Love craft beer? Got cash?

3

May 27, 2013 by 250 Beers

There’s a lovely old building in Spring Hill, Brisbane – pretty much on the edge of the CBD – affectionately known as Dods House.

The house was built in 1906 by architect Robin Dods (pictured) for his brother, Espie Dods, as a place that would double-up as a medical consultancy (because Espie was a doctor) and a place of residence. Originally, the building sat next to the grand family home belonging to the brothers’ step-father Dr Charles Marks. The larger property was demolished along with a gigantic tree in the early 1980’s to make way for the ever-increasing need of modern-day office space. Don’t you just hate that architectural sacrifice?

Robin Dods was quite something in the field of architecture in Brisbane. He was highly regarded in his field by all of his peers and was responsible for a list of other buildings of note.

Dods House is now surrounded by drab office buildings. It became a restaurant after no practicing doctor could be found to utilise the premises. This is Dods House shortly after it became a restaurant:

Dods House the restaurant (Photo: DERM)

When I first emigrated to the Sunshine State, Dods House was far from the whiff of medicine and was no longer a restaurant. Instead, it was home to a gentleman’s club with secret handshakes and all that. Not really. I made the handshakes bit up for effect. You could become a member by paying a small membership fee. The general idea with most gentleman’s clubs is that you can enjoy a quiet drink without the interruption of the riff-raff. Essentially, a pleasant drink at a premium.

Shortly after I’d settled into my job in Brisbane, the secret handshake club morphed into something completely different – a piano bar called The Pink Piano.

The Pink Piano (Photo: the foto fanatic 2010)

I visited a few times in recent years. Once for a morning coffee, once for a few afternoon beers just to see how extensive the beer menu was (not very) and once for a leaving party after work. On all three occasions the place was far from bustling so it really was no surprise when I saw a ‘For Sale’ sign erected outside recently.

If you ask me, it was always going to struggle with a name like Pink Piano. If you are not aware, The Pink Piano featured an actual pink piano – a real-life, full size PINK grand piano. I shit you not, it was like being in an episode of the Pink Panther cartoon.

Now, because the building was most recently a bar, everything is in situ for another bar to rise like a phoenix from the pink flames. You name it – taps, lines, fridges etc – it’s all there. A craft beer bar would be perfect right?

I’ve gone to the trouble of contacting the agent responsible for selling the property for a price guide. However, because it’s an ‘expressions of interest’ type sale, my enquiries are proving futile. More information regarding the sale can be found by clicking here.

The reason why I think this building would make a great craft beer bar? Well, that’s because Dods House is less than one minute from where I work! Please, somebody?