageo World Class brand ambassador, while Libecans took on a trade advocacy role with Bacardi in the UK before working in China’s hospitality industry for two years.
“We have been working towards this point since we met,” says Hysted-Adams. “It’s always been our dream to open a bar and now the time is right for all of us to do it together.”
Before launching the new bar, the team will be showcasing their skills over the next two months at teaser events across the country, with collaborators at Dark Mofo (TAS), Mary’s (SYD), Saville Row (QLD), and Ramblr (VIC).
More details to come.