Newcastle Living Magazine

The Underground

Situated just below Newcastle’s historic Grand Hotel is a bar breathing new life into the old school speakeasy.

Take the stairs from the hotel or the alleyway and you’ll be transported back to the prohibition era, only with a massive array of local and imported whiskeys, gins and wines. We recently sat down with Underground manager Lukas Thodas to find out all about the inspiration, atmosphere and drink options at the Underground.

How did the idea for the Underground come about? 

My business partners and I had wanted to buy The Grand since before the pandemic. We’ve always loved the difference between the underground section and the accommodation upstairs, not to mention we wanted to keep it as a traditional pub. Most venues in the area have become really sleek and modern, so we wanted something that would contrast against that. 

So apart from old vs news upstairs, what sets the downstairs apart? 

Being underground and in the actual basement of the hotel is just a completely different feel. Having to walk down the steps through the hotel or down the back alley gives you a feeling you’re going somewhere unique. It makes you feel like you aren’t in Newcastle anymore.

What was the inspiration behind the Underground’s fit-out? 

There were some restrictions with the layout as the Grand is a heritage hotel, but really it’s just a combination of ideas from both my business partner and I. We’ve been around a while and seen lots of different fit-outs across Australia and overseas, so we’ve taken little snippets of what we’ve seen over the years and meshed it together the best we could.

Atmosphere is crucial when putting a bar together. What was the overall goal for the vibe of the bar? How did you want to capitalise on its natural moodiness?

It’s dark and moody, but the atmosphere is also inviting, and consequently attracts a more sophisticated demographic. You can come in and have a quiet drink, or catch up with a friend and stay late without having to feel the rush of the night club dance feel. We don’t need a huge crowd, 20 people down there is enough to get a good vibe.