Live every day like it’s Friday has a slightly different spin in WA. Sure, the exposed, warehousey, sawtooth roof themes to be found at their western outpost link the trio of Fox Friday venues, but even mid-year there’s a Southern Californian bent to the Burswood space. This may not be intentional, yet with endless west-facing light and open City of Angels-style patio, their reimagining of the building that once housed Blasta feels spacious, warm and oh so SoCal.
The broad main room’s mellow sepia aesthetic belies a social intent – this is very much a shared space, although nooks can be found for more intimate enjoyment. High, low, bench and booth seating blend with warm and dark wood, concrete, brushed steel and industrial finishes. Subtle colour pops drift throughout – purple stools, brass accents and mottled thin brick wedges, not in the least from the merch and takeaway space.
Though semi-industrial, new skylights provide warmth and airiness, as do the rows of sleek, floating armadillo shell lights that subtly divide the large open main room while adding depth and texture. Likewise, the wainscot-coated ante-room feels intimate yet welcoming, especially as the west-facing light drops, and action from the shuffleboard tables increases – that’s the origin of whoops and hollers that can be heard in the in the main room, if you're wondering.
But let’s not forget that this is a brewery. Twenty taps, including two Lukr side-pours, deliver a mix of core range, limited release and Fox Friday WA exclusives. Expect all manner of hazies, IPAs and darker options, with the onsite brewery tasked with the creation of more local exclusives behind floor-to-ceiling glazing at the bar’s eastern edge. And, with the same spec brew kits in place all three Fox Friday brewpubs, the opportunity for cross-continental collaboration within the team is rich.
Wines look mostly westward, and spirits show careful curation, especially with anything bourbon adjacent. Cocktail options regularly change, and with a cracking front of house team onboard, there’s likely something for everyone.
Sharing a Southern US theme with its sibling venues, the kitchen revels in big steaks, Nashville hot chicken burgers, jerk chicken, share flatbreads, cornbread and more. West Australia’s coastal influence also appears throughout with Shark Bay prawns, Fremantle octopus, Red Emperor and a variety of seasonal West Australian seafood - WA rock lobster rolls proved a warm weather hit as soon as doors were opened. Meanwhile, fox cubs are ably catered for with a snappy kids' menu.
Weekday happy hour and regular trivia nights keep the start of the week lively, while three screens stream a variety of sports, something the weekend crowds will be familiar with given the brewpub's location just a short hop from Perth Stadium.
All of which means that, if every day is Friday in the world of the Fox, then Burswood might just be, through food, drinks and location, the sunniest of them all.
Guy Southern
