17/01/2024
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce we will not be reopening Smithward for 2024.
After more than 8 years of pouring Victorian wine, grilling Raclette cheese, and baking our sourdough, we have been unable to renew our lease as our new offshore landlords intend to demolish our little bar and all the surrounding businesses to build a 6-storey office block.
Smithward was our very, very personal dream, inspired by the wonderful small bars and restaurants of France & Spain we fell in love with.
We built our bar with naive enthusiasm and our life savings, learning absolutely everything along the way - from how to paint a wall, to how to pour a glass of wine. And loving every moment.
So, sadly, we won't be returning from our Christmas/New Year break to 48 Smith Street, except for selling the last of our wine cellar over the next few weeks.
If you'd like to buy a rare bottle from our hand-picked list of all-Victorian wine, hit the link in bio and place an order for scheduled collection. Every dollar raised goes towards paying our exit costs here and then to launch our next venture.
We intend to move on to something new once the dust has (literally) settled. Please keep an eye on our socials or sign-up for email updates.
In the meantime, we very genuinely thank everyone who visited - especially the dedicated regulars who we know by name and wine preference - and also, very importantly, the amazing small producers who created the Victorian wine, gin, charcuterie, cheese and more, that we have enjoyed serving to you since 2015.
We're heartbroken. But we look forward to pouring you a glass again, somewhere, soon... ###
Thanks to amazing local artist for her endearing illustration of Smithward used here. We commissioned Molly to create a memento for our own wall at home. Limited edition prints are available to order via our online shop if you'd like to hang a little bit of Collingwood history on your wall too.
❤️
