After much ado and some general devastation over the forced closure of the Old Manly Boatshed, Manly’s replacement late-night music and socialising venue has emerged.
The Gopher opens at 5pm today Friday, May 15, stepping into the shoes of an institution that hosted 38 years of live entertainment before it was forced to shut its doors in September last year.
The new Irish-inspired basement bar is being executed by Matt Clifton, the same creative mind behind Manly’s speak-easy Cumberland (though this has since been sold on). There’s also an operational cross over with the Saga Group, who are linked with other Manly venues Henry G’s, Donnys, and In Situ, plus a mix of private investors.
Located below street level at 40 Manly Corso, The Gopher follows the same steep stairway into a low-lit space that takes one back in time, but rather than being the 60s to 90s they’ve gone all the way back to the early 1900s with an Irish-Manhattan underbelly theme.
“We wanted to create something that feels transportive,” says Clifton. “Not just a bar you walk into, but a space that shifts your mood the second you step downstairs. It’s about atmosphere, detail and creating experiences people come back for.”
The name draws from the Gopher Gang, an Irish-American street crew from Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen known for their rebellious character, not a nod to the former Boatshed owner. Yet there is a connection: Goff Burgess, owner of the Boaty, is the first and only member of The Gopher’s social club, as indicated by a prominently displayed honours board. Then there’s the 100 Pint Club, which Clifton explains to us will be an honour reserved for Guinness drinkers only.
The food menu draws from Irish pub classics reworked into a share-style format. Food and beverages are catering to a more mature palate, with dishes like Pulled Beef Yorkshire Pudding Pies ($23) Fisherman’s Pie ( $15), Black Pudding Scotch Eggs ($16), Slow-Cooked Roast Lamb Shoulder ($32) and Irish Spice Bags, which are essentially delish pieces of fried chicken with a katsu curry sauce.
The beverage balances traditional Irish pours with a creative cocktail offering. Signatures include the Hells Bells (a butter-washed martini set on fire) ($40) and The Sinner (pineapple and habanero margarita) ($24), alongside Guinness, Kilkenny and a rotating UK beer of the month. Most beers are $16 for a pint, with option for a smaller portion, wines from $13 come from Australia, New Zealand and France.
What’s likely to be warmly welcomed by former boatshed devotees is the continuation of live music at the venue. Bands will play on weekends until late, with no fixed plan for the stage use, opening up some opportunity for local creative approaches.
Speaking to us at the venue launch last night 14 May, Clifton said the plan was for the venue to “keep playing rock music”, but he was open to other uses for the stage such as comedy, jazz, karaoke or possibly approaches from local theatre groups.
Local musicians will kick start the stage in the opening weekend.
“There’s a long history of late-night music in this space,” Clifton says. “What we’re doing is building on that energy and giving people a reason to stay out again. Nights that feel effortless, but still memorable.”
The closure of the Old Manly Boatshed in September last year marked the end of one of the Northern Beaches most prolific entertainment venues.
For generations of Manly locals and visitors, the narrow stairway leading to its dark, music-filled cavern had been a cultural institution. It will be interesting to observe how both embrace this promising new hybrid.
For now the venue, at 40 The Corso Manly, is walk-ins only though they are taking queries for special events and larger groups following the initial launch period via their website.
