The legendary Bourbon & Beefsteak in Kings Cross has re-surfaced with a swell opening party and endless Laurent Perrier. As
The Bourbon, it looks like they got it right. A friendly atmosphere, good food and drinks and a great layout with live bands 7 days of the week brings back the old days when the Bourbon was
the place to end a night in Sydney, usually at around 3am when you could party on until the morning.
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| Kerry Chikarovski & Peter McGauran |
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| long legs at The Bourbon |
Opened in 1967 by the mysterious
Bernie Houghton who arrived in town with a suitcase full of cash, for the next 40 years the B&B reigned supreme with visiting celebs like
Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and
Madonna taking advantage of it's 24 hour license. One night cricketer
Ricky Ponting even danced with drag queen
Carlotta. Houghton said he was an ex-US Air force man but many claimed he was a
CIA agent or ran
Air America in Vietnam : whatever his background he was the perfect host.
He managed to secure a permanent visa via
ASIO for services rendered. Houghton had connections and the B&B became a hang-out for holidaying CIA agents and local mobsters. Amongst it's bizarre decor with stuffed bears, monogrammed
Zippo lighters, Confederate flags and Indian mementos was Houghton's own M16 which he claimed saved his life many a time in S.E.Asia.
The Bourbon is now owned by
Coogee Bay Hotel owner
Christopher Cheung who snapped up the derelict property ( Houghton died in 2005) for 22M.
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| dance partners |
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| Bernie Houghton |
