Reggie

21/07/2025

If you’re yet to discover the joy of Walcha Coffee – you must – asap. These guys are on a mission to bring you the very finest cup of joe. 👌🏻

It all began when owner Cameron Hayton was working at an on-campus Starbucks while studying at university in Colorado. (Yes, he still cringes at the thought of the coffee he produced back then). Fast forward to today and Walcha Coffee’s carefully sourced beans are roasted in small batches to bring out their unique flavours and aromas, ensuring a truly extraordinary coffee experience with every cup.

If you need more reasons to pay them a visit, here are several:
1. Walcha Coffee is a family-run business in regional NSW – growing from the family’s kitchen table, to markets, to their cafe in the heart of Walcha.
2. They supply cafes all over rural NSW and the East Coast of NSW.
3. They also ship Australia-wide and can fulfil almost any size order.
4. The product is top notch – we’re talking premium, handcrafted coffee that’s ethically sourced.
5. Cameron and the team are committed to education, working closely with cafes and retail customers to discover the art of handcrafted coffee.
6. They’ve won medals – including the silver and gold at the Golden Bean Australasia awards in 2022 and 2023, as well as the silver medal in the Gold Bean World Series.

Need we say more? ☕️

15/07/2025

Introducing OhMaSoul – a regional NSW trio with Jemimah Hiscox on vocals, James Brinkhoff on keys and Thomas Hogarth on drums. Together, they’ve created a sound that’s as thoughtful as it is funky and their first EP will be released on Monday 21 July. 🎉

Led by Jemimah’s expressive vocals, with deep analog keys from James Brinkhoff and laid-back grooves by Thomas Hogarth, the EP features stories of love, loss, rusty old trucks, and office-speak absurdity. Recorded by Pat Harris (The Tambourine Girls) and mixed by Jim Kelly (Australian jazz icon), it truly captures the rich chemistry of their live sets and is a must for your music collection. 👌🏻

(PS - Highly recommended for fans of Hiatus Kaiyote, Joni Mitchell, Corinne Bailey Rae, Steely Dan, D’Angelo) 🙌🏻

12/07/2025

Prepping your Sunday morning outing? The Armidale Farmers’ Market will be serving up seasonal produce, meat, cheese, eggs, baked goods and other divine goodies from growers and producers from the New England and Coffs Coast regions from 8.30am tomorrow (Sunday 13 July). So head on down, grab a hot coffee and enjoy the cosy community vibes at Curtis Park, 75 Faulkner Street. (PS – byo shopping bags, the team behind the scenes are striving to make this beautiful market a plastic-free zone!)

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27/06/2025

When the Granite Belt beckoned Alistair Blackwell and Karlee McGee (a food-loving duo from Sydney), they made it their mission to bring Tenterfield’s first-ever wine bar to Rouse Street – complete with a paddock-to-plate offering that supports local growers all year round. Read on at the link below...

https://youfoundreggie.com.au/meet-alistair-blackwell-and-karlee-mcgee-stonefruit/

24/06/2025

You heard it here first, the Workshop Kitchen at The Powerhouse Tamworth is serving up a stellar new lunch menu and we now want to visit daily... which you can, since they’re serving daily. Huzzah!

From karaage chicken to the vegetable and haloumi stack, fish and chips to the steak sandwich, these crowd favourites pack a punch on the flavour front. Seeking some sizzle and steak? Take your pick from the wood-fired grill menu. In short – great restaurant, great service, great vibes. Lunch is served!

Enjoy local ingredients & quality food at The Workshop Kitchen or choose from an extensive wine and cocktail list at The Coal Bunker Bar in Tamworth.

20/06/2025

✨ DUBBO ADVENTURE CALLING! ✨ ⁠
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Today we're nudging a bit beyond our usual borders to bring you a brand spanking new guide to the regional gem that is Dubbo. From epic safari adventures at Taronga Western Plains Zoo to stepping back in time at Old Dubbo Gaol, there's a unique experience waiting for everyone. When it comes to refuelling? Think craft beers, stellar coffee, and incredible international flavours. 🫶🏼⁠
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We've teamed up with Regional Australia Bank to put together your ultimate guide to the best places to eat, drink and play in this must-visit destination. Link below... 🦒⁠
https://youfoundreggie.com.au/discover-dubbo-nsw/
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19/06/2025

