Meet the owner behind Queen Street’s new wine bar

After 17 years devoted to raising her family, Kristy Sweet has returned to the hospitality industry she has always loved. Her new Queen Street venue, Sweet’s at Nambour, is designed as a welcoming neighbourhood wine bar where locals can slow down, catch up and feel at home. We caught up with Kristy this week.

What inspired you to open Sweet’s at Nambour?

A girl had a dream … hahaha, but really ... the concept behind Sweet’s is simple: to create a genuine, social-first experience that celebrates connection over chaos. It’s for the early-evening crowd, locals finishing work, couples starting their night and friends looking for somewhere relaxed before dinner or an event. The energy is upbeat but never rushed; sophisticated, but still grounded and real. Honestly, there is nowhere else we would have wanted to open Sweet’s.

What can people expect when they walk through the door?

They can expect the warm, welcoming atmosphere of a local neighbourhood wine bar. We want every visit to Sweet’s to feel like a little ritual – a place people return to because it feels familiar and right. Our goal is to leave them saying, “That was exactly what I needed.”

We plan to keep the menu simple and change our wines by the glass each month. There are too many amazing wines out there to keep the menu the same. Our food offering is nibbles only and I’ve tried hard to source locally where possible. Our cheese plate features Woombye Cheese, our cold cuts come from award-winning Palmwoods butcher AJ’s Country Meats and we source olives from Olive Envy at the Yandina markets.

We have tiny European wine-bar vibes, some special canned seafood and a little ’90s nostalgia with a classic chip sanga. My personal favourite is our fancy chips, which you’ll have to come in and discover for yourself. We also plan to introduce a boutique cocktail menu showcasing local distillers, but that is still a work in progress.

What is your hospitality background?

Back in my heyday, I ran bars and restaurants. I’ve always absolutely loved hospitality and creating spaces where people can come together and have a great time. I’ve had a 17-year hiatus from the workforce, but that was a very intentional choice. I wanted to be at home and focus on raising our children, and I feel incredibly blessed that I was able to do that. Those years were just as important to me as any career could have been, and I wouldn’t change that time for anything. Sweet’s feels like the beginning of a new chapter. I’m returning to something I’ve always loved, but with much more life experience and a very clear idea of the kind of space I want to create.

Why did you choose Queen Street and Nambour?

I chose Nambour because I really believe in what’s happening here. There’s a quiet shift taking place. The town has always had plenty of character, but its growing mix of cafes, small businesses, creatives, vintage stores and bars is bringing fresh energy to the area. I love that Nambour still feels real. It’s not trying too hard to be somewhere else, and there’s a strong sense of community. People genuinely get behind small businesses and those who put their hearts into them, and I think that’s pretty special.

Queen Street just felt like the right place for Sweet’s. I wanted it to feel as though it belonged here, rather than being dropped into Nambour and trying to change it. I love the idea that you can come in for a drink before dinner, bump into someone you know, stay for another and end up chatting for hours. It’s something a little special, but still relaxed, welcoming and very Nambour.

Sweet’s recently held a fundraiser for young Cooper and his family following his leukaemia diagnosis. What did that mean to you?

We don’t really want to go into detail about that day, except to say it was something we did for some really dear friends going through an incredibly hard time. It wasn’t about boosting our business at all, just about showing up for people we care about.

Is supporting the community something you want Sweet’s to continue doing?

Community is really important to us and, yes, we absolutely want Sweet’s at Nambour to remain part of it. We’ve always believed hospitality is at its best when it feels connected to the people around it, not separate from them. For us, it’s not just about serving drinks or running a venue; it’s about being part of the everyday fabric of the town, supporting local people, showing up where we can and creating a space where the community feels at home. We don’t see that changing. If anything, we want to lean into it more as Sweet’s grows in Nambour.

What has been the biggest challenge – and the biggest surprise – since opening?

The biggest challenge has been finding the balance between family life and running a new business. The biggest surprise has been how quickly Sweet’s has been accepted by the community.

What would you say to somebody who hasn’t visited yet?

Come in when you’re ready – we aren’t going anywhere.  

Sweet’s at Nambour owner and director Kristy Sweet has returned to hospitality after a 17-year break to raise her family. “Honestly, there is nowhere else we would have wanted to open Sweet’s.” Picture: Naomi Jane Photography.

Kristy Sweet with family, from left, son Ryder, daughter Sakura, and husband Rodney at the recent opening of the Queen Street neighbourhood wine bar. Picture: Naomi Jane Photography.

Kristy Sweet ‘I love that Nambour still feels real’. Picture: Naomi Jane Photography.