🔵 Return of the Troll Bar...
Plus: Movie theatre's uncertain future and football fanatics
Huw Bradshaw
June 12, 2026
⏱️ The 112th edition of our newsletter is a five-minute read.
Morning all,
One of my favourite news stories of 2025 has made an unexpected return this month. The Troll Bar pitched for Milsons Point is back - possibly - after being previously rejected by North Sydney Council. Has there been a shift in the humour of North Sydney? We’ll have to wait and see.
The AI-generated art used to promote the yet-to-opened bar doesn’t whet my whistle compared to a schooner at the Kirribilli Hotel on Broughton Street.
Slight pivot: does anyone remember Pat Drummond and his never-ending residency at Milsons Point’s Rest Hotel in the 1980s? If so, shoot me through an email.
Image: Australian National University
Anyway, enough of the old, let’s get into what’s new. 🗞️
HEARD THIS WEEK👂
🧌 Budding bar owner has second crack at launching The Troll in Milsons Point
A Sydney businessman previously refused permission to open a troll-themed bar in Milsons Point has come back for another swing at the project.
Late last week, The Troll Pty Ltd submitted a new development application for the site of 14 Ennis Road, seeking permission to convert the vacant site into a small bar called “The Troll”.
An application submitted for this same bar was rejected last year by North Sydney Council, which cited heritage impacts, and claimed the application did “not include sufficient information to allow for an accurate assessment”.
The bar, with seating for approximately 75 patrons, would open until midnight from Thursday to Saturday.
Both sets of planning documents submitted to council claim the business would offer “craft cocktails, local wines, and premium spirits in an intimate setting” and provide a “relaxed atmosphere with distinctive interior design elements”.
The bar’s social media page — as well as some planning documents — heavily feature AI-generated imagery of trolls.
Read the full story below.
⚽️ Where to watch the FIFA World Cup on the North Shore
On Friday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off with Mexico playing South Africa. In coming weeks the Australian Socceroos will play Türkiye, the USA and Paraguay. And from there, we will see what happens. We’ve put together a list of places to watch them play.
Ichiro’s Sport Bar
Ichiro's Sports Bar will be streaming all Australia, Japan and England group games live, including those early morning play-offs. They will also be showing other group games including USA vs Paraguay and Uruguay vs Spain. See the full line up via Instagram below.
The bar will be giving away prizes at its live screenings including double passes to Tottenham vs Sydney FC and Chelsea vs Wanderers, and vintage football jerseys.
Where: Floor 3, 6/8 Falcon Street, Crows Nest
The Canopy, Lane Cove
The Canopy is an open air plaza in the heart of Lane Cove village, offering grass seating and a stage for screenings. So far, confirmed games to be shown on the big screen here are Korea Republic vs Czechia, USA vs Paraguay and Australia vs Türkiye.
Where: 2 Rosenthal Avenue, Lane Cove
Billy Barrys
All Australia group games will be screened at this North Sydney pub. Book via pub website.
Where: 32 Walker Street, North Sydney
Chatswood and Hornsby Westfield
There will be live screenings at both North Shore Westfields for Australia group matches. At Chatswood, this will be on level 5 near Rebel Sports, while at Hornsby it will be on level 3, near Hero Sushi.
Where: 1 Anderson Street, Chatswood; 236 Pacific Highway, Hornsby
See the full story below.
📽️ Rocco “Roy” Mustaca tight-lipped as Planet Warriewood placed into receivership
Northern Beaches developer and crooner Rocco “Roy” Mustaca will have more to say on the future of Warriewood Cinema in coming days, according to his son Sam Mustaca.
Warriewood Cinema is owned by Planet Warriewood, which was placed into receivership on May 22.
According to documentation from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 10 properties owned by Planet Warriewood are now in receivership.
They include 4 Vuko Place, the location of the seven-screen Warriewood Cinema complex, which opened in 1998, and properties in Manly and Terry Hills.
A receivership is where an independent "receiver" is appointed to collect and sell assets in order to repay a company's debts.
The receivership will likely affect a major development proposed by Planet Warriewood for Port Macquarie. You can read more about that here.
Sam Mustaca, CEO of the Mustaca Group of Companies, told the Lorikeet on Wednesday his father would talk about the issue in the coming days.
Read the full story below.
LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀
🏘️ NSW banned no-grounds evictions one year ago, but loopholes remain
When a landlord ends a tenancy claiming they plan to sell or renovate, they're legally required to give between 60 and 90 days of notice depending on the lease type. But both grounds come with loopholes.
Landlords who claim they're selling can apply for an exemption to bring the property back to market before the mandatory six-month cooling-off period ends.
Tenants' Union of NSW CEO Leo Patterson Ross says that process isn't transparent enough to trust.
The National Account's Archie Milligan has the full story:
That’ll be all from me today.
As always, if you have a hot tip, an idea for a story or think there’s something I should be covering, hit reply to this email or reach out at [email protected].
Cheers,
Huw