For years we have met at the Wig and Pen – it’s quiet, cool, clean, has a good selection of beverages, easy to find, and big enough for a few of us or dozens of us to show up without needing to RSVP every time. (Also, the staff don’t get mad if not everyone is buying drinks every time!)
But for better or worse, the Wig and Pen is moving to its new venue at ANU’s Llewellyn Hall. They’ve closed their doors, and construction (of the bar and the microbrewery) is in progress – updates will be on their Facebook page when a firm timeline is available.
So where do displaced comic fans go when their pub closes? More specifically, where do we go that ticks all the boxes?
The first month we realised that we were without venue, there were four of us who trudged up and down, trying to find somewhere for a beer, a cup of tea, a drink of water. Nothing nearby was open. Ben suggested hotel hotel, and at 3pm, we were lucky enough to get a table for four in the popular (crowded) Monster.
We planned to go back the following month – and we did – but no tables were available, and we couldn’t even tell the waitstaff how many people we would need to seat. So we walked down the steps to the almost completely empty Max Brenner.
The airconditioning was on, the ice-cream was cold, and there was plenty of room to spread out and catch up.
Is it an ideal spot for drink-and-draws? Perhaps, perhaps not. But rather than change venues every month, we’re going to hunker down and wait out the time until the new Grand (re-)Opening of the Wig and Pen.
After all, they previously (boldly) estimated it would only take a few weeks…
Max Brenner New Action – Nishi is located across from the Palace Electric Cinemas, and downstairs from Monster. There lots of parking options nearby, or New Acton is a short walk from city bus stops.
ACT Comic Meet 