We have two words for you: Cocktail. Masterclass. ⁠
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That's right, Lucy from The Alternate Root is hosting a cocktail masterclass TOMORROW NIGHT! (Friday 20 June) ⁠
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She'll be hosting sessions from 6.00-7.00pm and 7.30-8.30pm, where you'll learn some top notch bartending skills and tips as she guides you through the process of making three classic cocktails. 🍸️⁠
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Side note – your ticket includes antipasto platters and tastings as you go... erm... need we say more? The Alternate Root bar and kitchen will be open for regular service if you're keen for more delicious bevvies and bites along the way. ⁠
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Snap up your ticket via the link below. 🥂

https://www.visitarmidale.com.au/event/cocktail-masterclass-with-lucy

18/06/2025

You need to meet this man. Stephen Dobson’s the name, gin’s the game. Back in 2004 he founded Dobson’s Distillery in Kentucky alongside his wife Lyn. The family venture soon found room for their son Joshua to join the team – and as the creator of the exquisite, purple-hued Sweet Pea gin, boy are we glad he did. 👏🏻

The Dobsons are more than grain to glass distillers, they’re artists – creators of extraordinary, award-winning spirits, including gin, vodka, whiskey and other liquors.

Visit them for tastings Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am-2.30pm, and for lunch on weekends from 12.00-2.00pm... bookings essential. Cheers!

17/06/2025

Mike Terry is a photographer and filmmaker based in Armidale, NSW – and damn are we lucky to have him.

He earned a BA in Mass Communication from the University of Utah in 2010 and was awarded A Fine Art, Music, Architecture and Dance Graduate Scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service in 2011 through which he earned a Masters in Visual and Media Anthropology at the Freie Universität Berlin. In short, the man has some serious creds.

Before relocating to Australia in 2020, he worked as a visual and online producer for the studio of Filmmaker Yulia Mahr and Classical Composer Max Richter in the United Kingdom. Today, Mike creates beauty for commercial and editorial clients on a worldwide scale – from the heart of Armidale. Hit the link below to read his story of how he came to call the New England home.

https://youfoundreggie.com.au/meet-mike-terry-photographer-and-filmmaker/

13/06/2025

Got plans for the weekend? You do now…

Megs Black and Fiona Richardson have succeeded in establishing one of the best restaurants in Bellingen – fact. Welcome to Fiume, a space where Bellingen’s bank manager once sat but is now a neighbourhood gem serving food that reflects the season. 🍂

At the core of their menu? Quality produce and simplicity – no fuss, just damn good food. We’re talking euro bistro vibes for early morning coffee with local roasters Amelia & Toby on site, a delightful pantry and all day menu. Fiume will take you from day to night, from coffee and cake to a glass of natty wine or cocktail while enjoying a meat and pickle plate, handmade pasta or pork belly.

Go say hi this weekend…

Saturday + Sunday - 7am-2pm
Saturday dinner - 5pm-8pm

And follow along to keep your eyes peeled on their seasonal menu, regular social events and to book your next visit! 👌🏻

12/06/2025

I got it from a sale rack, the jumper that is, in Sainsbury’s menswear section – that’s a British supermarket for the folks playing at home. I’m fancy like that, as you can also tell by the fact I’m holding a glass of Prosecco. Anyhoo, here I am putting a face to this here biz I like to call REGGIE… because that’s its name. It’s short for regional and comes complete with cool best mate vibes.

I’m a writer, editor, publisher, Armidale-born-and-bred human who felt a go-to platform for all the cool stuff happening in our towns was, well, lacking.

Enter REGGIE. And me. Chuffed to meet you! I’ll dip in and out here from time to time – bear with me. Showing my face on the ol’ social media beast isn’t my strong suit, I’m more of the ‘hermit / writer’ type. But I figure I’ve asked a lot of you to tell me your entire life story, so the least I can do is jump on here and say some nice things from time to time. If you have nice things to say back, about a great event, story, business or human you think REGGIE should know about, shoot us a DM, I’ll be waiting on the other end. You can also find me

If you’ve made it this far, cheers, and here’s some random stuff I Googled this week to show you how cool I am.

1. How to descale a kettle
2. Why planes are safer than cars
3. Do planes really have a back-up engine?
4. Sportsgirl tracksuits
5. Dream On by Aerosmith lyrics
6. Can cats have Claratyne?
7. Chicken dumplings, Aldi
8. What’s 100 yards in metres?
9. Addictive podcast for long-haul flight
10. Can you cut out the cornice to fit a wardrobe?

Steph. xx

11/06/2025

Calling all film buffs! The Dark Room in Bellingen is an ode to times gone by – a time when VHS tapes, DVDs, film cameras and Walkmans were all the rage . Now a thriving community space thanks to Cam Shenfield and Laura Gonzalez, The Dark Room invites you to watch a whole variety of classic films on a weekly basis. On the menu this week...

Wednesday 11 June (tonight!) – Christopher Robin
Thursday 12 June – Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
Friday 13 June – Days of Heaven (1978)

So what are you waiting for?! Head on down to join the club and be sure to follow along so you can plan your movie sessions ahead of the game. And for a deep dive into the story behind The Dark Room, hit the link below...

https://youfoundreggie.com.au/the-dark-room-bellingen-nsw/

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