Brisbane’s oldest and most loved cafe, the Shingle Inn at City Hall, has unveiled a display of vintage hats from a private Brisbane collection to celebrate our nation’s favourite horse race, Melbourne Cup.

The vintage hat display, which launches today, features designs from the 1930s, the decade the Shingle Inn was first opened, to the present day.

Guests at the Shingle Inn City Hall Melbourne Cup High Tea, to be held next Tuesday 1 November 2016 from 12pm – 3pm, will hear the stories behind the hats from the collector herself.

At the Shingle Inn Melbourne Cup High Tea, guests will enjoy a selection of ribbon sandwiches, freshly baked traditional scones with clotted cream and luscious strawberry preserve, selection of the iconic Shingle Inn cakes and sweets, and choice of beverages from an extensive range of international teas or coffee.

Guests will also enjoy sweepstakes, gift bags, prizes for best dressed and watch the “race that stops the nation” on the big screen.

As a family-friendly destination, pre-school children are also welcome to attend with a special Teddy Bear High Tea on offer that includes an activity pack.

Bookings are essential and the restaurant will be closed during this time for those who haven’t purchased a ticket.

Date: Tuesday 1 November 2016
Time: 12noon – 3pm
Where: Shingle Inn City Hall
Cost: $95 all-inclusive per adult, $25 per child
To book tickets: Phone: 3210 2904 or visit www.shingleinncityhall.com/reservations
Born in the Autumn of 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, Shingle Inn is more than just a business; it is a fascinating part of Australia’s, and more specifically Brisbane’s, local history.
The iconic Shingle Inn has a special place in the heart of many people who grew up and live in Brisbane, sharing special moments while devouring their decadent, delicious products which are still produced today, by hand using traditional ingredients, by the team of bakers at that Shingle Inn bakery located at Capalaba.

On 3 August 2002, the Bellchambers family were forced to close the doors on the beloved Shingle Inn on Edward St due to the Queens Plaza redevelopment.

The citizens of Brisbane united in support of this beloved family business so the decision was made to keep the iconic interior in storage until the cafe could be reopened.

In a painstaking effort, every detail of the cafe fit-out was catalogued and photographed at it was dismantled so that when the time came to put the pieces back together, it was possible.

On June 4 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, gifting the original store fit-out to the people of Brisbane, to be restored within another Brisbane icon, City Hall, allowing future generation to experience the history and grandeur of the Shingle Inn.

Original components of the salvaged Shingle Inn featured at Brisbane City Hall include: booth tables and seating; timber veneer wall paneling; Shingle cladding and leadlight windows – where the Shingle Inn got its name from; the mock Tudor timberwork, including decorated timber ceiling beams and half timbering to walls; refurbished wall and ceiling mounted light fittings.

From the humble beginnings of this one iconic store that stood alone for 66 years, the Shingle Inn has now grown into a franchise network of 53 cafes throughout Australia in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and WA.

Only one year separates the beginning of two iconic and much loved brands – with 1935 marking the year Monopoly sold its first commercial version and 1936 the year when Shingle Inn opened its first café in Brisbane.

So it is fitting that in Shingle Inn’s 80th anniversary year that its original store, now situated in City Hall, is one of the locations to be featured on Brisbane Monopoly – with all locations announced earlier today.

In April this year Brisbane residents were invited to suggest Brisbane properties via the Brisbane Monopoly Facebook page and Shingle Inn’s loyal customer base were quick to respond with multiple votes.

Owners of the Shingle Inn, the Bellchambers family, say they are honoured to be featured on the Brisbane edition of the world’s most popular board game.

“Shingle Inn is thrilled to be part of a board game that embodies the key landmarks of Brisbane,” Andrew Bellchambers said.

Andrew’s brother Peter Bellchambers explained further: “Shingle Inn has been a part of the city’s heritage and growth for 80 years.  With generations of families sharing traditions within our café, and developing lifelong memories as a result, the brand, like Monopoly, has created a special place in the hearts and minds of residents and visitors alike.”

Born in the Autumn of 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, Shingle Inn is more than just a business; it is a fascinating part of Brisbane’s history with a unique story to share.

From the humble beginnings of one store that stood alone for 66 years has grown a franchise network of 53 cafes throughout Australia in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and WA.

The iconic Shingle Inn has a place in the heart of many people who grew up and live in Brisbane and many of the decadent, delicious products which have been devoured by so many over the decades – are still produced today, from scratch, by the Shingle Inn bakery located at Capalaba.

On 3 August 2002, the Bellchambers family were forced to close the doors on the beloved Shingle Inn on Edward St due to redevelopment. The city of Brisbane was devastated, so the decision was made to keep the iconic interior in storage until the beloved cafe could be reopened. In a painstaking effort, every detail of the cafe fit-out was catalogued and photographed so when the time came to put the pieces back together, it was possible.

On June 4 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, gifting the original store fit-out to the people of Brisbane, to be restored within another Brisbane icon, City Hall, allowing future generation to experience the history and grandeur of Shingle Inn.

