Felons Brewing Co celebrates the first anniversary of its second brand home, Felons Manly, this weekend with the unveiling of a new beer garden and playground, and a special birthday bash.
After acquiring Manly Wharf in April 2024, Artemus Group’s launch of Felons Manly was the first step in a major transformation of the Sydney waterfront precinct. Expanding from its Brisbane home, the new site now serves as a central feature of the revitalised wharf experience, showcasing a range of Felons’ beers and curated dishes.
When the brand opened Felons Manly the hope was to create a true community hub for locals, and just a year later, Felons’ brand director Dean Romeo says that dream has been realised.
“It feels a little surreal to think it has already been a year, time really does fly when you are having fun. We are incredibly grateful for the support from the local community over the past 12 months. It has been so rewarding getting to know so many people in the area and finding meaningful ways to give back.
“Sitting in the venue now and seeing people come and go, kids playing, friends catching up, families sharing meals, it really feels like we have achieved what we set out to do. It is incredibly special to see people connecting, relaxing and making memories in a space that has become part of the Manly community,” he stated.
The Felons team have been overwhelmed with the positive response they have received from the local community, and as a way of giving back, have contributed more than $150,000 to local organisations and charities over the last 12 months, and proudly sponsored big wave surfer Tommy Myers.
In addition to its fundraising efforts, the brewery has also continued its sustainability partnership with SeaBin through the Japanese Rice Lager brewed exclusively for Felons Manly.
“Each glass sold helps remove an item of plastic from Sydney Harbour. To date, more than 20,000 pieces of plastic have been collected through this initiative,” Romeo explained.
A tale of two brewpubs
Although the same brand identity flows from Brisbane down to Manly, the two sites are worlds apart, owing to regional differences in taste and consumer behaviours.
“Manly has its own distinct rhythm, it’s laidback but full of energy, with a rich history and a strong sense of community,” says Romeo.
“When we were developing Felons Manly, we spent a lot of time talking with locals and conducting community surveys to ensure the venue reflected this special place. Thanks to that feedback, we have been able to build something that feels truly of Manly, relaxed, coastal and community driven.”
Here, the team has leaned further into surf culture and the coastal lifestyle, and on the food front, they hero local produce sourced from NSW farmers and fisherpeople. And while both locations pour a similar lineup of beers, Romeo has found it interesting to see how the crowd favourites vary.
“We’ve noticed an appetite and appreciation for dark beers which makes sense with the cooler winter in Sydney. For example, we tapped a limited release nitro stout at 4.2 per cent ABV a couple of months back and it sold out in record timing at our new Manly home,” he added.
One year of beers
The brewery will mark the first anniversary of Felons Manly this Sunday, 16 November at its ‘One Year of Beers’ community birthday bash. Locals are invited to enjoy a full day of art, music and family fun, and experience the new beer garden and playground.
Designed to enhance the beachside experience, the new beer garden and deck extension build on Felons’ vision of creating a family-friendly space by the harbour. Romeo says the expansion marks an exciting step in bringing the full Felons experience to life at Manly Wharf.
“The space features three mature date palms, a timber deck with shaded seating and table service via QR code ordering, so guests can sit back and unwind. At its heart is a giant interactive play ship inspired by the story of the four felons who set sail from Sydney in 1823, a playful nod to our heritage and spirit of freedom and adventure,” he told Beer & Brewer.
Since launching Felons Manly a year ago, the brewery has already expanded its harbourside offering with a seafood bar and dining room, Felons Seafood, and will soon open a fish and chip shop. The brewery has also just dropped in a new DME 18hl brewhouse behind the harbour bar, and is putting finishing touches on its upcoming Barrel Room which will celebrate barrel-aged beer, Vietnamese cuisine and live music.
“We’re confident we’re laying down the foundation of something that current and future generations will enjoy and will foster memorable experiences for a lifetime. Bring on this summer, we’re excited to welcome everyone down to enjoy the new-look Manly Wharf on Sydney Harbour,” Romeo added.
At the ‘One Year of Beers’ birthday bash, patrons can expect free childrens’ face painting, DJs on the jetty, a giant Felons beer can birthday cake, a premium meat tray raffle, and live surfboard painting by local artists Tylah Saunders, Amanda Tye, Jamie Browne, Fun Skull and Ben Brown, with all boards being silent auctioned to raise funds for Lifeline Classic.
