Project Overview

Watsonia Wine Bar, located in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs, is favourite spot for locals looking to enjoy a relaxed drink or casual dining experience. With its modern interior, large glass frontage and welcoming outdoor seating, the venue is designed to encourage guests to linger. However, Melbourne’s climate often presents challenges for hospitality operators. Cooler evenings, unpredictable weather and seasonal changes can make outdoor spaces less inviting for patrons.

Tim, owner of Watsonia Wine Bar wanted to ensure that both outdoor canopies could be used year-round, not just in the warmer months. The bar’s management also needed an outdoor heating solution that was energy efficient because they had limited spare power available. They wanted something relatively unobtrusive, and capable of providing consistent warmth across all outdoor seating areas.

Like many venues, the first options considered were traditional gas patio heaters and long-wave electric panel heaters. Both, however, posed significant drawbacks. Gas heaters, although familiar, are bulky, take up valuable floor space and are notoriously inefficient in windy conditions. They require constant refuelling and create uneven heat distribution, often warming the air rather than the people. Long-wave electric panels, while slimmer in design, struggle to deliver immediate comfort outdoors and certainly not across a public footpath to the location of the bar’s outdoor setting.

For Watsonia Wine Bar, neither option aligned with their vision. They required an alternative that could provide powerful, even warmth, while complementing the bar’s modern exterior.

Following installation, Watsonia Wine Bar has been able to turn its outdoor areas into comfortable, inviting, all-season community spaces. Guests can now enjoy a glass of wine or meal outdoors on crisp winter nights as well as during cooler spring evenings. The wall-mounted Heliosa 66 Black Glass Short-wave Infrared Heaters delivers quiet, efficient warmth while keeping floor space clear and furniture layouts unobstructed. Unlike gas heaters, its short-wave infrared output provides steady heat with lower energy use and little loss of performance in windy conditions. For the venue, the heaters have proven both reliable and economical. Instant start-up and targeted heating avoid wasted energy, while reduced maintenance compared with gas systems makes the Heliosa 66 Short-wave Infrared Heater a practical, longer-term investment.

The installation of Heliosa 66 Black Glass Short Wave Infrared Heaters at Watsonia Wine Bar shows how the right infrared heating solution can enhance any outdoor hospitality setting. Combining advanced short-wave infrared technology with refined design, the heaters deliver strong performance without compromising on style.

For other bars, cafés and restaurants with similar needs, the Heliosa 66 Black Glass offers an elegant and efficient solution, ensuring outdoor dining remains comfortable in every season. Get in touch with us today to find out how Heliosa can work for your space.

Want to customise a heating layout plan for your space?

Get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or call (08) 7122 1114, and our team will help you to find the best solution.

Want to know more about our infrared heater via practical applications?

Visit our case studies to learn more about Heliosa infrared heater applications in stylish homes & hospitality. You can also experience our heater in one of the available locations near you.