Original components of the salvaged Shingle Inn featured at Brisbane City Hall include: booth tables and seating; timber veneer wall panelling; Shingle cladding and leadlight windows – where the Shingle Inn got its name from; the mock Tudor timberwork, including decorated timber ceiling beams and half timbering to walls; refurbished wall and ceiling mounted light fittings.

ENDS

When Christine Haworth’s mobile received a phone signal while she was holidaying in outback Qld and she saw a two word text from her friend – she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“YOU WON” her good friend Michelle Dodds texted her after attending the Qld draw on Christine’s behalf and receiving the winning ticket in Shingle Inn’s recent $10,000 giveaway promotion.

Christine, who lives in Nerum between Woodford and Mt Mee, entered the competition after purchasing a hot beverage and cold drink while visiting Shingle Inn Sunshine Plaza recently.

The $10,000 winning draw was held simultaneously around the country, with all 80 finalists (or someone there in their behalf) receiving one of Shingle Inn’s decadent, famous patty cakes. Each patty cake had a ticket in it– with one being the winning ticket.

Luckily for Christine, Michelle chose chocolate – and won the $10,000 for her friend.

Christine is planning to give Michelle some of her winnings, as well as her favourite charity.

But that’s after she treats herself and her husband to a helicopter ride over Carnarvon Gorge – the 160-million-year-old natural wonder and one of Queensland’s most iconic Parks.

Shingle Inn is Qld’s oldest and most iconic cafe, celebrating 80 years in 2016 since the cafe first opened its doors on Edward Street in Brisbane’s CBD.

Born in the Autumn of 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, Shingle Inn is more than just a business; it is a fascinating part of Australia’s, and more specifically Brisbane’s, local history.

From the humble beginnings of one store that stood alone for 66 years, the Shingle Inn is now a franchise network of more than 53 cafes throughout Australia.

The team at Shingle Inn Sunshine Plaza have this year got behind the annual Day for Daniel campaign; swapping a cup of coffee or pot of tea for each donation (over $5) they receive on 30 October.

Shingle Inn Franchisee and Mum Annette Kirby said the entire team were eager to raise awareness for child safety, as they all live and work in close proximity to where the tragic abduction of Daniel Morcombe took place in December 2003.

“My own daughter, Chenise, was just a few years younger than Daniel when the abduction happened. I remember feeling horrified, knowing it could have very easily been her,” Ms Kirby recalls.

“Chenise is now a confident young woman of 21, who works alongside me as a Supervisor at the café. She is engaged to get married, and has a full and happy social life. Daniel would have also been a young man in his early 20s today, had the abduction not happened. However, he will never have the opportunities and life experiences of Chenise and their peers.”

As Daniel was on his way to purchase Christmas presents at Sunshine Plaza, the Shingle Inn Sunshine Plaza team want to acknowledge and pay tribute to his life, whilst raising funds and awareness for the Day for Daniel Foundation.

“The Foundation does an excellent job nationally in educating both children and adults about keeping kids safe through child safety and protection initiatives. It aims to help empower our children to Recognise, React and Report if they feel something is not right,” Ms Kirby said.

Ms Kirby, Chenise and the team invite local residents and guests from afar to join them for lunch or morning/afternoon tea this Friday 30 October. Shingle Inn has pledged to gift a free cup of coffee or pot of tea to anyone who donates $5 or more on the day.

Brisbane’s Shingle Inn cafés are almost as iconic as the fiercely fought State of Origin series, and this year Shingle Inn will be celebrating the “decider” set to be determined on home soil at Suncorp Stadium.

Unbeknown to many footy fans, Queensland and New South Wales (the sport’s two major states) have in fact been playing representative matches against each other since the 1908 establishment of rugby league in Australia. These games have continued into the “state of origin” era as we know it, which began in the 1980s.

As Shingle Inn was originally opened on Edward Street, Brisbane, in the Autumn of 1936, this means that Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams had already been challenging each other to matches for quite some years by the time the first patty cake was sold.

It‘s therefore no surprise that Shingle Inn would incorporate another great Brisbane tradition into its culture, by producing seasonal State of Origin biscuits to celebrate the annual best-of-three Australian rugby league football series between two state representative sides, New South Wales “The Blues“ and Queensland “The Maroons“.

Shingle Inn Area Manager Megan Riek has been actively involved for many State of Origin series, made even more exciting by the unique and delicious biscuits sold in Shingle Inn cafés across Queensland at this time of year.

“We introduced the little football player-dressed cookies back in 2002 to great success. Not only are they delicious, they’re detailed right down to their jersey number, and around the Origin series, they are typically purchased en mass for State of Origin parties and good old workplace rivalry,” she said.

“It is to be expected that the maroons coloured biscuits sell out faster, but we know there are some wayward blues supporters in our midst, so there is always demand for the blues biscuits too.”

 

 

The State of Origin biscuits can be purchased at all Shingle Inn stores across QLD up until State of Origin and are priced at $3.90