As the needle hits the groove, the vinyl record starts spinning. In mere moments, the soulful crackle and pop of warm analog sound warbles from a vintage sound system dating back to the 1950s, filling the dining room with the retro music of yesteryear.
Welcome to Little Island Brewing Company‘s vintage vinyl bar at Gillman Barracks, a retro-themed ode to all things nostalgic.
The opening of the bar comes at a fitting juncture in vinyl record history, now making a riff-worthy comeback despite becoming technologically obsolete by the 1990s.
The key to its renewed success among audiophiles, retro fiends and music nerds alike – the raw authenticity of analog sound, said to be noticeably richer and more detailed than its modern, too-clean digital kin.
This signature offering of old-school tunes – produced by vinyl records spinning on a Technics MK5G turntable plus vintage Altec Lansing A5-X speakers from the 1950s – will fill the memorabilia-filled dining room every Wednesday from 7pm to 10pm.
Even if vinyl isn’t your cup of tea, you can also expect a live audiophilic experience in the form of band performances every Friday and Saturday, ensuring that all musical tastes are accounted for.
Mini Vespa scooter rides, an old-school inflatable playground and a bouncy castle offer parents with young ones in tow an avenue to expend any excess energy as they chill out in the bucolic Gillman Barracks. They can even bring their fur-kids along too, as the outdoor seating is pet-friendly.
All this is complemented by a fusion menu offering everything from handcrafted, woodfired kombucha-dough pizzas and dishes closer to home, like nasi kerabu with rendang daging (blue pea-tinted coconut rice with slow-braised beef neck), to bar bites such as the Little Island Chicken Wings, seasoned with soy sauce, black pepper, garlic and a secret house blend before being grilled to a smoky char.
Naturally, you’d also want a pint or three of Little Island Brewing Company’s very own house-brewed beers to wash everything all down.
You might as well head down sooner rather than later, seeing as how the new outlet will be celebrating its opening with a one-for-one promotion on its pizzas throughout the month of April on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm onwards.
Receipts of at least $50 also earn you a five-minute ride on a mini Vespa scooter, so be sure to bring the kids along.
Little Island Brewing Company is at The Southern Depot, Gillman Barracks, 43 Malan Road, Singapore 109443.
