Matt Whiley’s Re has returned to the bar landscape thanks to a partnership with Public Hospitality.
The low-waste Sydney establishment will reopen in The Norfolk in Redfern next month after exiting its South Eveleigh location, with Whiley describing it as “the right move for the bar”.
“We never wanted to stop being creative in our practice, so finding this location energises us and gives us more opportunity to stretch into new material and work with new people.”
The bar, which ranked 46 on The 2021 World’s 50 Best Bars list, will take over the former site of La Salut, with the space undergoing a renovation to match Re’s sustainable ethos as well as incorporate distillery equipment and cocktail testing areas.
Re’s cocktails will largely be made with kitchen waste from Public’s growing portfolio of venues, with drinks already in development from produce rediverted from Maybe Sammy, Derrel’s, and Ricos Tacos.
The plan is for each Public venue to have its own signature cocktail at Re, with Whiley working closely with Creative Culinary Director Clayton Wells to combine both bar and culinary elements.
The bartender will also oversee the broader group’s waste-management processes with the goal of softening its current footprint.
“It’s great to help Public reduce their impact … as I believe this process of minimising waste is something we should be embracing across the industry,” says Whiley.
Official opening date to come.