Its Winter. Turn up the Heat?

Neptune Bar - Pic Brook James

Restaurants and cafes have an added challenge when the weather turns cooler. They need to create a welcoming warm space where people feel at home, basically paring up cosy with comforting food options while also keep that edge of innovation that keeps them in the "it" crowd. This past weekend I spent a Saturday afternoon in Neptune in Windsor. The space design is fantastic, the food equally as tempting with a good selection of wine and beer by the glass. I would give the service and the design a top rating but there was one aspect which irritated me. The space heaters were turned on mid afternoon. The glassed in patio at the entrance looks out onto the High Street. It got a very Parisian feel. The concrete and glass space, with touches of wood is furnished with small round marble tables and bentwood bistro chairs. The use of black, white and steel is in perfect proportions really make you feel like you're in Europe and the slatted wood bench seating is a reminder that we are, in fact, still in Melbourne, the design centre of Australia. The gasmate space heaters with their burly presence, slight aroma of natural gas and annoying hiss were turned on mid afternoon when the sun was still out. Everyone was happily chatting away in their coats. We knew we were sitting outdoors with the full height retractable doors open to the street. We chose to sit outside in the brighter space. Indoors there is a lovely long bar, available tables and in the far back an inviting fire with elegant sofa seating. We all like to be warm but we chose to sit outside. Lets give a miss to the gasmate heaters which are so damaging to the environment and leave our coats on when seated outdoors.