Music school mixes gin and jazz in new venture

Friday 06 November 2020

The founder of a local music school will be mixing live jazz, craft gin, cocktails and fine dining in a new venture in the centre of town.

Crosstown is the work of Chordz Music School and Coffee Shop owner, Charlie Northedge, in collaboration with manager Eddie Dawson and chef Steve Baker.

Located on 36 King Street, the two floors of Crosstown will be split between a restaurant on the first floor and a bar on the second. 

“The general concept is we have a restaurant on the first floor which is going to be loosely based around Mexican cuisine,” Charlie said, explaining that the food will sit somewhere between fine dining and the said Mexican-inspired food.

Of the upstairs bar, he said: “We’re going to try and differentiate it a bit – it’s going to be a gin and jazz bar with boutique gins, our own cocktail menu, and craft beers.” Those drinks will include Crosstown’s very own beer brand – Crosstown Lager - as well as their own IPA. 

The restaurant will have what “casual and funky design with an industrial feel throughout.” Adorning the wall is what Charlie describes as a “really beautiful” hand-painted feature, designed by local artist Steph Newington.

Completing the atmosphere upstairs will be the bar and its authentic jazz sound: “With covid allowing, we aim to do live music, like jazz and blues,” Charlie said, adding that “we’re not looking to pack the place out” like a gig, but rather create “a relaxed atmosphere and a lazy vibe.”

Providing these jazz and blues sounds will be a range of local musicians, including Chordz teachers: “We’ve got a lot of the island music players in there and bands comprised from the teachers in the music school, so you’ll see a lot of the teachers performing in the jazz bar.” 

In addition, he said that it will give an opportunity for many Chordz students to have their first gigs, and for Chordz to hold their annual Rock School performance in their own venue: “We’ve got students wanting to form bands and get into the music scene – with this, we can promote the music school and allow the older students to get on the music circuit.” 

From Chordz Music School to Chordz Coffee and now to Crosstown, music and drinks have been a fundamental part of what Charlie described as a "real journey."

Though it is only taking bookings for December at this point, Crosstown Restaurant and Bar will be opening its doors from 20 November. 

"We’re super excited about the new adventure," Charlie added.