Brewery founder fights for approval

The founder of a proposed brewery in Surry Hills, Richard Adamson, maintains he is working with Council to address residents’ concerns.

A development application (DA) has been submitted to the City of Sydney for a 200-seat microbrewery and restaurant on Devonshire Street, called Young Henrys.

City News has been informed Council has written to Mr Adamson to request additional information as insufficient information had been provided for Council to make an assessment.

“We are committed to being a respectful and proud member of this community and are extremely mindful of the needs and interests of the neighbourhood,” Mr Adamson said.

“We are working with Council to address the concerns that some residents have raised and our environmental consultants are developing a plan to ensure that our business is one that will exist in harmony with the neighbourhood.”

Local residents have told City News, the proposal is “out of character for the neighbourhood”.

A group against the proposal, Bugger off Young Henrys, said the DA is misleading by representing the area as being “late night” and a “busy’ commercial precinct by giving incorrect information such as opening hours and distances of nearby establishments.

But Mr Adamson said a microbrewery is “unlike a pub or hotel” and the restaurant will be “family-friendly”.

“There will be no poker machines, no Tabs and no TVS inside Young Henrys,” he said.

“Our clientele will be discerning, those who find joy in a finer quality of brewed beer and appreciate the cosy and attractive atmosphere while experiencing superior food and drink.”

In several objection letters sent to Council, residents outlined further issues such as noise and loss of on-street parking.

Mr Adamson responded to these concerns saying he shares the same vision as nearby famous Bourke Street Bakery, and Book Kitchen Cafe.

“We encourage patrons who are not availing themselves of the taxi and public transport services provided nearby, to ride their bicycle by including plans for bike parking out the front of the building,” he told City News.

Young Henrys architect, Adele Winteridge, said the brewery will be environmentally sustainable.

“The design of Young Henry’s references the existing building’s industrial past, but it combines it with the comfort of a domestic environment,” she said.

“The design connects back to the sustainable ethos of the restaurant, taking the ‘nose to tai’ approach through from the design and materials selection all the way to the construction methods.”

City News has been told Mr Adamson has until the end of February to provide supporting information before Council makes a decision.