Steven Kidd, owner of the Kidd Retail Group, says it plans to bring “a versatile range of new hospitality venues” to the CBD, with the Noble Gentleman, Frequency and Two Suns currently under construction at the corner of Topham Mall and Currie Street.

The three new venues will open consecutively from April 1. Kidd says they will each offer tailored food and drinks menus featuring specially crafted beers brewed at Topham Mall’s Lady Burra Brewhouse, which is also owned by the group and recently underwent an upgrade of its outdoor seating area.

The Kidd Group has worked with building company Pinnacle and design firms SMA Design and Faculty Graphic Design for the construction and fit-out of the venues.

Here, Kidd talks to InDaily about the plans for the new venues and how they will further shape the West End’s ever-expanding bar scene.

The Noble Gentleman  

The design for The Noble Gentleman wine bar has a heavy focus on timber. Artist render: Pinnacle

This wine bar, licensed for 120 people, will be the first to open on April 1 and is being marketed as a “dark and exciting place” with a “mysterious feel” which will showcase a different South Australian winery each month.

Wines will be matched with local produce in the form of share platters and tapas-style offerings, with menus to be rotated on a seasonal basis.

Kidd says the idea for the rotating monthly wine list was inspired by a trip to Portugal.

“There’s a place in Portugal that’s got a rotating wine list, and a lot of cellar doors or wine bars do rotate their wines quite regularly but our approach is more rotating it monthly and having the featured winery each month,” he tells InDaily.

The bar will also host “wine nights” with talks from winemakers about their featured wines of the month.

The bar’s interior will be separated into booth and table-style seating zones, with a design heavily influenced by natural woods and a dark colour palette.

“I’m sick of seeing industrial-type fit-outs and we want a lot of warmth in there,” Kidd says.

“We’ve got some indoor seating for really close couples and some booths that can sit up to six people. We also have some big tables for functions.”

Kidd says the pièce de résistance will be the bar, which will feature a hanging meats display, a cheese selection and a meat slicer.

“We’ve got the ability for our front-of-house staff to cut and make cheese and antipasti platters right in front of the customer.

“It’s not just about the wine, it’s the food that complements it.”

Frequency

Cafe-cum-bar Frequency will have a modern look. Artist render: Pinnacle

The second and most versatile bar to open will be the café-cum-bar Frequency.

Situated next to The Noble Gentleman, Frequency will serve takeaway and sit-down breakfast and lunch offerings, with a focus on good-quality coffee, Kidd says.

A resident DJ will play regular sets each morning, giving the café what he describes as an “upbeat” vibe.

“Frequency is a frequent place that you visit and we wanted to create a positive vibe to get a lot of regulars through there,” he says.

“I think there is a lack of breakfast options in the area and we want to have a good offering of coffees and breakfast as well as lunch pre-mades.”

At night, the café will transform into a small cocktail bar.

“It will be more dessert-related – quite cool, [with milk] shakes and desserts.

“We’ll mix it up with cocktails with ice-creams and different flavours – there will probably be a list of about six or eight.”

The bar will also serve six types of beer from Lady Burra Brewhouse.

Kidd says the design of the café/bar is “modern and lively.”

“It will feel funky, fresh, new, exciting and loud – just a lot of energy, really.”

Two Suns 

Rooftop bar Two Suns has a 1970s Miami-inspired design. Artist render: Pinnacle

The final venue comes in the form of a 1970s Vegas and Miami-themed rooftop bar. Two Suns will be situated on the rooftop of The Noble Gentleman and Frequency building and will open around October 1.

With stand-up and seated areas, including two private dining spaces, the bar is intended as a venue for both private functions and casual drinks.

“It’s very summery, with lots of big palm trees and an old-school cocktail menu,” Kidd says.

“It will be an all-year-round venue with good coverage and protection in winter and summer.”

A wood-fired oven will be the centrepiece of the bar’s kitchen, with pizzas and wood-fired meats to be the stars of the menu.

“There will be a stage area so we’ll have a lot of DJs and live music as well.”

Kidd says the view will be the main drawcard of Two Suns.

“You’ll be able to look across to Adelaide Oval and the beach and down Currie Street towards King William.

“The view really is spectacular.”