CHILL AXE hit the target as Newcastle's first indoor axe throwing venue with November opening.
Owner Jesse Mount said the venue is perfect for Christmas parties and more.
"At the moment we are taking group bookings which can range from groups of 5 to 48 people," he said.
"It's a great activity for work parties, birthdays, corporate events, bucks/hens nights, or just something to do with a group of friends for fun."
With an established axe throwing business in his hometown Canberra, Jesse said he was encouraged to expand the business north when his family visited from Newcastle.
"I took them axe throwing and they really enjoyed it. They suggested that I should open one in Newcastle, and that sparked the idea. Later that month I started the process of setting up the business."
Mr Mount leaves the day-to-day operations of Chill Axe to extended family member and now manager, Emma Calcamuggi. Having moved to Newcastle three years ago from the south-west of France, Ms Calcamuggi said she was taken by the idea of axe throwing on seeing the Canberra venue.
"We thought this is so amazing and different - we need to have it in Newcastle," Ms Calcamuggi said.
"Newcastle is so great and this is such a new and interesting thing to add to the community. I think everyone will enjoy it a lot."
An average booking at Chill Axe lasts one and a half to two and a half hours which, according to Ms Calcamuggi, "depends on the group". There are two targets in each lane and after a bit of practice, the staff facilitate a competition.
"We tell them everything about safety first because, you know, axes," Ms Calcamuggi said.
"We have it set up so they compete against each other to keep it interesting. At the end there's a champion of the competition between friends."
Owner Jesse Mount said he is looking to expand on this style of booking.
"Soon we will be introducing public lanes which will cater to smaller groups of 2 - 4 people," he said.
"We plan to run competitions with a few other axe throwing venues around Australia, where people will compete against players at all participating venues."
At the moment the business exclusively deals in axe throwing, but there's "definitely plans for the future" according to Ms Calcamuggi.
"We are going to do event nights. The first one will be with the Gin Experience on January 8," she said.
"It will be a kind of housewarming thing to bring people together and just generally have a good time with some live music."
Ms Calcamuggi made sure to point out that "all off the alcohol will come after the axes get locked away".
Address: 5/43 Station Street, Waratah Email: info@chillaxenewcastle.com.au
