Fringe Bar

The physical elements of Fringe are nice. I like the dark, shiny interior, folding windows, courtyard, and lighting. Pity about everything else, really. It’s kind of fitting that there’s a red carpet outside on the footpath because the door bitches and bouncers here pretty much decide based on their own personal preferences whether or not you and your friends are cool enough to come in. The thing that’s oddest about that is that once you do get in, the crowd inside is a hodge podge mix of bogans, jocks, and girls whose dresses could really use another metre of fabric.
The drinks are basic and overpriced, although I’ve noticed that people love to do shots here, especially toxic looking blue ones that cost ten bucks a pop. The vibe in here is kind of bitchy and people push and shove a lot. There’s usually a physical altercation hee about every hour on the hour although it can go either way in terms of whether it’s a bitch slap or a fist in the jaw. Even though I’ve never actually heard anyone say they like Fringe, it seems to always be doing good business so I don’t know what’s up with that. If I were you, I really wouldn’t bother walking the two blocks away from the hub of the Valley to get there, but if you must, I’d recommend taking extra cash and a hard exterior.

A few key points on Fringe Bar which the unsuspecting individual should observe:
1. Dress code. Fringe Bar, despite entertaining a rougher crowd than most of its Valley peers, keeps in place a very strict dress code. Women are always allowed in, seemingly regardless of what they wear. However I’ve had male friends in the past rejected entry because the bouncer didn’t like their hat, shirt logo, shoes or pants. These decisions seem arbitrary and are at the whim of the bouncer working at the time.
(Fringe Bar is not alone in this; a few other Valley bars, such as Birdee Num Num and the classy Cloudland, also leave it up to individual bouncers to decide whether male patrons are dressed in a cool enough fashion, or not.)
2. The toilets are hidden away. Downstairs the toilets are tucked away down a hallway at the back of the bar in the dark, past the dance floor. Upstairs there is one toilet and anyone using it can expect a pound on the door within seconds and a voice asking if anyone’s in there.
3. Fringe Bar can be rough, and fights are not uncommon. This may be in part owing to an easy escape avenue, as part of Fringe Bar is essentially wall-​less; one side is lined with a very short wall (1m tall) so people can enjoy a bit of an open-​air experience. However, this also means people can jump over the chairs and escape if pursued by bouncers.
This did happen when I visited once, when a beer-​ed up tough guy randomly approached and punched a member of my group. The guy picked up a nearby stool and started using the metal legs to smash my friend (lying on the ground) in the head repeatedly. I and others tried to pull him off, but The Testosterone Tank easily shoved me back into a wooden drinks table. (Ow.) The incident actually went for about two minutes before a bouncer noticed the fight — a long time for a nightclub fight to be broken up. However, I was able to tell all to a bouncer when Fists o’ Fury jumped the chairs and hurdled over the short-​wall to freedom. Or so he thought. The way the bouncer chased that guy down the street and pinned him down was impressive.
4. The safest and most comfortable area here is, ironically, the enclosed outdoor smoking area. No one seems interested in a fight, and a lot of people aren’t smoking because they’ve chosen the area as a respite from the dark, crammed crowd inside.
5. Apparently some famous footballers come here. One was pointed out to me once, but what I don’t know about football could fill a warehouse.

If one of my friends ended up in Fringe Bar we all would have just assumed that he’d gotten lost on his way to the cab rank down the road. But that’s just being mean.
Fringe Bar is a little out of your way, just a quick walk down Ann St and your there. For such a simple bar it has a very modern design, the light fittings are pretty awesome and have sparked many a drunken conversation I’m told.
Take advantage of its location in that it is away from most of the noise up the road so head down there if your looking for a quieter place to socialise.

Well, well Fringe, we meet again. I’ve never considered Fringe one of my staple places of a weekend — mostly because it’s a slight pain to walk down to in heels guys — but now I think on it, I’ve never actually had a negative experience there. Particularly on a Saturday night, Fringe is charged and ready to go with a plethora of gyrating twenty-​somethings who are simply looking to have a good time (one even sniffed my hair once, weird).
The dance floor can get a little hectic (and a little sticky after a time), mostly in a good way but when you want to escape it, there are some lounges to greet you on the fringe (haha) of the dance floor so you can put your feet up and engage in banter that you can barely hear. That’s just downstairs, mind; there’s a whole other area waiting to greet you once you venture up those stairs. Upstairs is more a function area with multiple rooms you can claim for anything from an engagement party to a birthday party. A step outside on the upstairs balcony gives you an aerial view of the quieter end of the Valley and a place to escape from bouncers who tell you you’re a little too intoxicated for another drink (this has happened to a few friends of mine). But you can grab a drink and then engage in some light-​hearted gambling fun with a few pokie machines peaking out around the corner.
I’m told Fringe is also a really great place for meals and drinks of a Friday lunchtime. Who knew? Trek it down to Fringe for a solid dance floor and a great atmosphere.
**Please note: It’s not that much of a trek, I’m just a whinger in heels.

I like Fringe Bar for its casual atmosphere, plentiful seating and conversation allowing noise level. It’s not a huge bar and the dancefloor is usually empty but it’s an alirght place to have some drinks, chill out in a booth and meet up with everyone for a chat before going somewhere else to bust a move. It’s also good if you are looking for somewhere to book a small room or even just a large booth for a party or small function as the room hire is free.

Fringe Bar is a litte bit bogan for my liking. It feels like the place is trying to be trendy with its different lounges and funky decour but for some reason it stills comes across as a bit of a pub/​club. Maybe it is the dancefloor with its smoke machine and disco lights, or maybe it is just the people that frequent the place. I must admit thoug that it is good for functions, with many of its different lounges available for hire at reasonable prices.
You can make your way through to Kerbside as well (a very funky cocktail bar) through the shared bathrooms of these venues, which actually makes this place a good spot for lockout as you can still move between these two bars happily. I suggest sticking with Kerbside for cocktails then, if the mood hits, jump through to Fringe for a dance to some trashy tunes.