Rics Cafe-Bar
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Ric's is a bar in Brisbane, Australia. While popularly known as Ric's Cafe, Ric's is a bar and cabaret area and the cafe next door is named Fatboys. Australian hip-hop group Butterfingers named their debut album Breakfast at Fatboys after the cafe.
[edit] Location and History
Ric’s bar and café consist of two neighbouring parts of the Royal George Hotel. The original building of the Royal George was built in 1850; a year after settlement was established in the Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. A subsequent building then took its place in the early 1900’s. Once wrapped with flowing verandas these parts of the building were removed in the 1960’s in refurbishment. In days gone by, this part of the building, 321 Brunswick St which Ric’s presently resides, has been residence to the hotels kitchen and food facilities, a backpackers hostel, newsagency, and café’s. The remainder of the Royal George still functions as a bar and hotel.
Ric’s bar was officially opened in August 1995 with liquor licensing as well as a cabaret license to hold live music events.
The café side of Ric’s (better known as Fatboys) was originally called Red Hot & Blue which was opened in 1991 in the T.C Bierne Building. It later relocated to its present site in the Royal George Hotel also known in the past as the Bush and Commercial Inn (later called the Freemasons Arms, Lamb Inn, and from 1863 the Royal George its present name).
The Ric’s Café-Bar locations have been in the T.C Bierne Complex and Ruddles Corner which encompasses The Royal George Hotel. These buildings are all listed on the Queensland State Heritage Register.
The core of the Royal George Hotel (masonry walls in basement and first floor) is a rare surviving early fabric. Apart from two very short periods when the hotel premises were unlicensed, this site has been in use as a hotel site for over 140 years. Thus it has been placed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Ric's has been a valuable institution for the nurturing of Brisbane's internationally respected music scene. Many well respected and artists and bands have performed at the venue since it's beginning and it is also a regular meeting place and watering hole for a long list of well known and respected Brisbane musicians. Ric's still provides punters the opportunity to see emerging and established independent and alternative bands, free of charge and in a comfortable environment, and is one of the last true remaining cultural icons of Brisbane's ever-evolving Fortitude Valley.
[edit] References
Queensland Heritage Register [1]
Rics Bar [2]
