Giddy up for Honky Cat Saloon

A boot-scooting storm is set to take over Little Malop Street, with the old Piano Bar being transformed into the region’s newest top country bar and dancing attraction.

The Honky Cat Saloon will be landing in the heart of Geelong this August – promising cold drinks, country music on the screens, pool tables, line dancing, a cosy fireplace, rustic saloon vibes and proper Texas BBQ-inspired food.

The crew at Wildfire Craft BBQ in Newcomb will be taking on the culinary license at the new Little Malop Street venue.

Casey Hildebrand and partner Eliza Hawker built their business up in their garage during the pandemic and have quickly made a name for themselves with their delicious Texas-inspired BBQ meats and premium offering.

Expect Texas-style pork ribs, smoked jalapeno and cheese corndogs, beef back ribs (which haven’t been done in Victoria), honey butter corn bread, special fries, beef cheeks and more.

 

The clever duo plan on bringing plenty of new flavours and excitement to the Geelong CBD.

Hildebrand said partnering with Piano Bar owner Andy Pobjoy and his team on the Honky Cat project was a no-brainer.

“We are super excited and it’s a huge opportunity for us to help expand our business and to work with Andy and the team,” he said.

“The menu itself is 85 per cent done and we’ve been in constant contact with our farmers and distributors to get things ready to go.

“Wildfire leans into Texas-style BBQ, particularly craft, whereas Honky Cat will expand further to Cajun and Southern styles too.

 

“It’ll be approachable and easy dining, and sure to be delicious that’s for sure. ”

Pobjoy, who ran Piano Bar for 11 years in Little Malop Street, said the move to a saloon style offering was an exciting and timely one considering its popularity in Australian culture.

“It was time to change it up because everything in entertainment and hospitality gets to the end of its cycle.

“Line dancing and country music is having a huge moment right now. It occupies that adult contemporary genre now. The people that are writing now are country cross artists. It’s very mainstream and popular music.

“What we are doing here now is appealing to people of all ages. It warms my heart the thought of everyone coming together to have a bite, drink and a dance.

 

“The minute you get here, you’ll feel relaxed, welcomed and ready to have a boogie.”

Mr Pobjoy said partnering with a business like Wildfire Craft BBQ was a big coup the Geelong hospitality scene.

“Casey and Eliza are incredible and we can’t wait to see what they do with it.

“Dare I say it, the country crowd still don’t mind a drink and a feed too!”

 

New venue manager Sam Brown echoed Pobjoy’s excitement and stated Honky Cat would be a gamechanger for Geelong.

“I’m so keen, it’s going to be such a good time in a great part of Geelong,” he said.

“We’ve got some amazing ideas in the works with the cocktails, dancing and food.

 

“I think the Honky Cat Saloon is going to add a lot of value and atmosphere to Little Malop Street and we can’t wait to get started.”

The team behind the Honky Cat Saloon is hoping to be ready to roll by mid-August.

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