Ex-tradie in the running for Australia's best small bar prize

With no background in hospitality, Taran Howard is happily ready to oblige any odd or unusual request from patrons who drop into his "vampire, cowboy-style saloon" in Sydney's inner west."We opened the doors, and it just went insane; we were just inundated with people, which was amazing," Mr Howard, an electrician by trade, said of his venue in Enmore."I had to get behind the bar and very quickly learn to make all of the drinks," he said, learning the classics "on the fly".The Ravenspur small bar is a "vampire, cowboy-style saloon". (Supplied)Taran Howard pouring a cocktail. (ABC News: Luke Royes)Taran Howard opened Ravenspur in Enmore in Sydney's inner west last September. (Supplied)Inspired by his frequent jaunts nearby, Mr Howard opened Ravenspur last September.And while he started as an outsider to the hospitality industry, and has only been in business for nine months, he is in the running for Australia's best new bar of the year in September."I'm a big fan of owner-operators when it comes to the small bar community," he said. "You go into these bars and you can talk to the owners, to each other and talk about trade and how the night's going or you know upcoming events and it's nice."Local councils are encouraging night trade. (ABC News: Luke Royes)Enmore is a popular bar and dining precinct in Sydney's inner west. (ABC News: Luke Royes)The venue is among an influx of new small bars in Enmore and neighbouring Newtown dominating the list of top bars both statewide and nationally.Enmore vs NewtownOliver Churcher and Claudia Morgan last April opened Bar Demo, just a moment's stroll away from Mr Howard's venue on Enmore Road.Bar Demo's Oliver Churcher says Enmore has a neighbourhood feel. (Supplied: Diego Zuleta)After operating venues in the city's CBD, Mr Churcher said the pair had landed on Enmore as rent was more affordable and more properties were available."I think the main thing, obviously, is economically, [Enmore Road] is a little less developed than, say, King Street from Newtown Station," he said."There's also obviously the fact that the inner west has its own kind of, I guess, culture and type of clientele."Bar Demo is one of a few new bars on Enmore Road. (ABC News: Luke Royes)Enmore's Bar Demo has been nominated for awards. (ABC News: Luke Royes)Bars are popular with those attending events in Enmore. (Instagram: @bardemosyd)Operating adjacent to the Enmore Theatre, Mr Churcher said foot traffic into the venue, whether on a weekday or weekend, depended on the type of gig playing on the night."I think part of the reason we like Enmore so much is that it does have a really nice neighbourhood feel," he said.A shift in the 24-hour economyBusy Enmore Road is alive with revellers at night. (ABC News: Luke Royes)In 2024, Enmore Road became the first special entertainment precinct in New South Wales as part of the state government's push to revitalise the city's sluggish 24-hour economy.The policy allows councils to relax rules around trading hours and sound levels to revitalise hospitality venues and late-night live music after years of lockout laws and COVID-19 restrictions.The City of Sydney recently announced it was working with Inner West Council on a proposal to make the adjacent King Street in Newtown a special entertainment precinct.Newtown and Enmore share an adjoining strip of pubs, restaurants and bars, but fall within different council jurisdictions.Enmore Road was the first entertainment precinct in NSW. (Supplied: Inner West Council)If approved, small bars, restaurants and takeaways could operate until 2am on the north end of King Street and up to 4am on the south end.Inner West Council Deputy Lord Mayor Chloe Smith said as Enmore Road had become the go-to precinct, she hoped the changes would kick-start a new era for King Street. "I have been slightly inundated over the last couple of years by business owners on King Street who have looked at what's happening at Enmore Road and said, 'we want to be part of that'," she said.She said while there had been a strong emphasis on revitalising the night-time economy after the pandemic, the ultimate goal was to build a 24-hour one. Daff Blacksmith co-owns Deadwax, a small vinyl bar that hosts live DJs playing an array of Afro-soul, funk and hip hop.The venue opened just over a year ago.Mr Blacksmith said because the bar had live musicians, under the special entertainment precinct they were allowed to trade until 2am "straight away".Deadwax opened just over a year ago. (Supplied)He thought the special entertainment precinct status had helped the whole street and other venues that have come on the scene so quickly."I think that's driven a lot of support and people to the area," he said. City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the passing of the state's small bar legislation in 2007 had provided people with "an alternative to pokie-filled beer barns or nightclubs".“Small bars brought new life and variety to our laneways and small streets, and improved the diversity of meeting places for people right across the city, quickly becoming part of Sydney’s fabric," she said. "We're now fortunate some of the best bars in the world call Sydney home."Vibrant areas need 'kaleidoscope' of businessesNight Time Industries Association (NTIA) vice-chair James Thorpe said to see new smaller venues thrive was "amazing" and said the area was great for "cultivating new and innovative business models".But to have a successful special entertainment precinct, day trade was just as vital, he said.Mr Thorpe is also the founder and director of Odd Culture Group, which owns and operates a number of venues on Enmore Road and King Street.Mr Thorpe says vibrancy in a suburb requires more than live music and small bars. (Supplied)He said over the past 18 months he had witnessed a lot of bars replace cafes, bakeries, retail shops and office space on Enmore Road alone."It's just a really interesting thing because you know we talk about vibrancy and if you really think about vibrancy … what's implied is live music and bars," he said.He said investment in a high street was required to truly transform the precinct and stimulate the local economy."If you think about what we actually want from a vibrant neighbourhood is a kaleidoscope of different business expressions at all times of day … that is not just going to be one long strip of small bars."Inner West Council and City of Sydney will put forward the special entertainment precinct proposal for public exhibition; if approved, the measures would likely come into effect by next year.