Beta Bar: Not Quite the Yule Ball, But Still a Ballin’ Party

Have you ever walked into a room and just thought “Yes! I have finally found my people!” That was me last week as I entered Beta Bar’s Harry Potter party with Theresa. Beta Bar runs each Friday night at the Glenferrie Social Club, each week with a different theme. Parties run the gamut from Pokemon to Batman-themed singles’ nights, and is the perfect chance to get in touch with your inner nerd.

At the Harry Potter party, I was surrounded by cosplayers galore – scheming Slytherins, winged Hedwigs, and even a Quirinus Quirell running around. Downstairs Beta Bar itself is reminiscent of The Leaky Cauldron, while walking upstairs I felt as though I’d stepped into Trelawney’s Divination tower.

The bar was equipped with Butterbeer on tap (I hope you like whipped cream with your alcohol) and Dobby Shots (so sad I didn’t get to try these – but unfortunately my car isn’t as equipped as Mr. Weasley’s and I’m yet to pass my apparition test).

Theresa (Prof. Trelawney) and Charli (Prof. McGonagall) - photo courtesy of Kenji Wardenclyffe

Theresa (Prof. Trelawney) and Charli (Prof. McGonagall) – photo courtesy of Kenji Wardenclyffe

And if hanging around with Melbourne’s geekiest cosplayers isn’t enough to tickle your fancy, Beta Bar is room-to-room vintage video games, Xboxes, Playstations, card games and board games galore. There was Dance Dance Revolution in one room, Mario Kart in another, and Band Hero in yet another (the only acceptable form of karaoke). Upstairs there were intense games of Giant Jenga going on which sounded like Grawp smashing rocks every time they fell down. And if none of that took your fancy, there was always the dance-floor to tear up (Alastor Moody style) or intense Harry Potter debates to engage in (guilty as charged).

professors of Hogwarts

professors of Hogwarts

photo courtesy of Kenji Wardenclyffe

photo courtesy of Kenji Wardenclyffe

The next Beta Bar is perfect for all you Whovians out there on 18th September. So get your trench coats and Converse ready and charge up your sonic screwdrivers. This is not a party to miss – just be careful not to land your TARDIS on the dance floor.

-Charli W.
Charli W. is a creative writer, food lover, and Harry Potter aficionada in her last year of a History degree. She is sure she will find a way to combine these things one day, to great success. If not, she’ll pack up and become a bartender somewhere in the Caribbean with a fabulous year-round tan.

Beta Bar runs Friday nights at The Glenferrie Social Club (660A Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn – $15 cover). Visit http://www.betabar.com.au/ to find out the next theme.

Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of Beta Bar.