Sydney bar Frankie’s Pizza closes its doors after 10 years: Final night in pictures 2022

Hundreds of revellers poured into party institution Frankie’s Pizza for a ‘final feast’ as one of Sydney’s last major slices of nightlife and ‘best bar in town’ closes its doors to make way for an underground train station. 

Queues stretched for hundreds of metres down Hunter Street in the CBD on Sunday evening for one last sendoff for the bastion of rock-and-roll – in a city many complain is being swallowed up by gentrification, corporate interests and nanny-state rules.

Famous for its raucous live gigs, daily $1 pizza slice specials and secret ‘Fun Room’, massive crowds have flocked to the iconic CBD basement venue for a taste of the action since it was opened a decade ago.

But now, on its 10 birthday, the Swillhouse-owned venue has called last drinks – and the pizza parlour and live music venue will close its doors for good before being bulldozed for the construction of the Sydney Metro.

But the farewell party on Sunday night lived up to its name, Decade of Debauchery, with partygoers making the most of the final bash.

Some of the world’s biggest stars have walked through the doors over the last decade from Blondie lead singer Deborah Harry and Priscilla Presley to Guns and Roses, The Foo Fighters and the Smashing Pumpkins. 

Iconic bar Frankie’s pizza closed its doors on Sunday night with a final hurrah in the form of a riotous party

Hundreds of revellers packed into the Hunter Street venue for beverages in colourful cups including the house special freshly pressed apple juice and Jameson’s

‘The world is changing a little and the last thing I would ever want to see if is a diluted version of Frankie’s,’ owner Jordan McDonald said

The final week of celebrations saw a run of bands take the stage including on Sunday night

‘We thought this venue would outlive us,’ its team recently wrote on Instagram. 

‘We’ve seen trends come and go and steadfastly stood for rock’n’roll through it all. This conviction has been rewarded with a loyal following, and a steady flow of new heads eager to join the ranks and jump on the crazy train. 

‘We’re busier than ever, we are a drunken Goliath operating at peak performance.

‘It’s time to leave our legions, farewell our four walls, and finish at our most fucking fearsome. With the unstoppable momentum of Sydney city’s ‘infrastructure evolution’ set to demolish Hunter Street in early 2023, we have decided on a date to depart.’

The venue’s ‘final campaign’, which stretched out over the week, featured regular live music, nightly DJs, a last hurrah for the Frankie’s World Famous House Band, TNT Trivia and lot and lots of pizza.

Hundreds of people queued up along Hunter Street to get into the venue before it closed for good

Frankie’s Pizza is one of the few late night venues in Sydney where revellers could end their night on the town with pizza and a final round of beers

Fans will be able to own a piece of the Frankie’s history as the venue will auction off its frames, neons and posters plastered all over the walls

The freshly pressed apple juice and whisky is a favourite among regulars 

Pictured: A young reveller makes the most of Frankie’s final night of action enjoying their famous pizza slices

Grammy award winning Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale, who is also a huge fan stole the show as the headline act at the packed bar on Wednesday night.

Massive queues stretched 250m around the block on that night too, eager for a last slice of cheesy pizza and nightcap in a bright-coloured plastic cup.

The freshly pressed apple juice with Jameson whiskey is a house specialty.  

Frankie’s fans are shattered and angry one of Sydney last late-night venues is closing as the Harbour City’s bleak nightlife struggles to find a new lease of life post-Covid and late night lockouts.

‘Sydney has this uncanny ability to sniff out joy and life and then demolish it. It’s the worst city I have ever lived in, if an IG influencer was a city it would be Sydney,’ one man fumed online.

One woman added: ‘The best bar in all of Sydney. Another live music establishment gone.’

A third said: ‘Frankie’s Pizza is iconic and it’s a shame they couldn’t have put the metro somewhere slightly different. I do hope it moves because the city needs places open late.’

Guns & Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed was among the thousands of revellers with fond memories and paid tribute last week.

‘One last Jägermeister and one last Pizza @frankiespizzabytheslice Thanx for all the great memories and for all the things I don’t remember. Also a huge thanx 2 all the staff who always took such great care of us. Gonna miss that place!’ he posted.

It was also a wild night for musos who performed their last serenade at the legendary venue 

Frankie’s Pizza fans were hungry for a final taste of the action before the iconic venue closes on Sunday night

Famous for its pizza slices and drinks in coloured cups, Frankie’s closing its doors marks the end of an era

The crowd was in good spirits despite the somewhat sombre occasion 

The bar has been steadily popular since it opened in 2012 hosting some of the world’s biggest bands

The venue announced on Wednesday its frames, neons, and posters plastered all over the walls will be auctioned off, giving fans the chance to own their slice of Frankie’s history.

A RIP Frankie’s T-shirt range has also been a big hit with patrons.

Frankie’s first opened its doors in late 2012, and it didn’t take for the venue to become a favourite among Sydneysiders and international visitors.

Before Sydney’s lockouts, the eclectic venue had a 24 hour trading licence Blondie lead singer Deborah Harry was among its first customers who happily waited in the queue on the second night of trading.

The likes of the Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters, Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins and Guns & Roses frontman Axl Rose are just some of the famous faces to sample an evening at Frankie’s.

Priscilla Presley loved Frankie’s so much she returned the next night.

The venue announced on Wednesday its frames, neons, and posters plastered all over the walls will be auctioned off, giving fans the chance to own their slice of Frankie’s history.

The owners said they would try to find another spot for the bar but it would be hard ‘to make lightning strike twice’

The joint grew famous for its $1 specials of delicious hot pizza and unique rock and roll atmosphere

Metal act Slayer were also keen to grab a late night bite to eat but were reluctantly refused entry as it was after 1.30am on the first night of the city’s much-hated lockout regime introduced in 2014.

By the time then Premier Gladys Berejiklian scrapped Sydney’s lockout laws in January 2020, the city was weeks away from being plunged into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic

The NSW government announced 18 months ago Frankie’s would make way for a new metro line linking Parramatta to the CBD.

The owners were reluctant to relocate the bar, unsure if ‘lightning can strike twice’ and have urged fans to hold their breath.

‘The world is changing a little and the last thing I would ever want to see if is a diluted version of Frankie’s,’ owner Jordan McDonald said.

‘Everything is really just hanging on, parts of the roof are caving in’ Mr McDonald said.

‘I’m hoping it holds together.’

The venue possesses a coveted 24-hour-licence with no noise restrictions, something that the owners knew would be near impossible to replicate moving forward.

‘I’d love to do it again and I’d really love to see the name continue, but whether it continues in the physical sense, I’m really not certain at this stage,’ Mr McDonald said.

The NSW government announced 18 months ago Frankie’s would make way for a new metro line linking Parramatta to the CBD

The owners said they would love to try and replicate the venue somewhere else and have urged fans to stay interested 

Frankie’s final night has aptly been named ‘Decade of Debauchery’ and coincides with its 10th birthday

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