QIRKZ in The Hunter

QIRKZ in The Hunter is a live music venue with a distinctly unconventional personality. Set in a historic Hunter Valley hotel dating to 1910, the venue combines music, art, food and drinks in a space that the owners describe as more art gallery than traditional hotel. Colourful Indonesian art, memorabilia and unusual décor are part of the setting, making the surroundings as much a feature as the entertainment.

The music program is broad, with performances spanning rock and roll, country, jazz, blues, folk and cabaret, alongside less easily categorised acts. The venue presents both established performers and newer talent, with a focus on Australian musicians. Visitors can attend a show in the intimate live music showroom or book a dinner-and-show experience when available. QIRKZ also positions itself as a place for dancing, relaxed afternoons and casual catch-ups, rather than only a destination for ticketed gigs.

Food and drinks are part of the experience, although the website notes that the menu is currently undergoing a transition and that new food offerings are still to come. The venue describes itself as a bar and café, with coffee, cocktails, specialty beers and Hunter Valley wine available among its drinks offering. Gelato is also referenced on the site. Because the menu is changing, it is worth checking the latest details before making a dedicated dining trip.

The venue grew from the transformation of a once-sleepy historic pub, taken over in 2022 by musician, artist and three-time ARIA Award recipient Yaron Hallis, together with his family and friends. That background helps explain QIRKZ’s handmade, eccentric feel: it is presented as a creative project as much as a hospitality venue. In Pokolbin, Newcastle, it suits visitors looking for something beyond a standard pub, including live music fans, groups of friends and people planning birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, engagements or other gatherings. The site also promotes the venue for meetups and private events, with options to join a scheduled gig or take over the whole space.