Neil Perry shuts Double Bay bar Bobbie’s
Neil Perry has closed his underground bar Bobbie’s, less than a year after it opened in August 2024.
Perry debuted the Double Bay restaurant alongside Australian-born, US-based hospitality partner Linden Pride.
“Linden and I have mutually agreed to close Bobbie’s,” Perry said in a statement. “Linden’s US-based hospitality group, Dante, is expanding rapidly, with multiple new venues planned across America in the next 18 months. Our landlords are in discussions with prospective operators interested in taking over the space.”
Despite its proximity to Perry’s acclaimed flagship venue Margaret, the bar reportedly struggled financially, with Perry said to have explored sale options before deciding to shut it down.
“Running Bobbie’s has been a fantastic experience. While we’re disappointed to see it go, this move allows Linden to focus on Dante’s growth and gives me the opportunity to concentrate fully on Song Bird, Margaret, Next Door, and our bakery,” he added.
Perry also moved to dispel rumours surrounding the future of Song Bird, the Cantonese-inspired restaurant located above Bobbie’s.
“Song Bird is absolutely not closing,” he said. The venue will undergo a scale-back, reducing from 240 seats to 140 seats and relinquishing its top-floor space in Gaden House, which will be converted into a private office tenancy.
“With a more focused approach, a 140-seat venue—including some outdoor seating—and an exciting new menu featuring Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese flavours, Song Bird will now be the ideal size to manage and a key part of the Margaret Family Precinct moving forward,” Perry said.
He acknowledged a difficult launch period due to a rushed opening and underprepared staff, admitting, “The first three months were the worst of my life … I should have cancelled a month’s worth of bookings, so we could open properly. Even after this many years in business, you can still make monumental mistakes.”
Jonathan Jackson, 3rd June 2025
