The Triffid guide: parking, bags, all-ages rules, buses

The Triffid is a live music venue and beer garden in an old World War II hangar at 7-9 Stratton Street, Newstead, a short walk from Fortitude Valley. Former Powderfinger bassist John Collins opened it in November 2014. Most shows in the live room are general admission and standing, and the garden out the back runs its own food, drinks and free gigs.

The short version: pack a small bag, bring in-date photo ID, leave the cash at home and catch the CityGlider. The details below come from the venue's own pages, Moshtix, Ticketmaster and Brisbane City Council, all checked on 26 September 2026. Rules can change from show to show, so read your event page as well. For other gigs around town, see concerts in Brisbane.

Quick facts

How do I get to The Triffid?

The venue recommends public transport, mostly so you can have a drink. It's in Newstead, just past the Valley, and the bus is the easiest option.

Bus: the Blue CityGlider

The venue's FAQ says it's "a 100m walk to the Commercial Road CityGlider bus stop". Brisbane City Council's CityGlider page says the Blue CityGlider (route 60) runs from West End, through the CBD, to Newstead. According to the venue, buses on the route also stop in South Brisbane, Fortitude Valley and Teneriffe.

As of September 2026, the council says the Blue CityGlider runs:

• 24 hours a day on Friday and Saturday
• 18 hours a day from Sunday to Thursday
• every 5 minutes in peak times and every 10 to 15 minutes off-peak

You pay with a go card or Smart Ticketing, and fares are on Translink's website.

Train

We couldn't confirm the nearest train station or how long the walk takes from any source. If you're coming by train, plan the last stretch on the Translink Journey Planner. The CityGlider through the Valley is often the easier way to finish the trip.

Taxi and rideshare

In the venue's words, "there's a cab-rank on Commercial Road, a 100m walk away, or you can jump in an Uber (Or dad's taxi) right out the front." So rideshare, or a lift from a parent, can collect you right outside.

Getting home after the show

On a Friday or Saturday night you don't have to watch the clock. The Blue CityGlider runs all night, back through the Valley and the CBD to West End.

Sunday to Thursday is different. The route runs 18 hours a day, and we couldn't confirm when the last bus leaves. Check the last service on the Translink Journey Planner before the headliner starts, especially at a weeknight show that finishes late.

Is there parking at The Triffid?

Not at the venue itself. The accessibility page says "The Triffid doesn't have its own car park on premises". That leaves you two options:

• Street parking around Newstead. The venue calls it "limited". Nearby streets use Brisbane City Council metered or pay-and-display parking. The venue says "All surrounding streets have signed spaces, just make sure you pay close attention to the signage."
• Paid parking at Gasworks. The venue names the Gasworks as the place to pay for a park. We haven't checked its rates or opening hours, so look those up before you go.

The venue's FAQ also says "Paid parks are from 7am-7pm, and unmarked spots are generally 2 hours free parking." That's handy for an evening show, but read the sign where you park. The rules on your street are the ones that count.

If you're dropping someone off, or unloading a wheelchair or other gear, the venue says you can use the loading zone out the front to unload.

Bag policy: what can you bring?

These rules come from the conditions of entry on the venue's Your Visit page, as of 26 September 2026.

The prohibited list also includes:

• alcohol, cans, bottles and any food or drink bought outside the venue (outside food and drink is allowed only if you need it for a medical condition and can show evidence)
• professional cameras and gear, including tripods, detachable lenses and selfie sticks, unless authorised
• audio recording equipment and noise-making devices
• skateboards, rollerblades, hoverboards, scooters and bicycles
• laser pens or pointers, fireworks, flares and open flames
• unauthorised drones
• banners, posters, flags, signs, leaflets, stickers and flyers
• weapons of any kind, including pepper spray and replica weapons
• illegal drugs and prohibited substances
• animals, except recognised assistance animals
• anything else venue management thinks is unsafe or disruptive

Medication: prescription medication is fine if it's "in its original packaging and clearly labelled by a pharmacist with the patron's name". Staff may ask for ID to check it's yours. Unlabelled pill or liquid containers aren't allowed. This is the rule that catches people out, so don't decant anything into a pill box before you leave home.

Smoking and vaping: it's "strictly a smoke-free venue, including e-cigarettes and vaping".

Venue management can refuse entry to, or remove, anyone carrying a prohibited item.

Is there a cloakroom? Can I leave and come back?

The venue's pages don't mention a cloakroom, lockers or pass-outs. Check with the venue before the show if you need either. Until you hear otherwise, pack as if you'll be carrying everything all night.

ID and age rules: can under 18s go?

ID first. For every ticketed show you need one of these, and it must be valid and in date:

• an adult proof of age card, such as the Australia Post Keypass
• an Australian driver licence or learner permit
• a passport from any country

Under 18s. The FAQ is blunt about this: if you're under 18, you can't attend shows in the live room, "even when accompanied by a parent or guardian", unless the announcement explicitly says the show is all ages.

At all-ages shows there are two ticket types. The over-18 ticket is for the licensed room downstairs. The all-ages ticket is for the unlicensed upstairs mezzanine. Both groups have to stay in their own area "due to capacity reasons". A couple of things trip parents up:

• Parents going with an all-ages ticket holder also need an all-ages ticket.
• No alcohol is sold on the mezzanine, and you can't take drinks up there.

The venue's age bands for all-ages shows are:

The Garden has its own rule. Under 18s can be in the Triffid Garden until 10pm, but only with a parent or responsible guardian.

