After ponying up $25 for a beer and a hard solo for my far better half over the weekend, I’m reminded about why I don’t go out and drink anymore.
Maybe if every pub and venue incorporated the stock exchange bar system that used to be in Melbourne back in the day, I’d be far more inclined to venture out and sample the night life a little more. Because in 2024 there’s so much more I prefer to buy for $25 than a schooner of German Ale and an alcoholic lemon thing..
That much for just 2 drinks? I hate to tell you what I could once do with on a night out with just $100 in my pocket..
Remember the stock exchange bar in Melbourne?
Yeah me neither. In fact I don’t think that’s the actual correct venue name, I’ll have to check.
But I did read about the concept in an article somewhere and wished I’d given it a go, especially now that I’ve invested just a touch more than my pocket money in actual real life stocks and am not keen to spend the equivalent of a basic pub schnitzel on just two drinks.
For those new to the idea or have never visited one in places like India’s Bar Stock Exchange and London’s Drink Exchange, in a nutshell the drinks are sold like stocks and rise and fall in price according to demand. So if everyone suddenly feels in the mood for tequila shooters for example, the price of the suddenly less popular beer or wine varietals drop. Likewise if 30 thirsty rugby players all descend on the place in one big hit and attempt to drain the fridges of New Zealand raddler, the price of that is going to rise just as quickly as they can wolf it down and it would probably be a good time to order a vodka and something.
Now sadly according to the article, the price wouldn’t drop so dramatically that you’d be able to score a pint of anything for $1. Nor would you pay $50 for one either if everyone wanted one (unless the Stock Exchange Bar was court side at Wimbledon I guess..) but a little more or a little less than average, that was the fun of drinking out at one of these venues.
And if you were on a budget (we’re all on a budget in 2024) then who wouldn’t prefer some cheaper lager when everyone suddenly wants a scotch and coke?
So please, if you’re about to open any kind of venue in the near future where drinks are involved, to keep the patrons from grumbling over insane prices (especially me) maybe consider the return of the stock exchange bar system? It’s an extra bit of fun on what should be a fun night where you shouldn’t have to sign up for a mortgage just to have a beer with your beef brisket poutine (which was delicious by the way).
Who doesn’t like a saving, a bargain or a heavily discounted West Coast Cooler?
What I’d rather spend $25 on
So just so I’m not going crazy, I’ve just messaged my good mate Heath to see if he knows the name of the previous stock exchange bar in Melbourne. Because if anyone would know, he would. So I’ve sent him a message:
And I’ve even asked NightCafe AI to draw a picture of him, mulling over my Whatsapp message while enjoy a bargain cold beer.
While I wait for his reply, here’s a few things I’d rather spend $25 on instead of two drinks at the pub:
1 x 1.7 ltrs of Thomas Coopers Brew A IPA Home brew so I can make 21 litres of beer at home (I still need to get a few more bits and pieces firs though)
4 x Pirate Life California Pale Ale cans $21.39 at Dan Murphys
12 x Freddo frogs after learning the horrible fact that they’re doubling in price soon.. $24
353 x shares in Maggie Beer Holdings on the ASX through Superhero (It’s the only ASX stock I could find with beer in the title..) $22.94 + $2 trading fee
Hmm…still no answer from him. Maybe I did imagine it was in Melbourne…still, could we bring the stock exchange bar system to anywhere and everywhere I drink from now? Thanks in advance!
Later on – you have one new Whatsapp message!
Heath got back to me and I’m proud to say, I wasn’t hallucinating here!
The trouble is, he didn’t remember the name of this stock exchange bar either. But then I thought ‘What if I changed the Google Search from Stock Exchange Bar Melbourne to Stock Market Bar? And wouldn’t you know it, suddenly we have lift off!
It turns out it was… The Trader Bar!
I say was because as you can see, it’s no longer open for business. In fact trying to find any info on it has been quite a challenge but thank god they never took down this guide on eventfinda:
The Trader Bar brings new excitement to Melbourne’s bar scene, by offering a whole new way to buy drinks. As The Trader Bar drink market opens each evening, patrons are greeted with drink prices which fluctuate every 5-9 minutes.
From 4pm Tuesday to Friday and 8pm Saturdays, prices for most drinks fluctuate according to public demand. So come and play the market, and take advantage of the random price crashes.
The Trader Bar is also open for lunches Tuesday to Friday from 12pm, so drop in and check out our New York Deli and Tex/Mex inspired menu.
-Eventfinda website needing an update
I have no idea when it actually closed and worse, I can’t find any reviews either. It was here for the length of a fluctuating priced cocktail and then gone again like the publican called closing time.
Time then to bring it back for more stock exchange bar savings then hey? Thank me later!