Brisbane City Council is exploring a trial of licensed bars on 10 double-decker CityCats, potentially allowing passengers to buy beer or wine during their trip. The proposal, reported on Thursday (15 October), is at an early stage, with councillor Andrew Wines saying the council wants to discuss the idea with the public.
Wines told ABC Radio Brisbane the council was looking at a food and beverage offering that would let passengers buy a drink on the way home. He said Saturdays were more popular for CityCat travel than weekdays, framing the idea as another way to make living in Brisbane more enjoyable.
The council would account for liquor licensing requirements, including food service and responsible service of alcohol, Wines said. “This is not going to be a party boat,” he told the ABC, comparing the idea with ferry services to Stradbroke Island and Manly.
Brisbane Times reported that the council had no exact timetable for the proposed trial. Opening hours and the products that might be sold were still being worked through, according to Wines's comments to the ABC.
Staffing would also need to be worked through with ferry operator RiverCity Ferries, Wines said. The proposal comes while the operator and Brisbane ferry staff remain in pay negotiations. The ABC reported that talks between RiverCity Ferries and the Maritime Workers Union had been ongoing since October last year.
A Sydney Precedent
A council spokesperson told the ABC the idea was inspired by Sydney ferries that serve alcohol. Brisbane Times identified Manly Fast Ferry as a comparator, where passengers can buy refreshments during the journey between Manly and Circular Quay.
Manly Fast Ferry's own onboard-bar information lists beer, wine, spirits, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. It says purchases are cashless and describes a 20-minute journey between Manly and Circular Quay. That is an existing Sydney service, rather than a menu announced for Brisbane.
The Double-Decker Fleet
The vessels being considered belong to a fleet upgrade completed before this proposal. A 25 November 2025 announcement from Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner identified Mirbarpa II as the tenth double-decker delivered and said its arrival completed the upgraded fleet.
That announcement also reported growing demand for the ferry network: more than 4.1 million passengers in 2023/24 and over 5.7 million in 2024/25. The council's current proposal would add a food and drink offering to the double-decker vessels, with Wines saying discussions would involve both the public and others interested in the idea.