The Place On The Khona - The Story of Kitchener's Carvery Bar
More than an iconic establishment, Kitchener’s is an institution. Said to be the second-oldest bar in Johannesburg (established in 1906) – and home to that unmistakable velvet wallpaper – it’s been the setting for many an unforgettable night for plenty of its visitors.
Written by Neo Khanyile
The Beginning
Any South African operation that has existed for as long as Kitchener’s has is bound to have a complicated history. The story goes that the site for the Kitchener's Carvery Bar was located next to Jimmy’s Inn, and together they made up what was known as Milner Park Hotel. The space was allegedly named after Lord Kitchener, who used the venue to sign the treaty that ended the Anglo-Boer War in 1902. The pub continued to operate alongside the hotel well into the 2000s when Wits Arts students began frequenting it for its infamous lunchtime strip show. In the late ‘00s DJ Andrew Clement, current part-owner, began using the venue for parties, bringing in his own sound and crowd.
A Kitch’ Renaissance
In more recent years, the space has been taken over by the city’s young creatives, experimenters, hipsters, and students. The gentrification attempts that started taking shape in the early 2010s, with the establishment of spaces like the Neighbourgoods Market, and the 24-hour McDonalds, as well as the resurgence of the Alexander Theatre, led to Kitchener’s receiving a few new coats of paint (local artists are now involved in elevating the exterior facade regularly), and the coolest of the cool wanted to hang out in the venue to see and be seen.
DJs Rosie Parade and Danger Ngozi, the brains behind Broaden a New Sound, form an integral part of Kitchener's fabric. They have worked tirelessly to curate an eclectic sonic identity, rooted in quality, pioneering music, and sound. From the regular ‘70s, New York-inspired Disco De Moda events to booking the unconstrained live performances by genre-creators such as Rude Boyz and Stiff Pap, to the monthly femme- and queer-focused Pussy Party, hosting an array of international and local DJs, the introduction of a female bouncer, as well as door staff who are dependable and recognisable, and a huge diversity of music styles and genres – everything is aimed at improving safety and inclusivity in the space.
The Future of the Party
Looking forward, as South Africa enters into its ‘first real summer after the pandemic’, the space continues to work with “new, interesting, young, queer promoters who want to do something – musically – [that’s] a little reckless and exciting,” says Rosie Parade. The place is run by DJs who are proud of the beautiful-sounding room and [who] like to focus on the DJ experience, so the Kitch’ can live up to its moniker of ‘the sexiest bar in Joburg’.
