Introducing The Iron Fairies: Bali’s Captivating Nightlife Gem.
Highly acclaimed magical nightlife destination The Iron Fairies was launched in Bali in late 2023. Created by the nightlife and hospitality group Boutique Bars in collaboration with design visionary Ashley Sutton, it promises to captivate and delight its patrons. Its whimsical fairytale design, decadent cocktails, and musical offerings will see it become Bali’s venue of choice for discerning patrons.
Ashley Sutton is an Australian miner turned gifted designer and author whose work in a West Australian iron-ore mine inspired him to pen and illustrate a trilogy of children’s books, namely The Iron Fairies. The fairytale maps the journey of grumpy old iron miners who must work in the dark confines of the underground mine. In their bleak despair, they craft exquisite little iron fairies from iron ore. The miners risk all to bring the little creatures to life, up to the surface, to the sun. It is a tale of despair and wonderment, of bleakness and the magic of make-believe.
The book was then actualised into reality when Sutton partnered with Sandeep Sekhri, founder of Boutique Bars, and together they created acclaimed bars across Southeast Asia. The hospitality brand has multiple design-led venues. The success and popularity of these ventures across the globe led them to launch The Iron Fairies in Bali, Indonesia, the newest concept to open its doors in Seminyak.
Visually, The Iron Fairies merges the gruelling, fuliginous underground world of a mine with the enchantment of make-believe. It is both monstrous and fascinating. The dark and the light captivate its patrons, creating an unearthly refuge from reality. The Iron Fairies Bali spans three floors, paying homage to an ironsmith’s workshop. It encapsulates raw iron, timber, and leather elements and features mining machinery throughout. In stark contrast to this dark playground are the delicate fairies sprinkled throughout, surrounded by glittering gossamer and butterflies. It is an unearthly whimsical workshop of delights.
Sutton says, “The Iron Fairies Bali is a full-working fairy factory. The furnaces are located on the ground floor and double as VIP rooms. All the iron ore is melted in the furnaces and then crafted to produce iron fairies, and patrons will see hundreds of thousands of fairies all around the venue, mainly on the conveyor belts and working tables. Over the years, the fairies have taken over the building and created little fairy dwellings throughout the venue. The design was based on a location in the underground mine. Every part of this venue is handmade and took thousands of hours from hundreds of craftsmen to complete, right down to each handmade iron fairy.”
Sekhri says, “Dreams are where passion is born; passion makes dreams come true. The Iron Fairies Bali is perhaps my most passionate project yet. The craftsmanship is extraordinary. We have created a whimsical world that is both timeless and enchanting. Bali is the flagship, and we anticipate a slew of tourists, locals, and expats alike to join us for the opening.”
The Iron Fairies provides a diverse, nightly range of musical entertainment, including live music, R&B, African, Hip Hop, and electronic music. The West African resident band, Sankofa, provides nightly entertainment (8 pm-11 pm), followed by renowned international DJs. The physical venue boasts three bars and an impressive main stage for musical performances. The space will house more than 500 people across the three levels. There are eight select VIP furnaces crafted from cast and forged steel, providing an intimate and private experience. For the ultimate exclusivity for party-goers, the mezzanine offers premium VIP areas and bars which overlook the dance floor. All will provide exclusive bottle service and can be booked for special events. Signature cocktails and premium service will ensure patrons are indulged, tantalising the most discerning tastebuds.
The Iron Fairies is owned and operated by Boutique Bars, a nightlife and hospitality group based out of Hong Kong and Bali, but with a slew of restaurants and bars across Southeast Asia. Boutique Bars is the brainchild of hospitality veteran Sandeep Sekhri, in collaboration with internationally renowned design maverick Ashley Sutton.