Beer aficionados, you might want to wrap your laughing gear around a limited-edition brew this month.
Canned Laughter is an "easy-drinking everyday ale" by Lambton's Grainfed Brewery created especially for this year's Newcastle Comedy Festival (July 16 to August 16). Brewed with 100 per cent Australian pilsener and wheat malts, it features "four hop additions of German Tettnang and New Zealand Pacifica hops, and its light bitterness is balanced by fresh citrus hop aromas" (4.2 per cent ABV).
Festival director Andrew Milos said Canned Laughter was more than just a brew.
"Newcastle Comedy Festival has always been built on local support. Every ticket purchased, every venue involved and every business that gets behind the festival helps create something much bigger than a month of comedy," he explained.
"Working with Grainfed Brewery to create an official festival beer is a fantastic example of local, independent organisations supporting one another and creating something our community can be proud of and enjoy."
Grainfed Brewery's Lachlan MacBean said the collaboration was "a natural fit".
"We're passionate about creating great beer, but we're equally passionate about supporting the community that supports us," he said.
"Partnering with Newcastle Comedy Festival allows us to celebrate everything that's great about Newcastle; its creativity, its independent spirit, and the people who make this city such a vibrant place to live."
Newcastle Comedy Festival brings thousands of people to the city each year. Building on the momentum of 2025, this year's festival is poised to be the largest in its history, Milos said, with more than 30 performances and 10,000 tickets expected to be sold. Canned Laughter will be available throughout the festival at participating venues.
Jana Restaurant & Bar at QT Newcastle is hosting a "chef collab" event on July 17. It's called "Two Chefs. One Kitchen. Zero Borders". Jana's executive chef Carmine Mari will be working alongside DONDA chef Niah Horsie to create five courses inspired by their respective Italian and Thai heritages.
We're talking kingfish ceviche with white soy ponzu; tortelloni with eggplant, zucchini and XO butter; ribeye MBS4 with red wine sesame and truffle sauce; and a "Vietnamisu".
Tickets are $110 and on sale now.
School holiday road trips just got healthier thanks to Oliver's.
This dietitian-led quick service restaurant (QSR) has expanded its healthy children's range to include the new Kids Brekky Box. Two breakfast options are available, both with a collectable toy and fresh 100 per cent fruit juice: the Half Toastie & Organic Baked Hash Brown Box and the Crumpet & Yoghurt Box.
Developed under the leadership of chief executive officer and accredited practising dietitian Natalie Sharpe, who lives in Port Stephens, the Kids Brekky Box has been designed to offer families convenient breakfast choices based on real food principles, balanced nutrition and age-appropriate portions.
"I'm passionate about giving families healthier choices that genuinely support kids' wellbeing. The success of our FeelGood Kids Lunch Box showed us how much parents value real, nourishing food for their children," she said.
"Extending this into breakfast - the most important meal of the day - was a natural next step."
Maitland's Ashleigh Handsaker, who is sous chef at Iron Gate Kitchen in Pokolbin, has been crowned the NSW regional winner of the 2026 Nestlé Golden Chef's Hat Award for the fifth time. She competed against seven Hunter and Mid-North Coast region chefs at a cook-off at TAFE NSW Hamilton Campus last week, and will now represent regional NSW at the grand final in Melbourne later this year.
Seanna Winters, an apprentice chef at The Wood Restaurant at Brokenwood Wines, took out Best Signature Dish (a pan-seared lamb rump) at the cook-off.
Bar Peregrin has opened at Merewether's Beach Hotel.
The Peregrin restaurant experience remains unchanged on the southern side of level one, in the Pasco Room, however, the northern side of level one is now a bar where, every Saturday night, local DJs will spin a lo-fi soundtrack inspired by 1980s New York supper clubs.
Bar snacks, share plates, cocktails, and the full Peregrin dining menu are available at Bar Peregrin.
Milky Lane might be reopening in Newcastle as part of a new partnership between Milk Lane and Royale Hospitality. It's "definitely on the cards", an Instagram post by Milky Lane Official said.
Muse Restaurant has launched a new six-course winter menu.
The Koutetsu is a Cocktail Bar of the Year finalist at the 2026 Australian Bar Awards.