Dress code

It's relaxed. The FAQ says "Wear whatever you want just make sure you're wearing clothes ... and enclosed shoes and you're sweet." One exception to note: "if you try to get in wearing Crocs you won't meet the dress code."

Standing, the mezzanine and capacity

The venue says shows are "usually general admission standing". The Live Room has two main areas:

• The Main Room, at street level, on a flat, un-raked floor. Because the floor doesn't slope, the venue says it can't always guarantee sightlines.
• The Mezzanine, which overlooks the Live Room. It's stairs only, with no lift. At all-ages shows it's the unlicensed area for the all-ages ticket.

On capacity, the numbers don't quite match. ABC News said in 2014 that the venue "hosts up to 800 people", and The Music described an "800-capacity bandroom" in 2023. The venue's functions page lists the Live Room at 700 standing and the whole venue at 1,100 for a cocktail-style event. The venue's own 700 standing figure is the one to go by for a standing gig in the Live Room.

Accessibility

The venue's accessibility page is detailed. Here's what it covers, as of September 2026:

• KultureCity: The Triffid is a certified sensory-inclusive venue through KultureCity.
• Step-free entry: there are no steps at the entrance. Wheelchair users can reach the whole ground floor, which includes the Beer Garden, the Live Room and the accessible toilets. Contact the venue before the show to arrange priority wheelchair entry.
• Mezzanine: stairs only. The venue notes it has better sightlines for seated people, but there's no lift.
• Seating: if you can't stand for long, the venue can provide a chair. Contact the venue ahead of time to arrange a seat and priority access.
• Companion Card: arrange a companion ticket through Moshtix fan support, then bring your card and show it when tickets are scanned.
• Toilets: the accessible, gender-neutral toilet is in the main foyer next to the ticket desk. There are also male and female bathrooms in the Live Room sound lock and at the back of the Beer Garden. The Garden ones are up a short set of three steps.
• Lighting and strobes: the Live Room is dimly lit, so tell the venue if you have low vision. If strobe lighting is a concern, contact the venue. It says strobe warning signs "may not always be possible".
• Assistance animals are welcome. Contact the venue in advance for priority entry and a reserved space. It warns that shows are "a noisy and busy environment".
• Quiet spaces: staff will help you find somewhere to decompress. The mezzanine usually gives a break from the crowd, though not always.
• Parking: there's no on-site car park, but you can use the loading zone out the front to unload.

The venue handles accessibility enquiries itself rather than through ticketing sites. Its pages don't mention a hearing loop or Auslan interpreting, so ask the venue directly if you need either.

Food, drink and the beer garden

The Garden serves food and drinks from midday, Wednesday to Sunday. The venue calls it "your go-to destination for free live music", with a rotating line-up of local acts across regular sessions and special events. The Music's 2023 guide to the garden sessions said most of those shows are free to attend. Session names change, so check the venue's beer garden page for what's on now.

Triffid Burger Co. runs the kitchen. As of September 2026, the venue lists its hours as:

• Thursday and Friday: 11am to 3pm, then 5pm till late
• Saturday and Sunday: 12pm till late

The kitchen page doesn't cover vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free options, so ask the venue if that matters to you. You can book a table by emailing admin@thetriffid.com.au.

A few other things to know:

• It's cashless. The venue takes "All major credit and debit cards".
• Drinks come in reusable poly-ware.
• The beer garden page says "we're a dog friendly venue". The conditions of entry for shows, though, ban all animals except assistance animals. If you're thinking of bringing your dog, check with the venue first, and don't expect to bring one into a ticketed show.

Tickets, doors and set times

• Most shows are sold through Moshtix, which has a Triffid venue page listing what's coming up. Ticketmaster also lists Triffid events and sends you on to partner sites such as Moshtix.
• The ticket desk opens an hour before doors.
• E-tickets on your phone are fine. The venue asks you to turn your screen brightness up before you're scanned.
• Door and set times change from show to show. Most Moshtix listings show only a start time, and a few show separate doors and start times. Check your event listing and the artists' socials on the day.

A bit of history

The ABC reported in 2014 that John Collins turned "an old World War II US aircraft hangar" into the venue. The ABC named Scott Hutchinson, of site owner Hutchinson Builders, among the people Collins persuaded to get on board. Andrew McMillen's Qweekend profile gives the opening date as 8 November 2014. It also says the name nods to both John Wyndham's 1951 novel The Day of the Triffids and the Perth band The Triffids.

McMillen also records that the lead architect called the 60-year-old ribbed roof "the worst possible shape for a music venue". Collins replied by pointing to The Cavern Club. Today the venue describes itself as "an old commercial hangar that merges its WWII heritage with the unique beer garden".

Before you go

• Check your event page for the start time and whether it's 18+ or all ages.
• Use a bag no bigger than 40cm x 40cm x 20cm.
• Bring in-date photo ID: Keypass or another proof of age card, an Australian licence or learner permit, or a passport.
• Keep any medication in its pharmacy-labelled packaging.
• Bring a card or phone to pay. The venue is cashless.
• Wear enclosed shoes, and leave the Crocs at home.
• Plan the CityGlider from Commercial Road. On a Sunday to Thursday, check the last bus on Translink.
• If you're driving, allow time to find a street park or head to Gasworks.
• Contact the venue ahead of time if you need a chair, priority entry or a Companion Card ticket.

Upcoming shows at The Triffid